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The label of "inappropriate" for this merchandise is like calling Armageddon a minor disturbance.
For poster “AuntScilly,” I applaud your niece's father for using the little stuffed STD microbes as teaching tools. In the real world, though, I don’t know any parents who would (assuming they could) use them to teach children about venereal diseases.
The real problem with these “toys” is that they trivialize STDs to children who have yet to learn that STDs, and to teens who already dismiss them because of the ubiquitous “I am invincible” syndrome (never mind the staggering number who still believe oral sex is safe sex).
The marketing motive behind these adorable warm fuzzies is to generate sales with another “oh my God” item, perfect for gift-giving season.
The target market is teens and adults who will find the basest humor at a New Year’s Eve party yelling, “I have the clap! Anybody with herpes want to swap?” I can only imagine what school hallways sound like.
Passing this stuff off as novelty toys for kids is just plain irresponsible. And it gets worse.
STDs turned into toys, a pole dancer, “shave the baby,” a picture of a little girl who doesn’t have to wait to have breasts to breastfeed and enjoy the “sucking sounds” ... as a former nurse and police officer’s wife, I can assure you this is a pedophile’s picnic.
Our kids deserve a lot more from us and less of this.
I find this article extremely funny and disturbing at the same time. I think the shave the baby doll is going to be this years must have!
Children are very innocent and toys made for them should not attempt to corrupt or confuse their minds in any way.
http://next-world-war.blogspot.com
They sell the microbe plushes at the main CDC campus. My wife works for the CDC and we have several of them.
I don't see a problem with the breastfeeding dolls, either. Breast is best, after all. There is nothing inappropriate about feeding an infant.
Hmmm, I thought the parent's job was to keep 'em off the pole.
I don't see any of these as particularly disturbing. Where are the toy guns and the camo outfits you can get for your kids? THOSE I find disturbing.
All these products are available at the HuffPo store(except the hirsute infant, it sold out)
Thank You
The Mods.
I don't understand why the plush microbes are on this list. My niece (now 14) loves them and her scientist father gives her extra info on the original model. This is a great toy for geek kids. My only complaint is that they keep coming up with new ones which are expected under the tree at Christmas!
Well I'm 14 and I have the plush diseases. I think they're kind of cool well except for the std's but I have the Ebola!
The baby shaving doll is by far the most disturbing.
You Can Shave My baby is my favorite. i want to meet the marketing geniuses who came up this this one and send his hard drive to forensics as i am sure there are some dark secrets hidden on there.
Most strippers have kids, so these toys just illustrate how much kids want to be like their parents (before they become teenagers at least). I see noting wrong with most of these I think it's high time we admit there is more than one type of person on this planet and start showing kids that there is nothing wrong with being a stripper or getting tarts and that they should be aware of STDs. The only one I have a problem with is the shave your baby doll! I believe women should be natural in their nether regions. Armpits, legs shave, but crotch leave like as is.
I bought the pole dancing doll for my kids. I don't see anything wrong with it. Just kidding.
The problem with the breastfeeding doll (my toddler girl "fed" her stuffed animals after watching Mommy) is that tagline about not waiting until you have breasts to breastfeed. Please. Is that the way to market to a child? A bit like saying you shouldn't have to have pubic hair to have sex.
There's parody and satire, and then there's just plain sick. I seriously have to ask if any of these toys (yes, I know about the STD plushes) are actually made for children or if they were created for satire purposes. A bit of commentary on a society gone truly base?
I know for a fact the STD plushies are not -- they're from ThinkGeek.com, a site that usually caters to adult technology aficionados.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/plush/a55e/
they sell these at the bookstore at the contemp. art museum in chicago.
I am laughing so hard I'm crying! These are hysterical! I can't believe anybody would really take these seriously.
Same here.
I am a parent that talks to my child so the marketing geniuses can bring on whatever they may. That does not mean it will be crossing the threshold of my home.
That toy tattoo gun looks harmless and so is that baby brest-feeding doll. I want my 3 minutes back.
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Huffington Post | Alex Leo
First Posted: 09-14-09 03:52 PM | Updated: 09-14-09 07:33 PM