Army PR

Lozzer
First Only Gay
Posts: 6536
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:37 pm
Contact:

Army PR

Post by Lozzer » Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:59 pm

I was flipping through the Argos catalogue this morning when I came to a page full of 'action man' merchandise. Well it wasn't strictly Action Man, it was a series of toys and figurines for boys. There were tanks, toy soldiers, uniforms etc you name it. By each product was the logo of the Royal Navy, as in the British armed forces. I know young lads love military toys and violence, but I've never heard of a range of toy wear produced by the army for children? Isn't it slightly messed up that we should allow the military to have that kind of contact and influence with impressionable minds? I know I sound like Reverend Lovejoy's wife from the Simpsons, but wont somebody think of the children? I can't honestly see a public service like the army actually developing toys for any other purpose other than to encourage or to try and determine the future of the kids who buy into it.
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnneeee

User avatar
AnInconvenientScotsman
Posts: 646
Joined: Thu May 27, 2010 9:05 am
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Contact:

Re: Army PR

Post by AnInconvenientScotsman » Tue Jun 01, 2010 6:52 pm

Army toys have been around for decades man. I seriously doubt the military commissioning a range of them will make a difference. Most little boys grow up.
When I feel sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead.
True story.
SUIT UP!
"Dear God, dear Lord, dear vague muscular man with a beard or a sword,
Dear good all seeing being; my way or the highway Yahweh,
The blue-balled anti-masturbator, the great all-loving faggot-hater
I thank your holy might, for making me both rich and white"

User avatar
Feck
.
.
Posts: 28391
Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:25 pm
Contact:

Re: Army PR

Post by Feck » Tue Jun 01, 2010 9:07 pm

This is going to sound strange coming from me but if we accept that we do need a military then we need people to join .
Most people who join nowadays do so because they offer a stable life and career training not always available in civilian life .
If a range of toys upsets you then I think you are being a little too sensitive and PC about it .
I think kids are always going to want to play soldiers or cowboys or pirates .A range of toys is not going to have as much effect on kids as computer games and let's face it Do you play Echo the Dolphin much ?
:hoverdog: :hoverdog: :hoverdog: :hoverdog:
Give me the wine , I don't need the bread

User avatar
Gawdzilla Sama
Stabsobermaschinist
Posts: 151265
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:24 am
About me: My posts are related to the thread in the same way Gliese 651b is related to your mother's underwear drawer.
Location: Sitting next to Ayaan in Domus Draconis, and communicating via PMs.
Contact:

Re: Army PR

Post by Gawdzilla Sama » Tue Jun 01, 2010 9:12 pm

They've found "tin soldiers" in Egyptian tombs. Nothing new here.
Image
Ein Ubootsoldat wrote:“Ich melde mich ab. Grüssen Sie bitte meine Kameraden.”

Lozzer
First Only Gay
Posts: 6536
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:37 pm
Contact:

Re: Army PR

Post by Lozzer » Tue Jun 01, 2010 10:29 pm

I'm not disccusing the morality of having militaristic toys--I for one bummed BB guns and Action Men for years. It's just I think it's questionable for such toys to be commissioned by the armed forces.
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnneeee

User avatar
Gawdzilla Sama
Stabsobermaschinist
Posts: 151265
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:24 am
About me: My posts are related to the thread in the same way Gliese 651b is related to your mother's underwear drawer.
Location: Sitting next to Ayaan in Domus Draconis, and communicating via PMs.
Contact:

Re: Army PR

Post by Gawdzilla Sama » Tue Jun 01, 2010 10:30 pm

Lozzer wrote:I'm not disccusing the morality of having militaristic toys--I for one bummed BB guns and Action Men for years. It's just I think it's questionable for such toys to be commissioned by the armed forces.
The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.
Image
Ein Ubootsoldat wrote:“Ich melde mich ab. Grüssen Sie bitte meine Kameraden.”

User avatar
AnInconvenientScotsman
Posts: 646
Joined: Thu May 27, 2010 9:05 am
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Contact:

Re: Army PR

Post by AnInconvenientScotsman » Tue Jun 01, 2010 11:20 pm

Lozzer wrote:I'm not disccusing the morality of having militaristic toys--I for one bummed BB guns and Action Men for years. It's just I think it's questionable for such toys to be commissioned by the armed forces.
Woah woah woah...you bummed Action Man? :|~
When I feel sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead.
True story.
SUIT UP!
"Dear God, dear Lord, dear vague muscular man with a beard or a sword,
Dear good all seeing being; my way or the highway Yahweh,
The blue-balled anti-masturbator, the great all-loving faggot-hater
I thank your holy might, for making me both rich and white"

Lozzer
First Only Gay
Posts: 6536
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:37 pm
Contact:

Re: Army PR

Post by Lozzer » Tue Jun 01, 2010 11:25 pm

AnInconvenientScotsman wrote:
Lozzer wrote:I'm not disccusing the morality of having militaristic toys--I for one bummed BB guns and Action Men for years. It's just I think it's questionable for such toys to be commissioned by the armed forces.
Woah woah woah...you bummed Action Man? :|~

:shifty:
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnneeee

User avatar
Pappa
Non-Practicing Anarchist
Non-Practicing Anarchist
Posts: 56488
Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2009 10:42 am
About me: I am sacrificing a turnip as I type.
Location: Le sud du Pays de Galles.
Contact:

Re: Army PR

Post by Pappa » Tue Jun 01, 2010 11:40 pm

Lozzer wrote:I'm not disccusing the morality of having militaristic toys--I for one bummed BB guns and Action Men for years. It's just I think it's questionable for such toys to be commissioned by the armed forces.
They're just cashing in on the current wave of patriotism, can't really blame them for taking advantage of that.
For information on ways to help support Rationalia financially, see our funding page.


