Subject:
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Re: LEGO sells "violent" toys?
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.mediawatch
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Date:
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Tue, 30 Nov 2004 18:51:49 GMT
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Viewed:
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1692 times
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In lugnet.mediawatch, Jake McKee wrote:
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Not to add fuel to the debate fires, but I would like to throw out one point
in this discussion. Nothing like starting my return to posting after vacation
with a debate! :)
Many tend to confuse the terms/concepts of “violence” and “conflict”. These
two cannot and should not be used interchangably.
Conflict is simply showing a struggle between two sides. Conflict has been a
significant part of play for as far back as play patterns have been tracked.
Think cops and robbers, cowboys and indians, etc. Conflict based play is not
only normal and natural, it’s an important part of a child’s (especially
boys) growth. Think about the important lessons that are learned when
conflict is shown and then resolved in a positive way.
Violence is unhealthy, over-the-top, gory interpretation of these conflict
play patterns. I’ve always thought of the difference between conflict and
violence being the difference between an action figure with Kung-Fu grip
versus a figure with a voice module that says he’s going to kill the other
figure while the other figure’s head pops off with blood gushing.
Many of the toys I can remember playing with as a child (at least the
favorites that stick out) were conflict based - He-Man, GI Joe, Transformers,
etc. - but not particularly violent.
The example of the cartoons is a good one. I don’t think that Looney Toons
are violent, I think they are steeped in conflict themes. Ren and Stimpy,
however, are violent (things pop off, blood gushes, etc.)
Many people, myself included, believe that sports are an important part of a
child’s growth. Why? Because sports are on of the best examples of conflict
themes out there. Think about what a sports game actually is: A mini-conflict
between two groups both trying to get something. There are many great lessons
to be learned from sports, many of them revolving around the “conflict
themes”.
So I guess the point I’m making is something can be conflict based without
being violent.
FWIW...
Jake
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While searching for something else, I came across TLCs statement about the
recall of 6776 immediately following the September 11th attacks. I believe it
has relevance with respect to what Jake says above...
http://www.lego.com/eng/info/?page=pressdetail&contentid=182&countrycode=2057&yearcode=2001&oldXML=true&archive=true
Its also interesting to note that once TLC issued that recall, it was
impossible to get a 6776 to go through a checkout at any US WalMart that I
visited (even tho they scanned at a clearance price). The computer entry for
that set was locked and prevented any sale. OTOH, there were quite a few of
these which were being clearanced by TRU over this past year or so. I have no
idea if the ones that TRU was selling were purged of the offensive material or
not.
Ray
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: LEGO sells "violent" toys?
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| (...) Not to add fuel to the debate fires, but I would like to throw out one point in this discussion. Nothing like starting my return to posting after vacation with a debate! :) Many tend to confuse the terms/concepts of "violence" and "conflict". (...) (20 years ago, 15-Nov-04, to lugnet.mediawatch, FTX)
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