TOYS & STARS
Posted by anthonynorth on June 27, 2009
Sunday Scribblings and Saturday 9
TECHIE WITHOUT A CLUE
Toys
Toys tell us a lot about society. The important thing about them
is not what they are, or what they do, but who plays with them.
Identify a toy in history and you’ll identify children of families who
have become relatively free of struggle – ‘cos before this, they
were too busy surviving to have time for fun.
Mankind’s toys on display,
The museum of games they play,
Things been thrown from Dick to Tom,
From primitive spear to atom bomb
Toys have a philosophy all their own. This may not be immediately
apparent, but consider the kinds of toys that were popular when
community still existed. Toys were mainly about shared playing. As
individuality grew, toys became more personal, ending up with the
video game, isolating the child in his room. There was an electronic
comeback of community with toys such as Wii, but this developed
a philosophy of its own. Out it comes and kids banished to their
rooms while the parents have fun.
Toys show up our social stupidity, too.
Hello mate, shall we play a game,
Lots of toys to raise a flame,
Help us in our passionate embrace,
From videos to gossamer lace
BRIT NEWS: Experts warn energy bills
could soar to £5000 a year in a decade. Utter
nonsense. Profiteering on a grand scale.
HEALTH NEWS: Sales of vitamins slump as people buy fruit
& veg during Recession. Looks like poverty = commonsense.
MEDIA NEWS: Salaries and perks queries now go
to BBC. Under fire for excess. And why not?
It’s paid for by compulsory licence fee.
TONY’S MUSE does … SATURDAY 9
Him Outside has decided I’m allowed to play a
few memes now – as long as I don’t say anything
about him I shouldn’t. Yeah, right!
1. Where were you when you heard that Michael Jackson died?
It was late at night in the UK so Him Outside was winding down
for sleep.
2. How do you think that he will be remembered?
Jackson will never be remembered for what he really was. A
sensational person in life, his death will have to end up as sensational.
This is the fate of all icons. He will be, to the future, whatever
conspiracy theory sticks.
3. What was your favorite Jackson tune?
Singing Ben could be a Thriller,
Heal the World, never Bad,
Remembered as a Rockin’ Robin,
He’s HIStory, but let’s not be sad
4. Did you watch the original Charlie’s Angels?
Yes, he did.
5. Did someone you know have that poster of Farrah?
Him Outside’s Dearest hated THAT poster. She was a hairdresser and
everyone wanted THAT hair. Unfortunately, few of them had the hair
to allow THAT hair. In the UK it was soon replaced by the Purdy look.
Much more manageable.
6. Did you consider her battle with cancer heroic?
Is it heroic to face something that you can do nothing about?
Heroism is facing something you have a choice in – to do it or
not. If the question was: did she face it with grace and
humanity, yes, certainly.
7. Were you a fan of The Tonight Show Starring Johnnie Carson?
He watched it occasionally. Him Outside’s a Brit.
8. Did you like Ed McMahon on the show?
Don’t really remember him.
9. What else will you remember McMahon for?
Ditto. But …
Three stars fall, a saddening time,
Music, laughter, acting divine,
For us it may be a blow,
But they’re together on the celestial Tonight Show
© Anthony North, June 2009
Jay said
I do agree with you about toys – they are a reflection of what we think of our children and what we hope they will become. Some parents don’t hope, so they don’t play with their children or give much thought to their toys. Most toys are for practice in living. Give a child logic toys to teach him logic, ‘community’ toys to teach him sharing and interaction with others, give him war toys to practice conflict. What are we teaching them by letting them play exclusively with digital games on their own? Who knows?
anthonynorth said
Hi Jay,
You raise some good points in your comment. Yes, they are, indeed, learning aids for life. We should take more care with them.
marja said
oh dear toys I am glad that my children were born in a pre computer time frame and stil enjoyed the real toys till
the computer came.
About Michael I hope he rests in peace. I grew up with him danced on his music saw his concert and he was a perfectionist
Linda may said
Sad about Jacko’s loss. It is such a shame that his personal life was not what society expected, but nobody…..nobody could ever deny his talent as a musician/singer/entertainer. Farrah, never liked her.
Funny we think of toys as something for a child but they are known differently by the rest of us. We have computers, books, cosmetics, cars, other people, etc, I could make up a real list here couldn’t I?
anthonynorth said
Hi Marja,
Yes, one day we must get back to real social toys. I wasn’t a big fan of Michael Jackson but I certainly realise his skill.
