[Nymesys Prime]

I got it...TRU should make an 18 and over backroom like the old video stores use to have...that way they can pull all the adult collector figures in the back. brings back memories of sneakin in the back to see adult parodies of children shows starring "actors"

[En Sabah Nerd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nymesys Prime

I got it...TRU should make an 18 and over backroom like the old video stores use to have...that way they can pull all the adult collector figures in the back. brings back memories of sneakin in the back to see adult parodies of children shows starring "actors"

18 seems too high, since some of the boxes themselves only state ages 15 and up. Maybe have a corner of the store instead of a separate backroom for adult figures. They shouldn't have to do anything I think, it's not as if they put this stuff in between Barbie and Power Rangers, even though my store has relocated its adult section it's still on the end of the aisle.
I noted before how it's strange that the Breaking Bad figure of a middle aged guy with a bag of money and a hidden baggy of meth (which you'd have toe watch the show to know that's what it is so if your kid knows, bad on you) is what is ban-worthy, but the bust-bank of a jawless zombie with gore and decay isn't drawing any problem. I posted about this before, but the mods removed it for good reasons due to another post I quoted, but I still feel it needs being said.

[K Dubious]

Quote:

Originally Posted by En Sabah Nerd

18 seems too high, since some of the boxes themselves only state ages 15 and up. Maybe have a corner of the store instead of a separate backroom for adult figures. They shouldn't have to do anything I think, it's not as if they put this stuff in between Barbie and Power Rangers, even though my store has relocated its adult section it's still on the end of the aisle.
I noted before how it's strange that the Breaking Bad figure of a middle aged guy with a bag of money and a hidden baggy of meth (which you'd have toe watch the show to know that's what it is so if your kid knows, bad on you) is what is ban-worthy, but the bust-bank of a jawless zombie with gore and decay isn't drawing any problem. I posted about this before, but the mods removed it for good reasons due to another post I quoted, but I still feel it needs being said.

I agree man and I collect Walking Dead and Pacific Rim (As you know) and if pulling some items ends up making the things I DO collect harder to come by I will be upset. Also everyone is up in arms about TRU prices which to me have always been lower than LCS in my areas. Not to mention they have coupons and sales farily often. I really do not feel like they have done anything wrong other than backing down from a measley 8000 signed internet petition. I think that was a knee-jerk decision.

[Tiberius]

Toys R Us pulls meth-toting ‘Breaking Bad’ action figures from shelves after Florida mom’s protest - The Washington Post

[Snowflakian]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kylactus

TRU has an adult collector section, and the figures themselves are clearly marked ADULT COLLECTOR If 2 signs is not enough for you I don't know what to say... learn to read? but it's easy for people like this chick in Florida to fight imaginary battles because addressing real problems in the real world is to hard. I don't understand why you think this bitch has a right to parent me, but when folks get on there moral high horse it can be hard to see the ground. She, and her kind are the emotional ones who cloud the issues with "offence" and "horror" and "concern". get over yourselves! the problem is that there is no reasoning with unreasonable people. who the hell do you think she's protecting? there is no threat! she's just a bitchy house wife who has nothing better to do wile her husband is out banging his secretary \, than circulate internet potations and brag to her yuppy bitch friends how she saved the world as they clink glasses of white Zinfandel, and there kids get high on air duster in the next room.
P.S. I'm pretty sure spousal abuse, and violence against women has been generally frowned upon in this country for quite some time. So don't act like "The all knowing internet" and the chattering no-lifes thereupon were the first to suddenly address this "epidemic".
Snow: If you believe this is the all encompassing issue of our day and suck a damn threat to society I ask you: what the fuck have you done to fix it? other than "bringing awareness" and typing a bunch of rhetoric? you volunteer at battered women's shelters? you give cash to some organization that counsels wife beaters? have you ever even nutted up to someone yelling at there wife in public? No!?! didn't think so...

I've been at my TRU, and apparently you aren't reading what I'm saying. (And if you read the story above I related, you should know I have a lot to say on that topic...)

My local TRU's have the adult collectibles mixed into the kid-centric lines. That's my complaint. If a kid wants a sonic or mario figure, they have to be in the same aisle as the mortal kombat, walking dead, and similar adult theme merchandise. My complaint isn't that they have an adult collector section at all, in fact I peruse it myself. My complaint is in the fact it's mixed in with the kid appeal lines that have a lower age demographic included.

