A Terminator Costume for Little Kids?
Posted on May 21, 2009 at 8:00 am
Cinematical reports that Toys R Us is selling a Terminator costume for little kids who, of course, are too young to see the movie, which is rated PG-13 and is just a millimeter away from an R. I understand that costumes are supposed to be scary and that children benefit from the opportunity to access the power of the images they find disturbing. But like the fast food toys for movies that children are too young to see, I think it is inappropriate to use products directed at younger children to promote a movie that is made for an older audience. Those who would like to send feedback to Toys R Us about this item can do so here.
I realize that many kids want costumes that reflect the immediate culture. But as often as not the kids are also responding to parental cues – often subtle and unintentional. Saying something is too scary or too violent simply makes it more attractive. Of course, many of the parents who complain about this are the same ones that pay for their kids to see the movies from which the “inappropriate” costumes come. Awareness and attentiveness is not too much to expect from parents. But this is a discussion as ancient as parenting itself. I am sure that Adam & Eve had battles with Cain, Abel, and even Seth in their respective adolesences – but no one wants to read about that.
I think so costumes are over board like the costumes teenagers are wearing nowadays. Are they really considered costumes when there is hardly anything? Terminator for kids what parent would let them watch that show.
why do people like you have to push your ignorant one sided comments on the public as if we care? Its amazing how some people have to complain so much and try to take the fun out of everything. I doubt these kids would even recognize the problem here, its only anal adults that over-analyze miniscule issues and blow them out of proportion. Its a halloween costume, calm down.
Jared, we welcome your comments but this site prohibits insults. I will remove any further posts from you that violate those rules. For one thing, a comment like yours does not contribute to the discussion. Insult is not argument. For another, you undermine your point of view by exhibiting just the kind of behavior that parents worry will be the consequence of a failure to teach appropriate conduct. So if you want to be an example of what not blowing things out of proportion looks like, perhaps you’d like to express yourself differently. Or are you only interested in pushing ignorant, one-sided comments of your own?
I am sure you agree that there are some costumes that are not appropriate for kids. And I am sure you agree that corporate interests are more concerned with selling their product than in what is best for families. We may disagree about where to draw that line, but the principle is the same.
I knew you’d delete my comments before i even posted them. People like you cannot stand critisism (even though you choose to dish out your own horribly moronic and cynical comments on the general public daily).You have to constantly defend yourself, even if i requires you to delete or ignore the oppisition altogether. I’d also like to point out that you choose to completely divert your response around the general point i was making- that these children dont know or care and its only people like you that have to complain constantly. Of course coroprate interests are to sell products, its the basis of the entire economy to appeal and expand demographic, selling more and making a profit. And thats it. there isnt some evil-genius plot to destroy the minds of children, or manipulate anyone for that matter. The only issue here is once again(and let me quote my own comment),”anal adults that over-analyze miniscule issues and blow them out of proportion”. So go ahead and delete this, it will just make my point for me, and you know it.
And yes, i realize i misspelled a few words in my response… Unlike some people i dont spend my days consumed with pecking at a keyboard waiting for something to complain about, and i fear my typing has suffered slightly.
Jared, I’m happy to leave this comment up even though it violates the rules of the site just because it demonstrates your own thin skin and the fragility of your arguments. No rebuttal is necessary; your defensiveness and inability to make a single substantive point says it all. I’m not making your point for you; you’re making my point for me. My point is that you don’t have one.
The funny thing is that we agree! I never said anyone was an evil genius trying to destroy the minds of children. Rule number one of a debate is that you have to characterize the other side accurately. So, you fail on that.
Rule number two is that when you’re in a hole, stop digging. We agree that corporations are there to sell products and make money and that children don’t know enough to protect themselves. So parents must protect them. We may possibly disagree on when and how that may be necessary, but that’s a pretty small issue for you to be making such a big fuss. And you say I’m the one who can’t take criticism? Sounds like you’re the one with that problem. Pretty funny, too, that you came back to explain why your spelling mistakes are further evidence of your coolness and not of, say, carelessness. Can you ever admit you’re wrong? I do it all the time on this site, even give copies of my book to people who find mistakes for me.
Rule number three of a debate is to assume the good intentions of the person on the other side. Doing otherwise just damages your credibility. Rule number four is to avoid insults for the same reason. It just makes you look shrill and insecure. And the most important rule is number five: choose your battles. You may say that you don’t spend your time responding to trivial matters, but your overreaction to this one proves otherwise.
Nevertheless, I enjoy your comments, so keep them coming. Many people would assume that just because you are rude, you are also ignorant, but I have raised teenagers, so I know better. My best wishes to you and your family.
touche movie mom. touche