Michael P
11-21-2005, 12:51 PM
http://money.cnn.com/2005/11/17/news/midcaps/dangerous_toys/index.htm?cnn=yes
Toys singled out by W.A.T.C.H. include Target's Baby Serena - Baby I'm Yours doll, which comes with a rattle and bottles that can be disassembled into small parts that could be swallowed.
Fisher Price's Little Mommy Bath Baby Doll, made by Mattel, also comes with a bottle whose parts could cause choking, the consumer safety organization said.
Animal Alley Ponies, distributed by Toys R Us, can cause ingestion injuries, W.A.T.C.H. said. The soft, colorful ponies aimed at infants have long, fiberlike hair that can be hazardous.
City Blocks, distributed by IQ Preschool - Small World Toys, also made the list because of the potential for ingestion and choking injuries.
The Camouflage Water Bomb Fun Kit from Pioneer Worldwide -- a slingshot capable of forcefully firing "water bombs" -- could cause eye injuries, W.A.T.C.H. said.
The Splatmatic Pistol Splat Paintball Shooter, which fires paint balls at a high velocity, also made the list because of its potential for eye, face and other impact injuries, as did Hasbro's Star Wars - Revenge of the Sith Energy Beam Blaster, which comes with pressurized "energy-beam string canisters."
W.A.T.C.H. also said The Lord of the Rings - Return of the King Uruk-Hai Crossbow set, which catapults arrows at high velocity, is dangerous because of its potential to cause eye injuries.
Geospace International's 38" Air Kicks Kickaroos Anti-Gravity Boots, which fit over shoes and help children bounce around, also made the list. The manufacturer instructs users to "always remain in control of your motions," but that directive is unrealistic, W.A.T.C.H. said, citing the toy's potential for head or other impact injuries.
Toy Biz's Fantastic 4 Electronic Thing Hands -- a pair of oversized fists -- made the list because it could cause blunt impact injuries.
Okay, the paintball gun I can see, but the rest? These people's kids must have the most boring toys in the neighborhood. Like Rod and Todd Flanders. "Daddy says dice are wicked. We just move one space at a time. It's less fun that way."
And all of these complaints boil down to "if your kid is a freakin' moron, they'll try to eat it" or "it is possible to be injured while using this toy." Well, shit, those are the best ones! How many of those cool playsets in that thread we had a few weeks ago could be used as bludgeoning instruments? That's right, all of them, especially if the kid's hefty. If you can't crack a skull or put an eye out with it, tell Santa to put it back in the bag and give me something that I can torture the cat with.
Dangerous toys. Unless it's a Fisher Price My First Chemical Weapons Plant, there's no such thing as a toy that's too dangerous. Do these people not remember childhood, not remember the fun had -- and valuable lessons learned -- from saying, "Hey, what happens if I do this?" Have they forgotten that playing is supposed to be spontaneous and experimental, not safe and antiseptic? Is there no one left alive who considers a childhood misspent unless it's exited with at least one set of stitches and three scars?
Toys singled out by W.A.T.C.H. include Target's Baby Serena - Baby I'm Yours doll, which comes with a rattle and bottles that can be disassembled into small parts that could be swallowed.
Fisher Price's Little Mommy Bath Baby Doll, made by Mattel, also comes with a bottle whose parts could cause choking, the consumer safety organization said.
Animal Alley Ponies, distributed by Toys R Us, can cause ingestion injuries, W.A.T.C.H. said. The soft, colorful ponies aimed at infants have long, fiberlike hair that can be hazardous.
City Blocks, distributed by IQ Preschool - Small World Toys, also made the list because of the potential for ingestion and choking injuries.
The Camouflage Water Bomb Fun Kit from Pioneer Worldwide -- a slingshot capable of forcefully firing "water bombs" -- could cause eye injuries, W.A.T.C.H. said.
The Splatmatic Pistol Splat Paintball Shooter, which fires paint balls at a high velocity, also made the list because of its potential for eye, face and other impact injuries, as did Hasbro's Star Wars - Revenge of the Sith Energy Beam Blaster, which comes with pressurized "energy-beam string canisters."
W.A.T.C.H. also said The Lord of the Rings - Return of the King Uruk-Hai Crossbow set, which catapults arrows at high velocity, is dangerous because of its potential to cause eye injuries.
Geospace International's 38" Air Kicks Kickaroos Anti-Gravity Boots, which fit over shoes and help children bounce around, also made the list. The manufacturer instructs users to "always remain in control of your motions," but that directive is unrealistic, W.A.T.C.H. said, citing the toy's potential for head or other impact injuries.
Toy Biz's Fantastic 4 Electronic Thing Hands -- a pair of oversized fists -- made the list because it could cause blunt impact injuries.
Okay, the paintball gun I can see, but the rest? These people's kids must have the most boring toys in the neighborhood. Like Rod and Todd Flanders. "Daddy says dice are wicked. We just move one space at a time. It's less fun that way."
And all of these complaints boil down to "if your kid is a freakin' moron, they'll try to eat it" or "it is possible to be injured while using this toy." Well, shit, those are the best ones! How many of those cool playsets in that thread we had a few weeks ago could be used as bludgeoning instruments? That's right, all of them, especially if the kid's hefty. If you can't crack a skull or put an eye out with it, tell Santa to put it back in the bag and give me something that I can torture the cat with.
Dangerous toys. Unless it's a Fisher Price My First Chemical Weapons Plant, there's no such thing as a toy that's too dangerous. Do these people not remember childhood, not remember the fun had -- and valuable lessons learned -- from saying, "Hey, what happens if I do this?" Have they forgotten that playing is supposed to be spontaneous and experimental, not safe and antiseptic? Is there no one left alive who considers a childhood misspent unless it's exited with at least one set of stitches and three scars?