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Freedom of speech...
Oct. 21st, 2011 07:09 pmFreedom of Speech: Remember that stupid people have the right to voice their opinions, too.
At least, that's what I keep telling myself.
First of all, Schweddy Balls Ice Cream. It's a new Ben and Jerry's flavor with rumballs in it. You know, rum balls in ice cream actually sound pretty good, and I did think that the SNL sketch the name is based upon was darned funny. Frankly, I thought the whole thing was silly, but very very clever. An ice cream company that has already used clever names like Cherry Garcia, Hubby Hubby (and Chubby Hubby), Karamel Sutra, and the like should get to use a name like Schweddy Balls in their product. (Assuming that permission was given, of course.) Schweddy is a name synonymous with festive balls, and I wish that I could actually order a Schweddy Ball Sack. (I guess I have to console myself with a sack of Guy's Nuts instead: A REAL PRODUCT.)
But sure enough, there's a parents' group (Moms, actually) that has decided to protest this flavor name. (Eyeroll) Honestly? Is it that you don't want to explain the name to your precious darlings, or that you're afraid that they'll be the ones to explain it to you? Frankly, when something crossed my consciousness as a kid and was adult humor, either my mother would say, "That's a joke for grown-ups," or "Oh, that's just stupid; it's not funny." Or, if I pressed her, she would in fact explain the dirty joke, and explain that she thought I was clever enough to not have to sink to humor of that caliber. Seriously. And all my True Believers know that my mom loves dirty jokes and blue humor. She certainly fooled me as a kid, though.
Sigh.
Moving on, apparently there's some kind of uproar over Tokidoki Barbie. Let's start by explaining that this was a limited edition collector's doll, only available from the website designed for adult collectors of Barbie dolls. It's $50, too, so it's priced a bit higher than the average "playline" doll. It's a doll that is showcasing the Tokidoki fashion line (of which I was blissfully unaware) and comes with LOTS of tiny accessories.
So right away, *I* would assume that this is not marketed to small children.
But... *GASP*... SHE HAS TATTOOS! Fashionable tattoos grace her shoulders, arms, and GOD KNOWS where else. *Horrors!*
Are we really going to go here? Again? There was "Butterfly Tattoo" barbie a few years ago (in the play line) that was a doll you put stickers on. Parents freaked out about that, too.
So I'm all for the people who argue back at the parents' groups that Tokidoki Barbie is for adult collectors only, not meant for children, and so you can tell your precious darling daughter who was on the net somewhere she didn't belong that she may NOT have this doll.
On the other hand, I find that I'm pulling up a soapbox of my own:
Why is a tattooed doll inappropriate for children? Generally speaking, if the doll's tattoos are not vulgar, I can't see any reason why a child can't play with a doll that emulates reality.
I'm 37, and while I do not have any tattoos myself, I know several of my peers who have tattoos and also have children of their own. My boss at work is my mother's age, and she has tattoos, too.
My tattooed peers and coworkers who have children are great parents, by the way. I'm not talking about trashy people dragging their poor offspring through miserable lives; I'm talking about teachers, store managers, stay-at-home moms, and computer programmers. My own stepfather has tattoos, for goodness' sake. He's a lovely patriotic fellow who did a turn in the Navy as a young man. My boss has tattoos which are memorials to family members who have passed away. A former teacher of mine had a tattoo placed on her chest after her cancer surgery. I have many friends who wear their own artwork as a tattoo, or have designed tattoos for others.
Tattoos are no longer exclusively the domain of the fringes of society. They no longer represent unsavory, law-breaking people. I've encountered parents of college students who helped their adult kids pick out their latest Tattoo. If a woman or her husband (or partner) has a Tattoo and her/his/their child asked for a doll with a tattoo, why would the child be refused?
Tokidoki Barbie is obviously geared toward an adult market, but if I had a child who asked me for it because s/he wanted to add it to the collection, I wouldn't have a problem with it. (As a large present, not a whim.) As it happens, my little girl would rather have a new Ipod and the "little" boy would rather have gas money. And if either of them asked me if they could get a Tattoo, (after the "Ask your mother/Ask your father" conversation) my vote would be this: Make a decision about what you want. Wait a year. Then get the design. If you change your mind, wait a year until after the new choice is made. Other than that, go for it once you're an adult.
I do not advocate minors getting tattoos. I do actively encourage minors to wear fake tattoos or be face/body painted at a booth at the faire. But that pays me money, so I guess I'm biased.
