Over the last 7 months of writing a weekly article, I have to tell you, my loyal reader, that I have had quite a few late nights deciding what I was going to write about as well as a few bouts with writer's block. Since I started this project I have experienced everything from too much material to choose from to absolutely nothing happening during the week that caught my attention and/or tickled my writing fancy. But thanks to my lovely wife's internet Observations, a gentleman in Scotland and a little blue talking doll, I have had no problem at all with the latter this week.
Andrew Smith, a father in Dingwall, Scotland (almost fitting) has labeled Disney doll "Sadness" from the new Pixar movie, Inside Out, as "toxic" for children. After purchasing the talking doll for his 11 year old daughter, he was "horrified" to hear it utter, what he feels, are "suicidal thoughts". Phrases such as "Crying makes me slow down and obsess over the weight of life's problems." "I'm in an emotional slump, my legs don't work. Give me an hour." and "Goodbye friendship. Hello loneliness." have prompted him to contact Disney and petition the company to have the doll recalled. He suggests that the doll sends a "really damaging message" for young children, in particular pre-teens who "may be struggling with hormones anyway". Disney reportedly thanked him for his interest in their new movie. Smith, a full time psychology student at the University of Highlands and Islands, who is also employed as a car rental agent, not only doesn't care for what the doll says, but how it says it. He claims that "the doll speaks in a very slow, depressed, melancholic tone" and as he listened to it thought, "that's heavy.... even for an adult". OK, show of hands, my fellow Observers. Who thinks this imbecile should stick to renting cars? I personally feel that there's more money in it for him and he should stay with what he knows. It sure isn't psychology. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure all this dogma he's spewing to any media that will listen to him has probably killed his practice before he even hangs his shingle. Seriously, what's gonna be next on this guys "Disney is destroying our children" hit list? An internet campaign to ban Eeyore? Maybe he's one of those nuts that has an actual problem with Donald Duck because he never wears pants and questions his relationship with Huey, Dewey and Louie. If any of this sounds ridiculous to you, there's a perfectly good reason for that. It is!
Although this moron's rants about a doll suggesting suicidal thoughts to children are getting some people's tongues wagging (or in my case, pens writing) this is nothing new under the cloudy, rainy sky. For years Barbie has taken the controversial wrap for everything from not being anatomically correct, setting an impossible physical standards for girls (and some guys... insert Bruce Jenner joke here) to misrepresenting cultures, social status and being politically incorrect. Then there are some that feel certain toys are too graphic. In the early seventies Ideal's Joey Stivic doll of the sitcom "All in the Family" fame caused a stir because the diapered doll actually had male genitals instead of the standard neutered "Danger Zone" that Americans have all come to modestly know, love and are still made to this day. (insert fig leaf joke here) Toys R Us made the same Y chromosome social mistake 40 years later with their You and Me, Mommy Change my Diaper doll. Then there is the recent Pirate Fairy doll in Argentina that due to an injection mold manufacturing flaw appears to have, again, male genitals and is being labeled virally as the worlds first transgender doll. Is it just me or does this seem to be following a phallic pattern here? It's entirely unintentional I assure you all.... but I cannot resist just one more. The Harry Potter Nimbus 2000 toy broom with a vibration feature. Enough written....Quidditch anyone?
Other people question the message some toys send. "Sadness" aside, we also have Gwen, the Mattel All American Girl doll that was marketed as "homeless". Another Barbie boo-boo was the Oreo Barbie collection. For those of you that missed it... two dolls... one white... one black.... instant recall, even with the picture of the world's favorite cookie on the package. These are instances that I can somewhat understand the controversy and believe that the marketing and research department of some of these companies should reevaluate the way they approve toys that are to be sold to the anal retentive attitudes of the American consumer culture, but at the end of the day we are just talking about toys.
Some people have issues with toys they feel promote violence.
Some people claim some toys are racist.
Some people have problems with the way toys are dressed.
Some people say certain toys hurt children's self esteem by promoting laziness and indifference.
Some people are compete idiots.
We encourage our children to use their imaginations, tell them that they can be anything they want to be, love whoever they want to love, not to give up on their dreams, but question the influence a certain toy has over them while playing with it and exploring their individuality. What I love about children the most is their acceptance of the world around them. They take everything at face value and rely on emotions to guide them. Ignoring political correctness, race, status symbols, religion, politics and any social agenda until their parents push theirs on them. The truth is that children have absolutely no hang-ups with any toy... to them they're just toys. It's the adults that teach them that this one is for a boy and that one is for a girl. This one is too violent and that one is too dangerous, you'll shoot your eye out. This one is not appropriate and that one is racist. This one is too realistic and that one will make you want to kill yourself. Children see none of this until adults teach it to them. So just who has the problem here? Who needs to be more socially aware?
As much as I would like this to be the extent of our social dysfunction, unfortunately it's not just limited to toys. Music, video games, movies and books have all found a way into the crosshairs of the moral majority's censorship scope. Creative charlatans that sell their societal snake oil as a cure all for our children's problems and to assist the greater good while promoting their agenda of right and wrong. For as much as I despised George W.'s administration and outraged by the complete failure of the electoral college that led to his presidency, it was a no win scenario for me either way. Not because of how I felt about Al Gore. I actually liked him. His wife, on the other hand, scared the hell out of me when it came to her views on censorship. The last thing we needed on that front was PMRC, "I highlight with a black Sharpie marker" Tipper having her husband holding the most powerful job in the country. In hind sight I think we all dodged a gag order bullet on that issue. Just look at the damage she did when her husband was the vice-president. The most disturbing thing about that whole situation was the following she had acquired. It should have showed us all how easy it would be for any one of these self righteous rubes to hold a book burning party in front of the capital surrounded by a crowd of thousands waiting to break out the hot dogs, but it didn't. She simply fell into obscurity, like they all do, and I guarantee you she's just waiting for her chance to strike that match again.
As parents, the most important part of our job is protecting our children. Not only from the mortal dangers that surround them but from others that can harm them with ideals that can stifle their mental growth and individual thought. We need to teach them to ignore those who would direct the blame of society's troubles away from themselves, their twisted views and place them on a toy. Even more so a disgrace when that blame is turned toward art, music or literature. That's the problem with censorship. It starts out small and sneaks up on you. It starts with something like a..... toy and before we realize it, we find ourselves following a pietistical pied piper that we thought we hired to protect us. Strictly an Observation. If you'll excuse me, I'm ordering something from Argentina for Tipper Gore.
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