Don't Buy It

With the Nintendo Wii selling like crack in a downtown metropolis, new gadgets and accessories to correspond are coming out like Elton John. One recent development in the stable is the Zapper. Developed for games where shooting is involved (representing about 80% of console video games now), the Zapper is the next-generation answer to the old-school NES gun controller for use in Duck Hunt.

Despite the marvelous advances in technology (not to mention aesthetics), there are those who do not appreciate the technology available for simulating violent acts. NJ.com asked their readers what they thought of the Zapper. Of the three responses posted in the article, two readers (as well as many other commentors) thought the Zapper was a poor idea.

A "very concerned grandparent" wrote:

"....Why don't they enclose an application to the NRA in every box as well....the marketing person who came up with this brain child of an idea should be fired."

Very insightful stuff if you ask me. I bet that was senile-old Charleton Heston's brainchild to boost NRA membership by a shameless, but awesome, cross-promotion.

Here we have but another case of over-protective, uppity parents trying to remove the fun of everyone else so their little sociopath-in-the-making would have far less avenues of anger management. While I certainly don't think such a "toy" would be appropriate for a 6-year-old, what about sensible adults or kids who can understand the difference between reality and video games?

What's the next step in this shameless process of sheltering young, impressionable minds from potential violence simulation? Water guns? Crocheting needles? Bananas? All of these objects can, and as I can attest, have been used for the depiction of shooting, maiming, and killing. This list will likely grow as children have boundless imaginations and can use pretty much any inanimate object for their desired purposes, whatever those may be.

Of course, you as a parent can decide if your child is mature and stable enough to use such objects, including the Zapper. In the event they are not ready, exercise your right as a consumer to not buy a particular product you do not feel is appropriate. That would then leave other consumers the same choice: to buy or not to buy. Since I have successfully solved this major dilemma, next I will work on stamping on racism and reality TV.