Ask McFartnuggets: "Why Does Lisa Simpson Like Itchy & Scratchy?"

If you have a problem with
animal cruelty should you
have a problem with cartoon
animal cruelty?

Dear McFartnuggets: On the TV show "The Simpsons", Lisa Simpson is shown to be a huge fan of the show "Itchy & Scratchy". The problem is, Lisa's character is that of an animal loving, intelligent, vegan Buddhist and "Itchy & Scratchy" is all about a mouse and cat performing heinous acts of senseless violence on each other. The entire premise of "Itchy & Scratchy" seems in total conflict with nearly every one of Lisa Simpson's beliefs and morals so why does she find it so funny? -- Marlon from Winnepeg, Ontario

Dear Marlon:

I think the key to this inconsistency is that "Itchy & Scratchy" is a cartoon show so it's fictional violence. Also, there's no rule that says people genius level intellect can't find slapstick humor funny. Perhaps if "Itchy & Scratchy" was a new show she was being introduced to in later seasons she would have a problem with it, but because she had been watching the show since the very early days, odds are she has a sentimental bond with the characters and show which defies all conventional logic.

One question to support your claim could be the question of whether or not "Itchy & Scratchy" is an actual cartoon. Because The Simpsons are cartoons themselves there's a slight chance that to them, what is perceived by us humans to be another cartoon, to them is real live action sentient cats and dogs. However, I believe they've made it clear in the past that "Itchy & Scratchy" are in fact drawn and the show is a cartoon in a world where the Simpson cartoon characters are perceived as real living individuals.

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