Aladdin Central Messageboard

Marisa · Sultan Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 281

This has bothered me for a while. In the beginning of the episode "The Lost Ones", when Aladdin first meets up with Wahid, Aladdin refers to him as "Street Rat".

Now, isn't "street rat" supposed to be a derogatory term? Judging by how Aladdin (and others, including Cassim) seem to hiss or spit it when they usually say it, I'd think it was somewhere slightly below n***er. I can't imagine Aladdin being that rude to anyone, especially someone that was so much like himself as a child.
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Princess Amber · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2004 7:34 pm Post subject:

That's very true. What had Wahid done to him to be called a streetrat. (If that is where you're going with this. Embarassed

) Even though he kinda was one.

xfkirsten · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2004 7:41 pm Post subject:

That bugged me, too. I think Aladdin least of all would be the one to use that term!
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I don't need intelligent drugs, because I don't know what they are. But I will put anything into my mouth that is given to me, whether it's supposed to go there or not. Because... I'm different.

Princess Amber · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2004 7:44 pm Post subject:

It was one of those "you would know" moments. Not to insult Al though. Very Happy

Calluna · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2004 8:38 pm Post subject:

Maybe it's okay for one streetrat to call another one that? (Using the "n word" as an example, again... Confused

) I remember Jasmine referring to him as a streetrat once ("a streetrat can do anything" or something to that effect), and he calls himself one all the time. But, then again, Jasmine gets equally (if not more) mad when she's called "princess", so maybe it's more about being labelled than about the word itself? (I'm so far out on a limb here...)

Anyway, I agree it sounds like an insult the way he said it to Waheed, though. But Waheed did just run into him, so I guess he was kind of pissed. Confused

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"If only I could believe you. Perhaps I can! After all... you do bear the name of a flower." -- Arbutus

Salukfan · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2004 9:26 pm Post subject:

AladdinsGenie · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2004 9:31 pm Post subject:

Princess Lydia · Elemental Joined: 12 Nov 2004 Posts: 679

I agree it is kind of weird. But it also makes a little sense. But not much! Confused

Spekku · Streetrat Joined: 28 Nov 2004 Posts: 1

It never really bothered me that much. When Aladdin was called that early on, such as in the first movie, he was young and depressed about his life. He wanted desperately to be somebody important, so at the time it was a very derogatory comment for him. As the years went on though he became more confident and less ashamed of who he is. When he called Wahid a street rat I don't think he saw it as an insult, but as more of a statement. Like calling someone who is homeless a homeless person; It isn't an insult, just a statement. But yeah, Aladdin should have remembered how being called a street rat used to hurt him and have said something nicer.

Now that I think about it I don't think calling someone a homeless person is very nice either; it's more of a label, a limit on who they are. Bah, I think we're putting way more thought into this than Aladdin did when he said it. Aladdin has never been the brightest ... uh, light shining thingy in the kingdom anyway.

AladdinsGenie · Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 6:56 am Post subject:

Marisa · Sultan Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 281