15 replies to this topic

[Velvet D'Coolette]

Bit of an odd question at first glance? I'll explain what I'm asking...

When I first heard of Sonic the Hedgehog years ago, he didn't sound like a particularly outlandish character because I already knew what a hedgehog was. They're a quintissential part of British nature.

However, I just got to wondering the other day, are most Americans casually familiar with hedgehogs? Did you just think, 'oh sure, it's one of those hamster things with a bed of nails on its back'? Or when the Americans among you first heard of StH, did you wonder, 'what the f's a hedgehog?'

What about any other nationalities?

[furrykef]

I didn't know what a hedgehog was when I first heard of Sonic. I was around 10 years old at the time. My science teacher in 7/8th grade (same teacher both years) -- that'd be when I was around 12 -- did have a pet hedgehog, though, which was probably the first time I really got familiar with what a hedgehog is.

I'd say it's reasonably common knowledge in America, but porcupines are considerably better known -- I remember when I learned what a hedgehog was, I thought, "Oh, so it's like a porcupine!" (It's actually not all that much like a porcupine -- the spines are rather different, often very much so depending on species -- but it's still the closest thing I knew of.)

[RedAuthar]

Yeah....for the longest time I thought it was just another porcupine like animal. I actually don't much but I've come to know their are differences in size and spines between the two.

[Teirusu]

In the part of Spain where I live, hedgehogs arnt common. In my whole life I only see one, and 90% never had a hedgehog pet, but more than 70% had one hamster

When I knew Sonic, I didnt know what was a hedgehog, I Was too young for know. I think on Spain if someone see a hamster with needles, he say "its a hedgehog", doesnt matter what can it be . Here is more common say "hedgehog" than "equidna", I think because the linguistic...is more easy say "erizo"(hedgehog) than "equidna" or "puercoespín" (porcupine), Au contrarie that english, I remember the english class test about animals and I was thinking: Where the hell hedgehog have the two 'H'. Good old memories

[Reed Teran]

When I was growing up in mein Heimatland, when I first got wind of Sonic, I had a pet Hedgehog at the time, aptly named "Hedgie." I got into the blue blur, and renamed Hedgie "Sonic." Me, being as young as I was, got in REALLY big trouble for trying to paint Sonic blue...I was grounded for 2 months!
Poor Sonic the Hedgie....I miss him right now...I only have a cat, a dog, and a nice little rosy boa named "Urik"....my poor previous. Snake got mouthrot.

[LogiTeeka]

I was probably one of the few Americans to know what a hedgehog was long before I was familiar with Sonic. My mom was born in England and she was familiar with some of the British culture. One of the books she brought over to read when I was a toddler was "The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy Winkle" by Beatrix Potter, and that was where I first became familiar with the creature.

My first encounter with Sonic was way back when I was being babysitted near my parents' job. The babysitter had a whole bunch of random videos for me to watch, including an old VHS tape of AoStH (which I barely remember watching). Nearly a decade later, I became better acquainted with the character when my younger bother bought "Sonic Adventure 2 Battle" for our Gamecube. At first, I was confused by the premise (I thought Shadow was the main villain, not Robotnik). But when my brother later bought "Sonic Adventure DX", "Sonic Mega Collection", and "Sonic Heroes"; I started to like the series better.

[MoonPrincess07]

Ooooh man. I'm not sure about anyone on here, but Sonic's literally been around my whole life so I guess I've always had some sort of idea of what a hedgehog was. Of couse, I've had to "rewrite" my definition of what a hedgehog was.

[Vlad Yvhv]

Hegehogs are one of those "cute little critters" that we'd see at school field trips to the zoo, or when some animal handlers came to the school. So, everyone in my area knew what a hedgehog was by 1987. Technically speaking, any critter not native to the US is considered an exotic animal by law, though. So, it really depends on how the laws are set up governing exotic animals as to whether or not people in an area could have them for pets, or whatnot. I wouldn't be surprised if there are some classroom pet hedgehogs.

[MoKat]

Yeah....for the longest time I thought it was just another porcupine like animal. I actually don't much but I've come to know their are differences in size and spines between the two.

Heh, same here, Red. You're -way- more likely to see a squirrel, rabbit or opossum here where I am than a porcupine tho'.

[RedAuthar]

I'm more likely to see a scorpion or snake here.

[MoonPrincess07]

Yeah....for the longest time I thought it was just another porcupine like animal. I actually don't much but I've come to know their are differences in size and spines between the two.

Heh, same here, Red. You're -way- more likely to see a squirrel, rabbit or opossum here where I am than a porcupine tho'.

Same here. Squirrels, rabbits, possums, and deer. Well, the deer you mainly see on the side of the road or hanging in a tree to be cleaned up for jerkey and such.

[Vlad Yvhv]

I almost ran over a wild turkey yesterday, in town. I was going in town to mail some stuff for my grandparents, who're watching over my other grandpa's house while he's in the hospital.

[RedAuthar]

I can honestly say that I've never had that happen to me.

Though that does make me wonder something. Can a Hedgehog's needles puncture a car tire?

[Teirusu]

After check some pages with Sir Google, looks like a hedgehog cant puncture a car tire, some people have an hedgehog say that hedgehogs have very soft needles and they think the reason he have needles if just camuflage for predators.

Anyway I cant give my opinion, like I said I never had a hedgehog, i never touch one, and only see one in my life

[furrykef]

I've pet a hedgehog. Doesn't feel unpleasant at all. Might be more so if the creature were alarmed and bristling, though.

[RedAuthar]

Better not pet it the wrong way.