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I prefer to buy my children sports equipment, books and creative materials. Generally toys are wasted on most children and if bought randomly engender an attitude of 'things are free' in life and promote habitual laziness and inherent selfishness.Quote:
Originally Posted by blackie
If I were a dictator I would ban children's toy stores and only have 'collectibles' allowed for adults.
I believe in DirtyDigger!Quote:
Originally Posted by TheDirtyDigger
Dont worry one day your lucky grandchildren will inherit a wonderful toy collection. Just look at it as an investment in future childrens happiness
Couldnt have said it any better- Toys are like crack for kids. They dont really teach kids anything that will help them in life - but i must admit they do enhance the imagination.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheDirtyDigger
I do not feel bad, because I do not think it is ethically wrong to have a large collection or many material possessions, as long as we keep things in perspective. For myself, this means I place family and friendship above my hobbies. This does not mean that my collection is somehow automatically "open to all". What it does mean is that I'll not allow my interest in a hobby get to the point where I am not spending any meaningful quality time with my family or close friends.Quote:
Originally Posted by blackie
Additionally, the lack of possessions and/or poverty of others does not make it morally wrong for those who have possessions to enjoy them (assuming the status of those who have not are not a direct result of the immoral choices of those who have).
To use an analogy, people in countries that do not have enough food to eat does not make it somehow wrong for me to enjoy going out on a meal at a nice restaurant. However, if the excess of my lifestyle (e.g. perhaps if I waste good food by throwing it out) contributes in some way to the inequality apparent between nations and peoples, then that ought (to me) to become a cause for concern and action.
My two cents (or is that five cents?).
just want to say im not attempting to attack anyone, we've got some pretty passionate responses already. I was just wondering what people thought (mainly the parents here) as me and the missus were discussing such things (oh god were not having children for a LOOOOOOOOOONG time).
the thing that sparked this idea was when i saw Jay on Friday and he bought his son a toy as well as himself :P
i was thinking that the one for me one for you policy would have to come in if i ever did have children, because i know that i would feel like i was doing my kids a disservice by buying toys for myself but nothing for them.
i do like the idea of digger tho about buying educational material, and sporting goods, and thats what i would do, but every kid needs some toys, i used to have my matchbox cars, which i would play around in the backyard for ages with, and subsequently lose :P
im sure ive burried a few in our backyard over the times, as well as at least one transformer :P
No, and not just 'cos at last count I 'only' have 60-odd (mainly beat-up old ones from when I was a kid) and don't have kids. If I ever do my TFs are staying Daddy's toys and preferably kept safe and out of sight from small careless fingers until the kids much older. Alternately I suspect if they were young and into TFs I'd get them a sacrificial lambformer or 2 when I did, especially if it kept them occupied away from my own latest find (and it is kinda mean making your kid watch you with a new toy with nothing themselves).
As for 'most kids', when they grow up they too can blow ludicrous amounts of money on old/new toys and eat cheesecake for breakfast if they want.Only if you're a rugby groupie...Quote:
Originally Posted by autobreadticon
Lately I have started to feel very bad. Especially since I installed a new shelving unit in my entertainment room last week, it put into perspective how many toys I actually have (and that was only the displayed ones). My nephews came over and saw the shelves and said, "Whoa!!! Uncle's got more toys than all our friends put together!!" Also, my 2 year old daughter has been getting curious and starts wandering in the room and just stands there looking at them, wanting to grab them and play and I have to say no, which makes her cry and then my wife starts giving me a lecture about how many toys I have compared to my daughter. I have found lately, that I want to buy more toys for her rather than myself which has led to a dramatic reduction in my acquisitions of late. The lack of new toys from Hasbro as well has also killed my enthusiasm for TFs as well so I guess its a good thing as well in that I now spend more time with family rather than toys which admittedly, spend 5 minutes being transformed and then displayed (or stored), rarely to be touched again. I've also found lately that I'm more willing to let my nephews play with my TFs and have found they actually can transform the more complex toys once I have shown them how. And it made me realise that toys are meant to be played with the way my nephews play with then rather than being displayed and stored, rarely touched. And it brought a smile to my face to see them with their vivid imaginations running wild. :)
There is a bit of an omymoron there. If most of didn't get toys as a kid, we wouldn't bother collecting Transformers now would we?Quote:
Originally Posted by TheDirtyDigger
ROFL! Obviously collecting toys is better than SOME hobbies...Quote:
Originally Posted by Ode to a Grasshopper
When my kid is older I'll definitely have to buy 1 for me and 1 for him. But I have given this alot of thought. Considering how reckless kids can be with toys I'll be slowly letting my son upgrade. ATM he has Bumper Battlers/Cyber Slammers... when he is older he will go to FABS and then when he is older still He will finally strt with proper toys. Also I am in the process of structuring a "wage" for my kid for all his chores he will have to do when he is older. That way if he wants a decent TF he'll have to work for it and hopefully he'll appreciate it and not wreck it.