Toys, toys, and more toys.. consumerism and ideals.
On trying to find something about something entirely different I discovered this gem from the past (I think when Home Truths used to be presented by John Peel) by Tom Robinson who also has a great little column in the Torygraph. I often wonder however what his kids will think of some of the things when they grow up since he has documented their whole lives.. anyway as usual I’m getting off the topic..
Its titled the ‘Toy Torrent’ (guess what I was searching for) and remarks on the idealogy they had as parents and the sad state of our society that we all consume and provide far too much.. so much that they can’t control their ideals anymore
Little is valued, none of it cared for. We never wanted it to be like this. As first-time parents we planned plenty of books plus a few well-made, well-chosen toys that the child would love and cherish. But we reckoned without the generosity of others.
As each orgy of gift-giving subsides we dump duplicate toys at Oxfam by the truckload. It’s obscene. Our advance requests not to waste money on presents offend friends and relatives alike.
He simply has too many possessions for comfort.
As a reward, I let him play computer games in my study, surrounded by - what? Monitors, modems, pianos, printers, synths, scanners, samplers, sequencers, basses, box files, tables, telephones, tape decks, chairs, cables, mike stands, mixers, box files, videos, vinyl, CDs, faxes, photographs and… heaps of letters, lyrics and manuals strewn all over the floor. Nature or nurture - the poor child hasn’t got a chance.
From : BBC, Home Truths, “The Toy Torrent”
It’s easy I guess in advance to say “I would like to do this and that” as a person who hasn’t even thought of having children.. its hard to understand the reasons why so many kids are spoilt. “Why do the parents let it get like that?!” is often the remark I have to myself. I guess you never know until you get there..
