Whenever i read something online like Ash in a coma, or see something like how The bushes and clouds are the same thing in SMB1, there are always people who are like "Dude, you ruined my childhood" or "My childhood just died", or something of that sort. I'm not sure if this is just me or not, but I don't understand how something can quote "Ruin your childhood". I have never came across something that has bothered my to that extent. My question is, Can your childhood be ruined? What is something so bad that it could do such a thing. Don't tell me it's a figure of speech, because people are usually serious. It's probably just me, but I just don't get it.

yeah, that's usually how i mean it as well. but i think it's possible for your childhood to be ruined, just maybe not by a videogame. for instance (purely hypothetical) what if you found out that your parents weren't your real parents? wouldn't it put things in a different context? either way, tho, the examples you (ryanh181) used are probably just people overreacting/joking around.

I wouldn't say those things ruined my childhood, but i definitely notice the tie on a kakuna EVERY TIME now... it's kind of annoying now. lol.

I certainly did overreact when I said Lost Silver ruined my childhood, but now I can't play Crystal without thinking of that. And it turned me off to used games.

That makes sense, but specifically I meant stupid little things like the Kakuna with a tie and the Kangaskhan/Cubone story.

... Dude, I have never seen that. Holy S***.. that was creepy as hell. especially when my pants started slipping down a little and it was really slow like so i just jumped and flipped around, and nothing was there... I am creeped out, I think Gold was haunting me as I read that. lmao

Yes, it almost got me a heart attack. Anyway, i think that something that ruined the childhood is something that could give you a phobia. Something bad that you can't forget forever.

My childhood was wide-ruled school worksheets with pictures I had to write of "goat"s and "cap"s. Saturday mornings meant cereal and the original NickToons: Doug first, Rigrats, and then Ren & Stimpy and network cartoons like X-Men. Anytime in between meant NES, SNES, Genesis, and GameBoy. To say that revelations now I never noticed until image boards have any relevance to what I remember growing up as a child is completely ludicrous. Life goes on.

well my grandad spent his child hood in the army..... 8 years old....does that count?

I've always interpreted that expression as a surprise or shock for never really noticing whatever "ruined your childhood" when you were actually a child (which is good), and only realising it after you've grown up/matured, when some random jerk pointed it out.

I don't think people are serious or mean it when they use that expression. I've used it a couple of times myself when I've unfortunatelly stumbled across old cartoons porn. Even if I watch these cartoons again, as an adult, I won't make any connections to the ugh material I've seen, so there's no problem. The shock is immediate and temporary, and it won't stop me from watching said cartoons and enjoy them. Unless the image gets stuck in your head forever and keeps coming back to haunt you; then you might need to seek some professional help.

So yeah, in my opinion your childhood can't really be ruined, unless you're still going through that phase and something really bad happens to you (or you somehow manages to travel back in time and force your younger self to look/read the scary material). "Thanks for ruining my childhood" is, to me, nothing but an expression of shock. It's basically saying "I wasn't expecting someone would disfigure what I remember to have played an important role in my childhood, which was so pure and innocent; I'm thus shocked and disaprove of this"

<3 your English. :3

Yes, i agree with that, but only if the one who said that is an adult, a child who said that could say about his/her phobia or whatever that has been awakened.

I guess I should actually post something that ruined my childhood. So growing up I spent a lot of time with my cousins. Even though they lived about an hour away, they came over and we all were together at my grandmas house for what seemed like all the time. But recently, one of my cousins had gotten in a car accident. The car flipped on her and she died.. And even though it never truly changed my childhood, it still makes me think. Back then I never thought of the possibility that there would come a day that she might die. Every time I look back on those days, it just really gets me.. I know that they always say to think about the fact that they're in a better place now, and you should smile and be happy and laugh about those days, but it's hard. That's all.

Also, Pokemon wise, Pokemon Porn ruined my childhood. How sad. :c

Basically something (Specifically my favorite anime/manga) that was turned into porn also makes me sad.

Also, i do have something that could be said as ruined childhood. When i was 3 or so, i were scared by roaches thrown by some punks i don't know, and since then, i have a phobia of roaches.