Muppet Theory

It would be the first time I have written about the Muppets, or for that matter anything in the typical "under 10 yr old commentary!" (See It's Not Easy to Be Green or MuppetGate or Perry The Platypus or 104 Days of Summer Vacation, or more or more or more!!).

But this may be the most profound GTG Muppet commentary yet.

You have got to love FaceBook Nation, for it is there that you find such unique gems!  The latest from Slate by Dahlia Lithwick:  Muppet Theory: A Unified Theory of Muppet Types.  A definite "must read," especially if you are in need of a chuckle, and you find personality traits and psychology fascinating.  In her article, she classifies us all as either "Chaos Muppet" or "Order Muppet." 
From Dahlia's article, some clarification:

"Chaos Muppets are out-of-control, emotional, volatile. They tend toward the blue and fuzzy. They make their way through life in a swirling maelstrom of food crumbs, small flaming objects, and the letter C.  Cookie Monster, Ernie, Grover, Gonzo, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and—paradigmatically—Animal, are all Chaos Muppets...." 

"Order Muppets—and I’m thinking about Bert, Scooter, Sam the Eagle, Kermit the Frog, and the blue guy who is perennially harassed by Grover at restaurants (the Order Muppet Everyman)—tend to be neurotic, highly regimented, averse to surprises and may sport monstrously large eyebrows. They sometimes resent the responsibility of the world weighing on their felt shoulders, but they secretly revel in the knowledge that they keep the show running."

For anyone who's seen the 2011 Muppet Movie, it begs the musical question:  are you a "Man Or Muppet" of a man!

Its been cute talking to pals, looking in the mirror, and analyzing my family.  I have come to terms with the fact that I am an Order Muppet who wishes she was a Chaos Muppet, yet who would be drawn to tidying up Cookie Monster's wayward cookie crumbs.  In fact, while talking about it with my own two kids, my 6 year old fell off the back of the couch (where he was perched), laughing. Chaos. Definitely Chaos.

As a blogger, there is enough Chaos Muppet in me that I get glee out of writing about whatever, whenever here on my blog. Yet there's more than enough Order Muppet in me to land on the idea that I need to find an eco-connection in here somewhere.  But this I know I can do!

Perhaps there is a Muppet Theory of Environmental Activism... in good times, economically prosperous time, I think we (as a country...if not as a planet) have a very "Order Muppet" approach to climate change--or environmental issues as a whole.  The view:  "Yes, it's important, and we need to take action--we're on board."  In less prosperous economic time (aka: a recession; aka: now), folks aren't so ready to support environmental issues... in idea, philosophy, and finance. Studies have shown that, as a community, "we" tend to be more pro-environment when we have a strong economy behind us.  Aka: Order Muppets.

Yet when the money gets tight, locally, nationally, globally, we can get a little nutty.  We start running around like crazy, not believing in the realities that surround us with the global statistics of higher CO2 levels, greenhouse gases, ocean acidification, and temperatures. There are greater economic concerns to focus on--more akin to survival and basic human needs. I see it like the little kid with fingers in ears, running around, loudly proclaiming "I can't hear you, I can't hear you!" Perhaps it's an example of "Me thinks thou dost protest too much."  Chaos Theory.  Chaos Muppet. 

Yet, no matter where you fall on the Muppet Theory Spectrum, the issues--the environmental issues--are still there.  Yes... much like our fearless Slate writer Dahlia Lithwick, I too will leave you with this: Manama nah!

Images from http://snarglr.com/.  Dr. Honeydew & Beaker pic from http://www.moviefancentral.com/breathless_mahoney87/blogs/chaos-muppet-or-order-muppet, Cookie Monster Google Doodle from http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2009/nov/05/sesame-street-google-doodle.