Ditch the doll?

[Rachmaninoff]

This certainly isn't anything new since I've seen it come up in the past, but I have to wonder why people get so up in arms over a toy: [URL="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29508066/"][U]Ditch the doll? Lawmaker out to outlaw Barbie[/U][/URL] I mean when it comes down to it, isn't it the parent's choice and responsiblity as to what they'll let their kids play with?

In general, I tend to not favor attempts to ban toys over something like this. It feels too much like were passing the buck on personal responsiblity as a parent. Now obviously I have no experience in that area but I still think if one really believes a toy promotes that, then the answer is to simply not buy it for your kids.

What do you think of banning things like this? Do you think there are toys out there that need to be yanked off the shelves? Or do you think the whole thing is stupid?

[Raiha]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Well I kind of just read a short story for my Fiction class that involved a pubescent boy and a Barbie doll together... ....pubescently... So maybe I'm kind of skewed but right now I'm thinking that the lawyer should go back to promoting the welfare of disadvantaged children and battered women and stuff.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[ChibiHorsewoman]

[color=#9933ff][size=4][font=monotype corsiva]Can't they just ban Bratz instead? At least Barbie's had a few different degrees and jobs(pediatrician, Dentist, Vet, animal trainer, dance teacher, soccer coach, astornaught (can't spell that) President (more than a few times) College graduate, model, TV chef, pilot ect ect ect) Yes I do think at times the clothing gets a little extreme, but at least she's proven a few times that being pretty or well dressed isn't everything, you also need to get an education.

I like Barbie and I've bought a few for my daughter (including a [B]Ken[/B] who my sister-in-law and I have dubbed [B]Metrosexual Ken[/B] because he has eyeshadow and lipstick!) They go driving and shopping and on long expiditions in her bedroom. Then they go and steal the computer from the Barbie fashion boutique really it's cute to watch.

I believe that Barbie helps with imagination (Barbie Soufle anyone?) and to ban her would just be crazy. And like Raiha said, get that Lawyer back to trying to help people or banning something worth while, like I don't know Barney, or cousins marrying cousins.[/color][/size][/font]

[Drizzt Do'urden]

Can't help but be reminded of your "Bratz enter the toy museum" rant from a long time ago Chibi.

Depending on the circumstances I do feel it may be sometimes necessary for lawmakers and the like to step in. Sure as Rach said, it is allowing parents to 'pass the buck' so to speak. On the flip side, however, if the toy is popular enough you may not be able to keep your child from being fully exposed no matter what you do.

Other children's houses, school, or tv, they could be exposed somehow. Though for the most part, and most likely in this case, simple preventive parenting would suffice. Therefore making my ranting case purley unconsequential...

[Chaos]

Whaaat? *laughs incredulously*

You cannot be serious. This is...

...

I have no words to describe how utterly pathetic this is. As I type this, I literally cannot put the right words down to explain just how completely RETARDED this is. You mean to tell me that there is NOTHING in the 19th District of West Virginia that could demand more attention than [url=http://fashionindie.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/barbie-large.jpg]this.[/url] If so, this country is in ****-shape.

...

Upon digging through the 'net, I can see [url=http://www.legis.state.wv.us/images/deljpg2005/eldridge_jeff.jpg]why[/url] he would want to ban Barbie. He was probably burned by a six-foot-five, one hundred-five pound blonde with a 36C cup size. Stood up at underclassman prom by the captain of the cheerleading squad and then duct taped to a flagpole.

THAT would be the only reason I could think for him to waste taxpayer money even CONSIDERING this as an issue to concern a state legislation with.

If you're going to ban a toy, why not do something about those kids with the Heeliez shoes, or the Hulk Gloves that make noise when you hit something. Or maybe the Hula-Hoop. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a young child's life absolutely destroyed and morally raped because they couldn't beat their personal best with a Hula-Hoop.

...I cannot believe they would allow this person to propose such a thing. Yes, let's outlaw one of the last untouched facets of Americana that DOESN'T promote 'bad' values. While we're at it, let's outlaw the WiiFit, too, and any upcoming Mario or similarly good-natured video game that might bring an ounce of joy to children. Let's submerge them in easily-accessible violence on network TV and show that all women on TV end up dead in a random gutter on some CSI spinoff.