A back of store or even avoidable aisle should be enough as long as it only contains adult collectibles in it and not other lines that have kid appeal. 13+ or 15+ should be fine. My personal complaint is only in the fact in some stores it contains items that younger would want to peruse and parents may not be aware of it. Employees often don't think twice about it when directing parents to that aisle and the parent would have no prior knowledge of it being there if it'd be a problem to them. There shouldn't be a need for an entirely behind closed doors aisle unless TRU wanted to carry more highly questionable merchandise as say a playboy bunnies figurine line that would need to be behind closed doors. So adding an additional fully blocked off aisle shouldn't be needed. All I'm suggesting is moving anything that's younger in the adult oriented aisle to a different aisle. Like moving the mario and sonic figures to be with the Pokemon ones instead.

Also I agree with en sabah about the "how would a kid even know" on the breaking bad figure part as opposed to the more obvious gore choices if the parent had such a complaint. But this being near Halloween, that parent may have thought it was a temporary thing and didn't even notice herself. Overall, Breaking Bad isn't quite the same thing as a "blood spattered coat" dexter figure on first glance without prior knowledge of the property.

[TheBlueMarvel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowflakian

I agree with the comparative point that it humanizes the heroes and villains to show monstrous acts etc. And from a literature standpoint that makes sense to a degree. I have an issue with it using rape though as a plot point in general. There's a thin line of story device, and explicit for explicit's sake, and in this instance, I personally lean on it was explicit for explicit's sake and not for any form of art form reasons. The main draw of which being the shock factor simply to shock and not to elaborate on any set point other than to shock the reader.

Thank you for sharing your opinion. I appreciate the perspectives of others (contingent on how they are delivered); especially when those perspectives highlight an alternative viewpoint that I'd neglected to consider. My original excitement about the adult subject matter presented in that story, combined with my preoccupation with the heroes employing an inhumane response to the depraved actions of a villain, may have caused me to overlook whether elements of the story were cheap or contrived. I am going to have to dig the series out of storage and re-read with an eye towards "shock-value" gimmickry.

On another note, I wanted to commend you for standing up for what you believe in...not that you particularly care for acknowledgement...or that you were seeking it in any way...I just feel it's necessary to recognize when someone approaches discourse with an even keel and comports themselves in manner which is respectful to the other side. Our back and forth on this topic has demonstrated that we share similar sentiments on the issue of TRU & the BB figures. Some of the comments on this thread that disparage this woman (in a personal manner) are distressing. I disagree with many people about many things, but the concept I try to keep in perspective is that we are all human beings deserving of respect (some times, I do a better job at this than in others). I don't entirely agree with the woman that started the petition of TRU (although I do understand her concern as a parent), but I won't dehumanize her by calling her names or make up details about her personality that I couldn't possibly know were true or not (details that really have no bearing on the issue at hand). I think a collective breath needs to be taken regarding this issue. After all, the figures were not banned from production. Neca will likely find multiple replacement outlets for these figures...and if not, and there is a spike in demand due to their absence, then they will likely employ online distribution.

[En Sabah Nerd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlueMarvel

Neca will likely find multiple replacement outlets for these figures...and if not, and there is a spike in demand due to their absence, then they will likely employ online distribution.

So far NECA is unaffected by this act, it's just Breaking Bad right now. I actually wonder if TRU could even pull out from NECA, they also make Hunger Games, Divergent, and other teen-novel movie figures plus NECA does Pacific Rim which while technically an adult collectors line doesn't have the same 17+ restriction as their horror/action movie figures. That and TRU and NECA have made/planned a good number of exclusives which have already proved successful. If TRU stops selling NECA then Hastings will be the only reliable store to carry NECA (Walmart's random Godzilla 2014 carry may have just been a one-time deal).

[TheBlueMarvel]

@En Sabah Nerd
Well that's one good thing, I guess. I suppose only time will tell whether there is a cascading effect for the other lines....

[ultraman zoffy]

Sears and K-Mart have pulled the BB figures from their websites (and presumably their stores) as well. Looks like we're already seeing the effects of this type of news in the media in terms of retailer reactions. Guess we should all start hoping this broad or others like her don't start directing their attention to other parts of the toy aisles as well. Hate to be immature about it... but what a fking b*tch.

[uberlad]

Has anybody brought up the imaginext Walter White homage? He doesn't come with a bag of meth, but this one threw me when I found out about it.

[uberlad]

Personally, I don't think disparaging the woman is the way to go. She's just trying to do what she thinks is right. I also don't think eliminating the toy is the way to go.

Toys r us doesn't do an adequate job of separating more mature/adult toys from the kiddie stuff. They might gain customers on both sides of the debate by publicizing that they carry (and isolate) toys for grown ups, too.

