SpongeBob was on another level, man.
20 years have passed, and I’m still finding new metaphors and messages I never noticed
as a kid.
For weeks now, I’ve wanted to make a video about unhealthy addictions and how to overcome
them, but believe it or not, there’s not that many relevant cartoons that focus on
the subject, so I appreciate the hooky episode of SpongeBob for what it tries to do.
It’s a good episode with a powerful message warning viewers about the consequences of
addiction.
Now, can this episode be used as an example for how to beat an addiction?
The answer is yes, and no.
Let me explain, but first, here’s a quick recap.
The episode begins with Mr. Krabs panicking like a maniac, telling his customers about
the "return of the hooks."
He makes sure to educate SpongeBob about the dangers of hooks, and the consequences of
what could happen if he was caught.
In the next scene, Patrick let's SpongeBob know about a carnival that’s in town, so
SpongeBob leaves to see what all the hype is all about.
But he ends up discovering that the "carnival" is just those dangerous hooks that Mr. Krabs
warned him about.
Patrick however, doesn’t sense any danger and ignores SpongeBob’s worries.
That is when he is yanked up, SpongeBob panics, but luckily Patrick is revealed to be alive.
The two then begin to find loopholes for why it’s okay for them to ride the hooks.
SpongeBob even starts calling it fun, more fun than working double overtime at the Krusty
Krab.
Eventually, Mr. Krabs finds them, scares them a bit more about what could happen if one
of hooks caught them, and makes them promise to never go on the hooks again.
Do they keep this promise?
Of course not.
Hell, Patrick flat out disobeys Krabs’ orders calling him a big dummy.
The irony.
SpongeBob on the other hand, actually wants to stop playing on the hooks.
Which is progress, it’s the first step to solving any addiction we’re not proud of.
Deep down he wants to quit, but just like any addiction, temptation and curiosity gets
the best of him.
SpongeBob tries to get one quick ride in, but that ride could end up being his last,
because he is officially hooked.
He sprints to the Krusty Krab for help, and cries to Mr. Krabs about how he should have listened
to his orders.
Krabs implies the only way to escape is to get naked, but it’s something SpongeBob
isn’t willing to do, especially not in front of all the girls.
Mr. Krabs accepts SpongeBob’s fate, but thankfully the hook only pulls his underwear
off, leaving him in relief, that is until he is humiliated once more.
Turns out it was just Squidward and Mr. Krabs just trying to teach the guy a lesson.
Unsurprisingly, Patrick also got his karma.
Mr. Krabs had to pretty much traumatize SpongeBob in order to get him to stop his hook addiction.
This episode favors scare tactics, and you know what?
That can work, sometimes, but it shouldn’t be relied on.
I believe, the best way to tackle addiction, is not to focus on the addiction itself, but
to instead focus on what leads to said addiction.
Not only the activities that lead to our addiction, but also the emotions that lead to it.
Many of us use our addiction as a way to escape from our emotional pain.
That pain could be loneliness, it could be anxiety, guilt, you name it.
But the truth is, if we keep trying to run away from pain or fear, we will never beat
it.
With that being said, we need to face the suffering head on, and become one with said
suffering, accept it, and accept ourselves.
With all our imperfections, and relapses that are inevitable, and the temporary problems
we deal with in our everyday lives, it’s very easy for us to get down on ourselves.
But the only way we are going to overcome our negative emotions is not through fear,
not through escaping our feelings, but through self-love.
Only then, is when we can truly be unhooked.
This was Made2Express, thanks for watching.