Imaginashunz iz bad for teh childruns!

[The Lazy One]

boldchristianliving.com/articles/child-training/sheltering-children---part-2-parental-responsibility-for-influences.html

I clicked a link of Nutcasé, Marquis d'Ass-Uniball's and browsed around the site. And then I found this big pile of fail.

These douchebags don't even allow their children to have an imagination. None whatsoever.

Another major area of sheltering Connie and I have been convicted to implement relates to our children's imaginations. Paul told us (2 Cor. 10:6) "[cast] down vain imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and [bring] every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." What kinds of imaginations might be displeasing to God and thus need to "cast down" and brought "into captivity to the obedience of Christ?"

If you try to discourage children's imagination then you're a complete and utter fuckwad. If I ever have little Lazies I want to to help encourage their imaginations, but that's besides the point. I can't believe some people. But then again, this is all part of the master plan. They're going to program little robots for Jesus.

When you as spiritually discerning parents pass the toy section in department stores you must be deeply grieved. Have you noticed how many of today's toys are downright ugly? We're not talking mildly homely. Many of today's toys are utterly grotesque! Hideous! Someone is trying to shape children's sense of beauty and we must protect our little ones from such a diabolical agenda.

And have you noticed how many children's toys are linked to imagining occult activities. Does God want our children casting spells, practicing witchcraft, and saying magical incantations in real life? Of course not! Then how dare we allow them to imagine such things in their play? The purpose of children's play is practice for real life. We dare not allow them to practice for what God calls abominations!

We have gone so far as to ban such "anatomically correct" teen dolls as Barbie dolls from our home. Why? Such toys encourage little girls to focus on the very things Peter warns against in 1 Peter 3:3-4, "Do not let your adornment be outward; arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel; rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God."

Oh noes! Not teh toys!

I have a bit of a divergence here: I have a plush cat named Sook that I've had since I was very little. Even when it was new it wasn't the prettiest stuffed toy ever. It's big and poofy and gray, and if you look at it's eyes, it actually looks kind of psychotic. But I fucking love that plush toy, and I loved it even back then. I never thought it was the cutest thing ever, but I didn't care. Why? Because that plush cat and I went on all kinds of "adventures". One day I'd be a teacher and that cat was my student. Another day we would be pilots flying a plane. The next, we'd be restaurant owners. It was great fun, the kind of things that little kids do. But according to this douchebag, my stuffed cat Sook and I are corrupted and impure, a double whammy. Because I used my imagination, and had an ugly stuffed toy.

And while we're at it, complaining about the toys being ugly, that's just being stupid. Not all toys are meant to appeal to every kid. When he was younger, my brother was terrified of his friend's Darth Vader action figure. And I was in first grade during the Furby craze. Those things still scare me. But I know people who loved them! The point is that not every toy is right for every child. But banning every damn thing you can think of isn't the right approach at all.

[Nutcase]

When you as spiritually discerning parents pass the toy section in department stores you must be deeply grieved. Have you noticed how many of today's toys are downright ugly?

What I find both amusing and disturbing about this is the focus on aesthetics, and how a lack of “beauty” in the toy aisle should be cause for grief. Without even realizing it, these sorts of ‘careful’ parents are linking unattractiveness with the demonic, thus ensuring their own children will believe there’s a relationship between ugliness and evil.

But on the same token, they won’t allow their daughters to buy Barbie dolls because those place an emphasis on unattainable standards of beauty rather than concentrating on the inner person of the heart.

If toys are part of ‘practice for real life,’ then parents are encouraging a kind of lookism that will bleed over into their kids’ relationships with actual living, breathing people.

[David D.G.]

Jun 15, 2009 10:08:55 GMT -5 Nutcase said:

But on the same token, they won’t allow their daughters to buy Barbie dolls because those place an emphasis on unattainable standards of beauty rather than concentrating on the inner person of the heart.

I doubt they'd have that much of a problem with the "unattainable standards of beauty" issue. Rather, they probably would ban Barbie because she's an example of a girl's capability to become an astronaut, a teacher, a businesswoman, a veterinarian, or any other thing she might want to be besides a wife and mother.


~David D.G.

[captainhooker]

Is it any surprise that people who cannot discern the difference between reality and metaphor cannot understand how the normal mind separates fantasy and reality?

[Vypernight]

I have a feeling the kids have a better grasp of reality than the parents.

[Old Viking]

Then the kids grew up and, with glazed eyes, confronted the real world.

[Ian1732]

Jun 15, 2009 9:54:52 GMT -5 The Lazy One said:

boldchristianliving.com/articles/child-training/sheltering-children---part-2-parental-responsibility-for-influences.html

But I fucking love that plush toy, and I loved it even back then. I never thought it was the cutest thing ever, but I didn't care. Why? Because that plush cat and I went on all kinds of "adventures". One day I'd be a teacher and that cat was my student. Another day we would be pilots flying a plane. The next, we'd be restaurant owners. It was great fun, the kind of things that little kids do.

*sniff* Now I'm thinking of Doby, a beanie baby that I've had since I was an infant...

[Thejebusfire]

And have you noticed how many children's toys are linked to imagining occult activities. Does God want our children casting spells, practicing witchcraft, and saying magical incantations in real life? Of course not! Then how dare we allow them to imagine such things in their play? The purpose of children's play is practice for real life. We dare not allow them to practice for what God calls abominations!

Harry Potter action firgures are not "occult". Bionicle battle bot toys are not "occult". If your child starts casting spells they know nothing about because they watched "Scooby Doo" then you are a failure as a parent.
Instead of surpresing your child's creative minds, teach them the difference's between reality and fiction.
And so what if some toy is "ugly"? I've had the same stuffed Big Bird since I was two. The paint on his eye sockets have worn off, I had to draw them back on with a sharpie. He's missing patches of fluff, he has a huge rip down his back, and his pull string hasn't worked for years, but it's all okay since I've had him since I was 2.

[The Lazy One]

So I'm not the only one with an old stuffed toy that I love! ;D And you know what? If this asshat I quoted in the OP thinks my Sook is ugly, then he can go suck his own dick. That stuffed toy has sentimental value, even if it is ugly!

Who's with me!?

[Dragon Zachski]

...I have this one bear that I can never let go of. It's a... I'm not even sure how it's spelled, but a "Mochi Bear". It has this little jingle thing inside that makes a very comforting noise. Just thinking about it makes me relaxed...

[RavynousHunter]

Huh... All I have is a plastic figurine of Washu. I think if my muse were to take physical form, it would look like Washu.

[DarkfireTaimatsu]

Funny, back when I was a kid, I was praised for my imagination. In fact, my grandmother still talks about a particular incident to this day.

And I still have all my toys. And still buy new ones, in fact. (Mostly for display purposes nowadays, though.)

[ironbite]

What is this incident Darkfire?

Ironbite-also...my brain hurts now. No...that's my brain trying to escape through my nose.

[Maryland Bear]

My partner has a teddy bear he's had since before he can remember, and he just turned 44.

The poor thing is, to put it politely, obviously a much-loved bear. He treasures it.

[Green-Eyed Lilo]

Anyone who thinks Barbie is "anatomically correct" isn't worth listening to for any reason.

I feel sorry for these peoples' kids. I never had a lot of toys, except for stuffed animals. What I had were crayons, paper, an old third-hand typewriter, milk crates, my grandpa's half-used cans of spray paint, scrap lumber, that kind of thing. It's not a bad way to grow up. However, I am guessing that the writer's children, especially his unfortunate daughters, would not be permitted to fly to the moon or win the Daytona 500 in their super-modified milk crates.