[warmachine6]

in all fairness a kid is going to like a toy if they well like it doesn't matter if they think an Alien figure is cool looking then so be it, unless like the ted teddy bear with the R-rated that says rude stuff then okay i see where shes coming from. its the parents choice to show where it came from i.e the film. So really they should keep them

[Snowflakian]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlueMarvel

Thank you for sharing your opinion. I appreciate the perspectives of others (contingent on how they are delivered); especially when those perspectives highlight an alternative viewpoint that I'd neglected to consider. My original excitement about the adult subject matter presented in that story, combined with my preoccupation with the heroes employing an inhumane response to the depraved actions of a villain, may have caused me to overlook whether elements of the story were cheap or contrived. I am going to have to dig the series out of storage and re-read with an eye towards "shock-value" gimmickry.

On another note, I wanted to commend you for standing up for what you believe in...not that you particularly care for acknowledgement...or that you were seeking it in any way...I just feel it's necessary to recognize when someone approaches discourse with an even keel and comports themselves in manner which is respectful to the other side. Our back and forth on this topic has demonstrated that we share similar sentiments on the issue of TRU & the BB figures. Some of the comments on this thread that disparage this woman (in a personal manner) are distressing. I disagree with many people about many things, but the concept I try to keep in perspective is that we are all human beings deserving of respect (some times, I do a better job at this than in others). I don't entirely agree with the woman that started the petition of TRU (although I do understand her concern as a parent), but I won't dehumanize her by calling her names or make up details about her personality that I couldn't possibly know were true or not (details that really have no bearing on the issue at hand). I think a collective breath needs to be taken regarding this issue. After all, the figures were not banned from production. Neca will likely find multiple replacement outlets for these figures...and if not, and there is a spike in demand due to their absence, then they will likely employ online distribution.

Thank you, and it's appreciated, but yeah I tend to try to avoid praise for standing up for stuff as it's generally just what you should do anyway. And yes, calling her the b-word and other demeaning methods of stuff is bothersome and speaks to larger issues too. But I also didn't want to get too much into that as yet.(Which I guess you noticed I edited out!) I do feel we as collectors do need to show more maturity in handling debates like this though, as providing evidence of why it should be removed because of the "mentalities of the collector" is something to avoid.

As for Identity Crisis, that's my personal take away from it. If you find something else insightful about the usage that better justifies it or explains it, please by all means let me know. I'm open to hearing other interpretations on the matter!

Quote:

Originally Posted by uberlad

Personally, I don't think disparaging the woman is the way to go. She's just trying to do what she thinks is right. I also don't think eliminating the toy is the way to go.

Toys r us doesn't do an adequate job of separating more mature/adult toys from the kiddie stuff. They might gain customers on both sides of the debate by publicizing that they carry (and isolate) toys for grown ups, too.

Agree wholeheartedly!

[kylactus]

all I'm saying is that if everyone gets on ridiculous band wagons, smiling and praising people for there "courage" and standing up for "what they think is right" you end up with this kind of censorship (that is what this is by the way) and then where dose it stop? when someone is offended by your favorite movie, so you cant have it in theaters or store shelves, or when your religion
is "offensive" to someone, hide your god! or when they start burning books and making people that don't think the way they do get "reeducated"? TRU is a TOY STORE, no where on the sign does it say Children's toy store. if this lady is so damn offended by seeing the dad from Malcom in the Middle wearing a bowler hat on one peg (probably at least 5' from the floor) of an isle that has probably eight hundred figures, maybe she should just stay home so the rest of us can live our lives without the constant fear that she'll go out of her way to be offended by us. (P.S.) other than LCS's where else has anyone seen BB figures? I think it would be safe to assume that TRU is there largest retail outlet? yeah? well I hope this wonderful treasure of an activist woman in Florida plans to help anyone that looses there job over her being "offended". remember when you see something on a shelf that you might not agree with, you can exercise your freedom to ignore it, or you can raise a stink, get it banned (like a certain group of Germans in the 30's) and cost people there jobs, the choice is yours.

[En Sabah Nerd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kylactus

(P.S.) other than LCS's where else has anyone seen BB figures? I think it would be safe to assume that TRU is there largest retail outlet? yeah? well I hope this wonderful treasure of an activist woman in Florida plans to help anyone that looses there job over her being "offended". remember when you see something on a shelf that you might not agree with, you can exercise your freedom to ignore it, or you can raise a stink, get it banned (like a certain group of Germans in the 30's) and cost people there jobs, the choice is yours.