At least, that's what I keep telling myself.
First of all, Schweddy Balls Ice Cream. It's a new Ben and Jerry's flavor with rumballs in it. You know, rum balls in ice cream actually sound pretty good, and I did think that the SNL sketch the name is based upon was darned funny. Frankly, I thought the whole thing was silly, but very very clever. An ice cream company that has already used clever names like Cherry Garcia, Hubby Hubby (and Chubby Hubby), Karamel Sutra, and the like should get to use a name like Schweddy Balls in their product. (Assuming that permission was given, of course.) Schweddy is a name synonymous with festive balls, and I wish that I could actually order a Schweddy Ball Sack. (I guess I have to console myself with a sack of Guy's Nuts instead: A REAL PRODUCT.)
But sure enough, there's a parents' group (Moms, actually) that has decided to protest this flavor name. (Eyeroll) Honestly? Is it that you don't want to explain the name to your precious darlings, or that you're afraid that they'll be the ones to explain it to you? Frankly, when something crossed my consciousness as a kid and was adult humor, either my mother would say, "That's a joke for grown-ups," or "Oh, that's just stupid; it's not funny." Or, if I pressed her, she would in fact explain the dirty joke, and explain that she thought I was clever enough to not have to sink to humor of that caliber. Seriously. And all my True Believers know that my mom loves dirty jokes and blue humor. She certainly fooled me as a kid, though.
Sigh.
Moving on, apparently there's some kind of uproar over Tokidoki Barbie. Let's start by explaining that this was a limited edition collector's doll, only available from the website designed for adult collectors of Barbie dolls. It's $50, too, so it's priced a bit higher than the average "playline" doll. It's a doll that is showcasing the Tokidoki fashion line (of which I was blissfully unaware) and comes with LOTS of tiny accessories.
So right away, *I* would assume that this is not marketed to small children.
But... *GASP*... SHE HAS TATTOOS! Fashionable tattoos grace her shoulders, arms, and GOD KNOWS where else. *Horrors!*
Are we really going to go here? Again? There was "Butterfly Tattoo" barbie a few years ago (in the play line) that was a doll you put stickers on. Parents freaked out about that, too.
So I'm all for the people who argue back at the parents' groups that Tokidoki Barbie is for adult collectors only, not meant for children, and so you can tell your precious darling daughter who was on the net somewhere she didn't belong that she may NOT have this doll.
On the other hand, I find that I'm pulling up a soapbox of my own:
Why is a tattooed doll inappropriate for children? Generally speaking, if the doll's tattoos are not vulgar, I can't see any reason why a child can't play with a doll that emulates reality.
I'm 37, and while I do not have any tattoos myself, I know several of my peers who have tattoos and also have children of their own. My boss at work is my mother's age, and she has tattoos, too.
My tattooed peers and coworkers who have children are great parents, by the way. I'm not talking about trashy people dragging their poor offspring through miserable lives; I'm talking about teachers, store managers, stay-at-home moms, and computer programmers. My own stepfather has tattoos, for goodness' sake. He's a lovely patriotic fellow who did a turn in the Navy as a young man. My boss has tattoos which are memorials to family members who have passed away. A former teacher of mine had a tattoo placed on her chest after her cancer surgery. I have many friends who wear their own artwork as a tattoo, or have designed tattoos for others.
Tattoos are no longer exclusively the domain of the fringes of society. They no longer represent unsavory, law-breaking people. I've encountered parents of college students who helped their adult kids pick out their latest Tattoo. If a woman or her husband (or partner) has a Tattoo and her/his/their child asked for a doll with a tattoo, why would the child be refused?
Tokidoki Barbie is obviously geared toward an adult market, but if I had a child who asked me for it because s/he wanted to add it to the collection, I wouldn't have a problem with it. (As a large present, not a whim.) As it happens, my little girl would rather have a new Ipod and the "little" boy would rather have gas money. And if either of them asked me if they could get a Tattoo, (after the "Ask your mother/Ask your father" conversation) my vote would be this: Make a decision about what you want. Wait a year. Then get the design. If you change your mind, wait a year until after the new choice is made. Other than that, go for it once you're an adult.
I do not advocate minors getting tattoos. I do actively encourage minors to wear fake tattoos or be face/body painted at a booth at the faire. But that pays me money, so I guess I'm biased.
