Is Peter Griffen a Bad Person?

[Eddie G.]

The question is is Peter from Family Guy a bad person, I mean we know he's stupid and sexist, and has done bad things. But many times in the series we have seen examples of Peter trying to grow as a person, and actually caring about his family.

So the question is do you consider Peter a bad human being, or a person damned by his ignorance and stupidity however is still good?

[Terminatah]

I think Peter Griffin is the best person I've ever seen in my life.

-Terminatah

[Animelee]

Well, I guess he can sometimes be caring, but it depends on who's writing the episode. One writer would want to make him look like an uncaring bastard, and another would want to make him look like a loveable dope, so I don't know.

I will tell you one thing, though -- Peter is definitely the most realistic character on TV.

[SilverKnight]

Meg: "Daddy, could you buy me a Prada bag?"
Peter: "I could never say no to my sweety. How much does it cost, like ten bucks?"
Meg: "Heh, more like eleven...hundred."
Peter: "Ha! You WISH I loved you that much!"

...That sounds something anyone in my family would say. :D

Personally, I think Peter is a good person essentially, just incredibly stupid and pig-headed. :) But, maybe that's just me. :D

[DarkMaster]

being a good family person or friend is listening to others. Being an evil person is not listening to others and being angry for something as trivial as previously stated opinion without thinking it may hurt others. Peter griffin looks out for others people well being and never be afraid to tell how he feels that's why he's a good person sometimes. PEter also knows when he hurts someone and seems evil.

[Bubblegum Girl]

Peter's not a bad person. He's just a dumbass. :D

[megachao24]

Peter is kind-hearted, yet a jackass. :cool:

[Beat]

Like Homer and to a lesser degree Hank Hill, Peter's a good intentioned moron.

[SSJPabs]

He might not be a bad person, but I'll consider him a Bad Father.

EDIT: I hate Family Guy so I'm not the best authority on this topic.

[DianaGohan]

I would agree that at his heart, he's a good person (this is proven in many episodes, espically in "Holy Crap" when Peter wanted to impress his dad but didn't want to be like him because he didn't want to seperate himself from his family at the end) but is just really, really stupid. Which makes him seem like more of a jackass then he probably is.

[eyager]

If Peter was as pure of heart like Ned Flanders, there wouldn't be as much comedic potential. The boorish sexist men are a staple for sitcoms.

[Jaguar]

Peter Griffin is basically who a lot of us really are: a really good natured person who mostly does and says what's on his mind and usually ends up looking like a dumbass, especially that time at the dance when I ripped that girl's blouse accidentally and--what were we talkin' about?

[Aurochs]

I think Peter Griffon is a really intelligent, progressive, and witty person with a good sense of humor that keeps up a constant satirical and facetious shtick that makes him come off as uneducated, immature, and racist.

But I really think he's various drawing impliments applied to a tree-product and animated with computers who reflects how the script is written.

[Luna]

I think Peter's a good guy(he does love his family and friends)....he just happens to be an idiot.He tends to not think things through,and just says whatever comes to mind...which is why I like him.... :D

[Mynd Hed]

Kevin Smith has stated that he tries to keep his foul-mouthed drug dealer character Jay sympathetic by portraying him as having no moral compass. He does all kinds of reprehensible things, but it's hard to blame him because most of the time he honestly doesn't know that what he's doing is wrong.

Example: In Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Jay calls a woman a b****. When she reacts angrily, he wonders why, and his girlfriend says that it's because women don't like being called b****es. When he asks what he should call them instead, she responds, "You know, something nice, something sweet." He appears to honestly consider this for a second, and then replies, "You mean like... boo boo... kitty f***?"

I think McFarlane and Co. are probably going for the same thing with Peter. He does a lot of bad things that hurt other people, but he doesn't do them on purpose: he does them because he's an idiot and honestly doesn't know what effect his actions have.

[Pimmelmann]

The Simpsons went wrong when, instead of being a decent guy who was just quick to anger and sometimes insensitive and not so bright, Homer Simpson became a supervillain. He's the worst person in the town now. Almost everything bad that happens is his fault. We can hardly imagine any reason why even his wife would love him. He's a monster.

Peter Griffin was much more like this from the very beginning, and went downhill from there. He has essentially no redeeming qualities.

[Nick K.]

Peter Griffin is the best person in the land of television, second only to Homer!

[bassist]

He's bad! He's bad! You know it! He's bad! And the whole world has to answer right now just to tell you once again, who's bad!

[ClockStomper]

In case the opening song didn't tip you off, Peter is an extreme parody of Archie Bunker (Seth's inflection even sounds a bit like Bunker.) His personality depends on the gag being presented.

[Mynd Hed]

His personality depends on the gag being presented.

This, of course, is ultimately the only completely true and correct answer to the question.

[Aurochs]

In case the opening song didn't tip you off, Peter is an extreme parody of Archie Bunker (Seth's inflection even sounds a bit like Bunker.) His personality depends on the gag being presented.

I think you hit the nail on the head. (not unlike the head being hit by a nail in my avatar)

[shogunthethird]

basically, he's a fat idiot, psychologically he's pure ID but basically....yeah he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer

[Benderama]

*flashes back to the episode where Peter turned real* ah ah ahhhhh!!!

but yeah if he were a real person...I think hed be a really bad person. Kinda like Homer...but much worse!!!

God only knows whatd happen if those 2 happened to actually meet, and get drunk together.

[Bonk]

There are certain episodes where I think they went over the top with how much of a jackass he is. He'll be a totally insensitive prick the entire episode, then he "redeems" himself in the last minute of the show, or sometimes not at all.

I realize he's a parody of Archie Bunker and probably several other characters as well, but as funny as the show is, and as many great quotes Peter has, I've often thought of Peter as kind of an unlikeable character. Hilarious, but unlikeable.

[candy17]

Absolutely not. Peter is human, which explains his stupidity and sexism. He's almost like a cartoon version of Archie Bunker (though many people will argue that Cartman from "South Park" is like Archie).

[Juu-kuchi]

I just think like everybody else that he means well, but comes off like an idiot. He also has a tendency to not really care about anyone's feelings when he gets REALLY involved in his work (like in "the King is Dead")

He's a good guy, but he's not all too bright, but he does his best, even though it comes with the worst result.

[DianaGohan]

What the writers have to say about Peter:

"He's a bad man."
"He is"
"But shamlessly so."

I believe that covers it.

[Gmfox8@cox.net]

Peter Griffen is a great person.

[jrh31584]

He has a tendency to do the wrong thing for the right reasons, and vice-versa. Overall, he is probably a good person, just stupid.

[Lord Asmodeus]

I LOVE Peter Griffin; He even laid eggs in me once but that was on an unaired episode.........BSF...IMHO... 1. Family Guy Rocks! 2. Peter is the answer to this country's out-of control PC movement that started back in the early 1990's Like others here have posted, he's the new Archie Bunker.....why? Because we need someone like that in order to be the Ying to the yang of the lef'ts wannabe mind / free speech control. We got everybody so damn afraid to to say anything to anyone cos they're afraid theyll get sued, but not peter...he may be a good example of too far to the right whereas those he appalls are examples of too far to the left............I think he's an outlet that eeks by the censors in order to keep us all sane. :D

[Doomraider]

But many times in the series we have seen examples of Peter trying to grow as a person, and actually caring about his family.
Well yes, but it is usually ended with some funny joke =P
But, HES A GREAT GUY! HE MAKES US LAUGH AND CRY, BECAUSE "Hes a fam-ly guuuuy!"