Hastings has the Breaking Bad figures and bobble-heads, they're not technically a comic shop (a collectibles store apparently), so that's one non-LCS not TRU store, one. Also please don't compare these people to the Nazis. They aren't that bad, they just want to irresponsibly (or indirectly rather) look out for their kids. I'm just saying that comparing them to a genocidal invading army is maybe crossing a line in the comparison game.

[ultraman zoffy]

Ideally, we'd get a spin-off store (Collectors R Us? Lol) for "adult" and collector line high end toys where they actually stock stuff we'd buy and also engage with toy "connoisseurs" to keep the inventory relevant. It could be the size of their seasonal TRU Express stores, but carry brands and lines not appropriate for kids due to price point, quality /complexity (ie high articulation, sculpt, intricate transformation, etc), THEME, yadda yadda. Kids are either not allowed or only under responsible adult supervision with clear warnings of the intended audience for the products. And also, max quantity of 1 per buyer... Haha.
Aisles of shit we care about without all the bullshit kid oriented lines and parent police drama, and a built in scalper deterrent... Man i wish i had the means. Haha

[Snowflakian]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kylactus

all I'm saying is that if everyone gets on ridiculous band wagons, smiling and praising people for there "courage" and standing up for "what they think is right" you end up with this kind of censorship (that is what this is by the way) and then where dose it stop? when someone is offended by your favorite movie, so you cant have it in theaters or store shelves, or when your religion
is "offensive" to someone, hide your god! or when they start burning books and making people that don't think the way they do get "reeducated"? TRU is a TOY STORE, no where on the sign does it say Children's toy store. if this lady is so damn offended by seeing the dad from Malcom in the Middle wearing a bowler hat on one peg (probably at least 5' from the floor) of an isle that has probably eight hundred figures, maybe she should just stay home so the rest of us can live our lives without the constant fear that she'll go out of her way to be offended by us. (P.S.) other than LCS's where else has anyone seen BB figures? I think it would be safe to assume that TRU is there largest retail outlet? yeah? well I hope this wonderful treasure of an activist woman in Florida plans to help anyone that looses there job over her being "offended". remember when you see something on a shelf that you might not agree with, you can exercise your freedom to ignore it, or you can raise a stink, get it banned (like a certain group of Germans in the 30's) and cost people there jobs, the choice is yours.

And there's Godwin's law.

You do realize, you're comparing actions of a group of people civilly commenting on an aspect they didn't like with a petition and a company deciding that it doesn't effect their bottom line in agreeing in their request to government action that led to genocide right?

No where is anyone, not even this Florida mother, advocating for there to be laws about censorship put into place right?

It does not compare at all, whatsoever. If anything, it's all parties still exercising their rights to free speech and doing their own actions to which serves their interests. No where at all is government getting involved at any level in this. It does not compare at all. No where is anyone 'banning and burning' the figures from reaching your hands through alternative means or other stores. It is one chain deciding it doesn't harm their sales and is still their right to decide what to, or in this case not to sell. All handled rather civilly at that.

As much as it's our right to discuss said action in a civil manner.

[kylactus]

all I'm saying is that the trampling of freedoms always starts small then snowballs out of control. the genocidal armies come later, then and only then do people realize the line should have been drawn much sooner. The whole TRU thing is just one example of how small groups are imposing there will on the populous at the expense of our constitutional rights. If we sit back and accept it for fear of offending these self righteous self appointed "defenders of societal morality". then I guess we deserve whatever world we're left with. Me personally, I can decide for myself what toys me and my kids buy without the help of a wonderful moral crusader.

[Snowflakian]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kylactus

all I'm saying is that the trampling of freedoms always starts small then snowballs out of control. the genocidal armies come later, then and only then do people realize the line should have been drawn much sooner. The whole TRU thing is just one example of how small groups are imposing there will on the populous at the expense of our constitutional rights. If we sit back and accept it for fear of offending these self righteous self appointed "defenders of societal morality". then I guess we deserve whatever world we're left with. Me personally, I can decide for myself what toys me and my kids buy without the help of a wonderful moral crusader.

Look up Godwin's law.

[ultraman zoffy]

It started with TRU, but the other major retailers are pulling the figures from their sites as well despite not being involved. The petition was a scare tactic that TRU and now a host of others are caving to. Regardless of how "civilized" they went about exercising their "freedoms", the supporters of that petition are most certainly feeling empowered now, and could very conceivably aim their sites at other lines. The frightening part for me isn't about the loss of purchasing power of a toy; it's that something so completely illogical and unreasonable and with no factual data supporting it found enough traction to affect a change like this at all, and while comparing to something like genocide might seem like a huge stretch, it is very much the same mindset of one person or small group forcing their image of the world onto others, while at the same time removing the responsibilities of being a parent and placing that burden on the public at large. Karma will be a bitch though when her kid hits the rebellious years and starts misbehaving despite her dumb ass crusades.