I'm going to smoke a cigarette and go to sleep. It's two in the morning.

I so unleashed on this topic, but you know what? Stupidity should be painful.

[Axel]

I agree with you that it's the parents who buy the toys for the children, but it is often the kids who badger the parents into submission in the first place. A kid will see a doll that meets the stereotypical "standards" of todays society and will want it.

Banning them is a bit far, but I can see why outrage exists in the first place. Half of the toys made for girls look like they jumped out of the red light district at 2AM.

I'd say it's down to the designers and manufacturers. If people want to do something, I say make the toys more child-friendly and not so 'sexy'. Have limits on the size of the lips, chest area and so on. Give them safer clothes instead of all the short skirts and low cut tops. They might as well be wearing handkerchiefs half the time...

[chibi-master]

Yeah, so Barbie promotes beauty that is unrealistic and fake. But hey, so does TV, magazines, and more. Should we ban those too? Or should we- *GASP* -put a weensy amount of faith into children's own ability to establish their individuality? Oh, sorry, that was stupid of me to suggest! After all, every child is a simple, mindless drone incapable of having a unique thought process.:rolleyes:

[sakurasuka]

[FONT="Arial"][SIZE="1"]

Barbie is awesome.

Playing with Barbies, DBZ action figures, and Pokemon figurines was a major pastime for me as a kid. Each Barbie, Kelly, Ken, Gohan, Trunks, Pikachu, and Snorlax had a family, history, personality and a name.

This character-development was what sparked my creativity as a child to write and illustrate comic books and I became really interested in art and design. Years later, I'm a successful graphic/web designer and illustrator with more freelance jobs than I could ever imagine.



So, you could say that Barbie introduced me to my career and taught me how to succeed at life.

[/SIZE][/FONT]

[Drizzt Do'urden]

[quote name='sakurasuka']
[SIZE=1][FONT=Arial]Playing with Barbies, DBZ action figures, and Pokemon figurines was a major pastime for me as a kid. Each Barbie, Kelly, Ken, Gohan, Trunks, Pikachu, and Snorlax had a family, history, personality and a name. [/FONT][/SIZE][/quote]

That....well that just might be the oddest combination of toys I've EVER heard of. Of course in a cool way, I just have a hard time picturing Goku battling a giant Pikachu in order to stop him from destroying the salon in which Ken and Barbie are getting pedicures.

That's good that those dolls had a positive impact on your life though Sakura

[SunfallE]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]These attempts to ban Barbie always make me giggle. Mainly because I had three older brothers growing up. So my dolls fell victim to us eventually blowing them up with firecrackers all in the name of good fun. =P

Since then I have collected a handful over the years cause I thought they were pretty. Like my one of Princess Leia from Star Wars and Queen Amadala. The dolls never made me feel like I wasn't pretty enough, they were just good fun to blow up and then later become decorations for my room. lol[/FONT][/COLOR]

[Gavin]

[SIZE="1"][CENTER][IMG]http://zeitgeistglee.250free.com/Smithers.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER]

I just couldn't resist, it was the first thing that came to mind. :animesmil[/SIZE]

[ChibiHorsewoman]

[quote name='sakurasuka'][FONT="Arial"][SIZE="1"]

Barbie is awesome.

Playing with Barbies, DBZ action figures, and Pokemon figurines was a major pastime for me as a kid. Each Barbie, Kelly, Ken, Gohan, Trunks, Pikachu, and Snorlax had a family, history, personality and a name.
[/SIZE][/FONT][/QUOTE]

[color=#9933ff][size=4][font=monotype corsiva]You forgot the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Kid's meal toys, those Fisher price dolls I had that had colour change hair and My Little Pony.

But I see where you're coming from. Especially now with a child of my own. I see where you're coming from. Banning Barbie is like banning creativity.

As for the Bratz rant early last year. Please someone tell me three positive things that the Bratz do.[/color][/font][/size]

[Drizzt Do'urden]

[quote name='ChibiHorsewoman']
[SIZE=4][FONT=monotype corsiva][COLOR=#9933ff]As for the Bratz rant early last year. Please someone tell me three positive things that the Bratz do.[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/quote]

I accept that challenge Chibi!