When the aliens do come, everything we once thought was cool will then make us ashamed.

Lozzer
First Only Gay
Posts: 6536
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:37 pm
Contact:

Re: Army PR

Post by Lozzer » Tue Jun 01, 2010 11:43 pm

Pappa wrote:
Lozzer wrote:I'm not discussing the morality of having militaristic toys--I for one bummed BB guns and Action Men for years. It's just I think it's questionable for such toys to be commissioned by the armed forces.
They're just cashing in on the current wave of patriotism, can't really blame them for taking advantage of that.

I don't think our Heroes would ever do that :roll:
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnneeee

User avatar
charlou
arseist
Posts: 32528
Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2012 2:36 am

Re: Army PR

Post by charlou » Wed Jun 02, 2010 5:35 am

Interesting topic, the ethics of state influence on children. Apart from taking responsibility for health, welfare and education, should the state also be responsible for pushing a particular agenda? In the UK religion is not separate, so I'm not surprised the armed forces are not considered separate either. Ideological indoctrination is unethical, IMO, and those who say children like those kinds of toys therefore there's no issue with pushing an agenda are playing right along with it.
no fences

User avatar
Rum
Absent Minded Processor
Posts: 37285
Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:25 pm
Location: South of the border..though not down Mexico way..
Contact:

Re: Army PR

Post by Rum » Wed Jun 02, 2010 6:59 am

'Socialisation'. Sadly girls still get encouraged to play with dolls as kids and boys get guns and tanks and toy soldiers. We set about programming our kids from the get go.

I for one hate it. War should be seen as a tragic, terrible (and rare if at all possible) necessity and we should not in my view bring up boys to treat it as a game. No hope of that however. We continue to be warlike and in my view, savage. Our spending on defence globally continues inexorably to go up and up. Here's a timely news item:-


World military spending soars in spite of recession


At a time when governments across the world have been borrowing heavily in order to spend, it seems the defence industry has benefited more than most.

Worldwide military expenditure reached $1,531bn (£1bn) last year, a 5.9% rise in real terms from 2008, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri).

More at:- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/10184610.stm

User avatar
AshtonBlack
Tech Monkey
Tech Monkey
Posts: 7773
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:01 pm
Location: <insert witty joke locaction here>
Contact:

Re: Army PR

Post by AshtonBlack » Wed Jun 02, 2010 8:17 am

Rum wrote:'Socialisation'. Sadly girls still get encouraged to play with dolls as kids and boys get guns and tanks and toy soldiers. We set about programming our kids from the get go.

I for one hate it. War should be seen as a tragic, terrible (and rare if at all possible) necessity and we should not in my view bring up boys to treat it as a game. No hope of that however. We continue to be warlike and in my view, savage. Our spending on defence globally continues inexorably to go up and up. Here's a timely news item:-


World military spending soars in spite of recession


At a time when governments across the world have been borrowing heavily in order to spend, it seems the defence industry has benefited more than most.

Worldwide military expenditure reached $1,531bn (£1bn) last year, a 5.9% rise in real terms from 2008, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri).

More at:- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/10184610.stm
:whistle:

10 Fuck Off
20 GOTO 10
Ashton Black wrote:"Dogma is the enemy, not religion, per se. Rationality, genuine empathy and intellectual integrity are anathema to dogma."

User avatar
Gawdzilla Sama
Stabsobermaschinist
Posts: 151265
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:24 am
About me: My posts are related to the thread in the same way Gliese 651b is related to your mother's underwear drawer.
Location: Sitting next to Ayaan in Domus Draconis, and communicating via PMs.
Contact:

Re: Army PR

Post by Gawdzilla Sama » Wed Jun 02, 2010 10:18 am

Charlou wrote:Interesting topic, the ethics of state influence on children. Apart from taking responsibility for health, welfare and education, should the state also be responsible for pushing a particular agenda? In the UK religion is not separate, so I'm not surprised the armed forces are not considered separate either. Ideological indoctrination is unethical, IMO, and those who say children like those kinds of toys therefore there's no issue with pushing an agenda are playing right along with it.
I blame Darwin.
Image
Ein Ubootsoldat wrote:“Ich melde mich ab. Grüssen Sie bitte meine Kameraden.”

User avatar
JimC
The sentimental bloke
Posts: 74151
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:58 am
About me: To be serious about gin requires years of dedicated research.
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Contact:

Re: Army PR

Post by JimC » Wed Jun 02, 2010 11:16 am

Lozzer wrote:I'm not disccusing the morality of having militaristic toys--I for one bummed BB guns and Action Men for years. It's just I think it's questionable for such toys to be commissioned by the armed forces.
I see your point, Lozzer. It is perfectly reasonable for army or navy recruiters to speak to late secondary school students about joining up, as they can weigh up the arguments, but toy merchandising to much younger children has that unpleasant flavour associated with toys from McDonalds, for example. Emotional manipulation, rather than persuasion by (relatively) rational means...
Nurse, where the fuck's my cardigan?
And my gin!

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests