[Snowflakian]

Quote:

Originally Posted by K Dubious

Funny story, I used to work at blockbuster and had a Mom come up to me and say "I have a 6 year old and an 8 year old and I'm looking for a kids movie, any suggestions?" This was litterally the same week that the first Harry Potter movie was realeased on DVD and I recommended it as it was the most popular kids movie at the time.

She looked at me shocked and said "I would never show them that it is filled with witchcraft and sin" at this point I had no idea what to say. As I could no longer think of anything that wouldn't be offensive to her and I said I'm sorry I don't think I can help you.

This was and still is absurd to me, but it is the same debate. I know that the real world isn't filled with wizards and what-not but it is filled with a lot of taboo things. I can't understand how being a censor nazi in any way shape or form is helpful to the kids. At a certain point they will be exposed to something you wish they weren't, but the solution is not to ban that thing it is to educate your kids.

Murders, rapists, drug dealers, abusers, even homeless people these are all real things that exist and if you don't want your kids to become them EDUCATE them!

I worked at a "major toy retail chain" that I'd rather not name. But I gotta agree, I've dealt with similar. Awhile back there was a cooing noise doll that happened to semi-sort of say certain phrases some parents deemed inappropriate. The claims were it said "islam is the light" "hail satan" and some other randomness that you had to really pretend you heard it say.

We had a "parent" (I use quotes because she admitted not to having kids, only having heard of the doll) come in, looked for it intentionally and asked for a manager to complain about it. Her complaints when talking to her ranged all over the spectrum. And yes, I couldn't resist talking to her to see her opinions on this and mentioned freedom of religion as an american right which she followed up with "Exactly! America is a christian nation and only jesus is the way to heaven!" Elaborating on the opposite end of what I was actually saying but claiming to agree with me. (Proving she was only hearing what she wanted to hear.)

In retail there are some complaints that are outlandish entirely and should rightfully be ignored entirely. There are loons that only look for stuff to complain about so they can feel justified in complaining. There are concerns though that can be addressed and appropriately fixed.

I did have fun with those dolls once she left though. I gladly restocked them every time they got more, and kind of conveniently lined them up and timed them to all say the same phrases at the same time when people walked down the aisle. It was a mean thing to do, but considering the 'babies' were of all creeds. I'm sure some muslim parent out there is probably happy she may have bought one if that's what she heard when it cooed. As for others, it was kind of fun seeing fellow employees jump when all the dolls would speak at once with the same phrases.(Some started getting so spooked by it, they refused to go down that aisle anymore. At that point I stopped timing them to speak the same phrases at the same time.)

(Oddly enough, that wasn't the reason I was let go from that job. I was let go because I pretty much sacrificed the job to get a newborn and her mom the exact christmas toy the mom wanted. So I have no fondness for that major retail chain that I'd rather not TRUly name. But I will still try and find a compromise in certain debates that do have merit.)