[kylactus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowflakian

Look up Godwin's law.

spooky...(although I'd argue that the Nazis are just about the best example the world has ever known of every kind of evil, from oppression to mass murder) hell come to think of it, other than cannibalism I can't think of one tenant of humanity they didn't violate (and I would not put money on cannibalism). and for those reasons they would be the thing we as a species should avoid the trap of becoming, or allowing our society to become. You see, the majority of German citizens weren't perpetrating the acts of oppression and violence, they were merely sitting idly by and doing nothing as a small vocal minority imposed there will on society... sound familiar?

[TheBlueMarvel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ultraman zoffy

Ideally, we'd get a spin-off store (Collectors R Us? Lol) for "adult" and collector line high end toys where they actually stock stuff we'd buy and also engage with toy "connoisseurs" to keep the inventory relevant. It could be the size of their seasonal TRU Express stores, but carry brands and lines not appropriate for kids due to price point, quality /complexity (ie high articulation, sculpt, intricate transformation, etc), THEME, yadda yadda. Kids are either not allowed or only under responsible adult supervision with clear warnings of the intended audience for the products. And also, max quantity of 1 per buyer... Haha.
Aisles of shit we care about without all the bullshit kid oriented lines and parent police drama, and a built in scalper deterrent... Man i wish i had the means. Haha

I like this idea also and believe it could work. Who knows, this issue could spark some retailer to recognize that there's a largely untapped "adult market" for figures and toys.

[Nymesys Prime]

again I say remember the same thing happened when TRU carried Dexter action figures...only place you will be able to get the BB and SOA figures is gonna be online retailers like EE or BBTS.

We as collectors like these lines but its a fraction of what the mainstream lines do therefore TRU will always cave to the perceived wrong of carrying the line. Now if you really wanted to see how hypocritical the stores are bring up DCMV...joker,penguin deathstroke,deadshot are killers. the Halloween costumes of freddy Krueger,jason and Micheal...same thing we could go on and on but TRU would rather cut a line than put up with a soccermom's grassroots idea to get rid of BB. She feels she won and we collectors get pissed off. Overall win for TRU due to the negative press the soccer mom can make happen.

Collectors R US sounds good in theory but practical application makes it cost ineffective. the return for the dedicated spacing of Adult Collector items wouldn't reap enough profit to sustain a continued year round benefit

[Jmacq1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlueMarvel

I like this idea also and believe it could work. Who knows, this issue could spark some retailer to recognize that there's a largely untapped "adult market" for figures and toys.

The greatest myth of the collector community: That there's a "largely untapped market" of adult collectors out there that are just WAITING to start buying toys even though they haven't been doing so/haven't shown any inclination to do so since they were preteens.

The adult collector market isn't "largely untapped." Precisely the opposite - It's almost tapped out. That's why you're seeing less collector-oriented product on mainstream retail shelves (in favor of cheaper kid-oriented product), and more things shifting to niche-market venues like Kickstarter.

I can guarantee that this hobby is losing more collectors year by year than it's gaining, and probably by a wide margin.

[TheBlueMarvel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jmacq1

The greatest myth of the collector community: That there's a "largely untapped market" of adult collectors out there that are just WAITING to start buying toys even though they haven't been doing so/haven't shown any inclination to do so since they were preteens.

The adult collector market isn't "largely untapped." Precisely the opposite - It's almost tapped out. That's why you're seeing less collector-oriented product on mainstream retail shelves (in favor of cheaper kid-oriented product), and more things shifting to niche-market venues like Kickstarter.

I can guarantee that this hobby is losing more collectors year by year than it's gaining, and probably by a wide margin.

You may be right. However, there definitely seems to be a market on eBay (which sustains high prices based on demand) with popular items selling routinely. The interest that drives the very kick-starters you brought up is apparently out there, highlighting that there are adults willing to spend considerable money to buy toys (some willing to secure entire lines in one purchase). Not to mention the toy-centric websites like this one (and numerous others) that support a multitude (collectively, who knows what the numbers are or could be) of adult supporters. What you perceive as a lack of substantive proof that the market exists may simply represent an inability to package/deliver the product to the "community" at the right vectors/venues. It's also possible that the retail model of mass production might not be the best method of production. A little more "outside of the box" thinking might be in order....