1.) Generate much needed tax revenue for our government and it's presidents crazy money making schemes. (For some reason I get the Lucielle Ball, Desi Arnez vibe from Obama and Biden. One day I wait for a presidential Addres in which Obama talks about ANOTHER trillion dollar spending package to in turn make money, in which Joe Bidden steps in and says "Obama! You got some splainin to do!". Then of course Obama breaks down and cries over it.)

2.) (More on topic) They teach kids that being different is okay (they broke the racial barrier MUCH faster then barbie did.) as long as your clothes are fabulous.

3.) They teach young girls that dressing trashy (no offense to anybody here who idolizes the bratz and dresses like them.) is a sure fire key to success....oh wait
[quote name='ChibiHorsewoman']
[SIZE=4][FONT=monotype corsiva][COLOR=#9933ff]As for the Bratz rant early last year. Please someone tell me three positive things that the Bratz do.[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/quote]

I suppose that means I've failed...well I tried.:animeswea

[Aaryanna]

[COLOR="DarkGreen"][FONT="Tahoma"]And here I was more into stuffed animals instead of dolls. I don't even have any Barbie's and never have. lol Still I find the idea of banning dolls like this kind of stupid really. It just seems like a waste of time and money to even try. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[ChibiHorsewoman]

[quote name='Drizzt Do'urden']I accept that challenge Chibi!

1.) Generate much needed tax revenue for our government and it's presidents crazy money making schemes. (For some reason I get the Lucielle Ball, Desi Arnez vibe from Obama and Biden. One day I wait for a presidential Addres in which Obama talks about ANOTHER trillion dollar spending package to in turn make money, in which Joe Bidden steps in and says "Obama! You got some splainin to do!". Then of course Obama breaks down and cries over it.)[/QUOTE]

[color=#9933ff][size=4][font=monotype corsiva][]Well so does Barbie. And the fashion industry. That was a bit off topic. I mean I keep hoping we can fix the budget. And I feel bad for him because Bush left him with this POS economy... but yeah let's keep to the subject at hand.[/color][/font][/size]

QUOTE=Drizzt Do'urden;833308]2.) (More on topic) They teach kids that being different is okay (they broke the racial barrier MUCH faster then barbie did.) as long as your clothes are fabulous.[/QUOTE]

[color=#9933ff][size=4][font=monotype corsiva][In Barbie's defence she came out in 1959 when it wasn't all that common and in some cases okay for racial mixing. I believe the first black Barbie (Christie- now Nikki) was created in the late sixties. The Bratz came out in the late 90's early 2000. It'd've been frowned upon if they didn't make different races (then give them extensions and itty bitty noses) I really feel sorry for the Obama's daughter. Do you all know the horror of having a Bratz doll have the same name as you? I do.[/color][/size][/font]

[quote name='Drizzt Do'urden']3.) They teach young girls that dressing trashy (no offense to anybody here who idolizes the bratz and dresses like them.) is a sure fire key to success....oh wait [/QUOTE]

[color=#9933ff][size=4][font=monotype corsiva][Yeah I know. Around Christmas time I was going through the toy aisle while talking on the phone with a friend of mine. I saw these Party time Bratz and I started yelling Oh my GOD! THey have hookah (I've a major NY accent when I get mad or excited) Bratz with stripper shoes!! Needless to say there were stares. I guess if your only prospect in life is to become a stripper or a hooker then Bratz will help you get there.[/color][/size][/font]

[quote name='Drizzt Do'urden']I suppose that means I've failed...well I tried.:animeswea [/QUOTE]

[color=#9933ff][size=4][font=monotype corsiva][nods* Well kinda. But I will say my daughter has one Bratz doll and a three Bratz Kidz. But really not a fan. [/color][/font][/size]

[chibi-master]

[quote name='Aaryanna'][COLOR="DarkGreen"][FONT="Tahoma"]And here I was more into stuffed animals instead of dolls.[/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE]

I played with both. But in a twisted way... See, I was (and probably still am) one of those terrors that you hear about in stories or see in movies. I would send my dolls, tied and gagged with their own overly-sparkly dresses, into a storage bin that would have one of my beanie babies or another stuffed animal in it. Then I'd shake up the bin and pretend that my stuffed hummingbird was beating the ******* out of my anatomically incorrect Ken doll. I think I still have a plastic bag crammed with dismembered doll "trophies" somewhere in my closet...:animedepr