Hi Linda,
Very true. I tried to encompass the extend of adult toys in the little poems. I agree, Jackson was an impressive singer/entertainer.
james said
I consider the use of games for the purpose of educating a person to be a positive thing, as the sole method of growth. Both children and adults learn only from games, from the simulation of the correct and desired future condition.child learns from games. He is drawn to the desire to know, to take apart, to break and to reassemble. A child sees the opportunity to learn about the world in every second in his life. We are mistaken in calling this undertaking a game. Children see these actions as an opportunity to learn about themselves and the world. Adults are the ones that waste their time in vain, not children!
Video Games are now become online games were you play with anyone/groups people from around the world. To think of video games as a individual process is old hat.
Harriet said
Good list.Wow. Don’t remember McMahon…
http://iamharriet.blogspot.com/2009/06/saturday-if-i-had-magical-sunglasses-i.html
NurseExec said
RIP to them all. Have a good Saturday
Linda G said
Hi Anthony,
Interesting presentation on your blog today. Love your muse’s interview idea- you are a clever man.
As for Farah- I didn’t care for her cause her ‘celebrity persona’ was dumb blonde sex kitten for most of her career. I was so much more interested in women who were portrayed in a more ‘equal’ way- Emma Peel comes to mind. The character was sexy & oh so smart & capable- something I could be comfortable with.
Toys–as a child, every summer our tv died for some odd reason. So we played outside games or board games with our friends. Or we walked, unaccompanied by adults, to the matinee movies or to the lake to go swimming. Times were different then-I was a child of the 50’s.
Linda G said
Hi Anthony,
Forgot to add this – A comment on James’ remark. As a child I disassembled one of my parents watches- evidently to discover how it worked. I’m sure I was ‘talked to’ about doing such things in the future- but I wasn’t punished. I’m glad my parents reacted as they did, cause I’m still a terribly inquisitive person.
Twilight said
The best toys are those that encourage a child to exercise either brain or body – or ideally both. The worst – no doubt about it – toy guns and pretend stuff related to killing/war, and even worse video games which imitate war and violence. These train the young mind to think of it as fun, without appreciating the horror of it all.
RIP Farrah and Michael.
anthonynorth said
Hi James,
It would be interesting to know how many kids actually do play games with others online. You could well be right on that. As to the importance of games for education, yes, I agree with that.
We’re agreeing again – yikes!
Hi Harriet,
Thanks for that. No, I’m afraid I don’t remember him at all.
Hi NurseExec,
I echo that.
Hi Linda,
Oh, I agree with you on Emma Peel. I think she was a transition into the more feminist character. She retained the sex appeal – perhaps more so – but was also brains and power.
Yes, I had that inquisitiveness, though not so much for taking things apart. I guess that’s why I’m the worse ‘do-it-yourself’ guy in the universe
By the way, I can’t take credit for the questions – they’re in the Saturday 9 meme, but I thought it would be a good idea to let the old muse off the leash – to a point
Hi Twilight,
I certainly worry about the warring video games, and i can see a connection between toy guns, etc. Yet I used to play with them all the time and I don’t think it turned me violent. But I accept I may be part of a minority here.
Lurc said
RIP Farrah and Michael!
anthonynorth said
Hi Lurc,
Indeed.
Linda G said
Hi Anthony,
I think I’ll be visiting here off & on today- I’m doing medical research over the weekend- have a decision to make by Monday & I’m compulsive about being as informed as I can possibly be.
IMHO toy guns are ok- but the video games out today are so super violent. And there probasbly is a negative effect to them, as these types of games are used for training of REAL soldiers. The difference being they are much older & have committed themselves to a military path at that time.
As to kids playing games online line with other kids- they’re still sitting in their room alone- what type of social interaction/skill does that create?
anthonynorth said
Hi Linda,
Yes, i tend to agree. Kids should spend time out in the open, playing, interacting, getting knocks, enjoyment, understanding social living.
It’s always best to be as informed as possible, I always find.
Dr. John said
When Betty and I were in England we visited a toy museum. We saw old doll houses, dolls, little soldiers etc. This , of course, was before video games.
anthonynorth said
Hi Dr John,
They were better toys then. And I’m sure we had more fun with them as children.
Linda G said
Hi Anthony,
I think toys & games back in our days, because they were fairly basic, required our imagination in order to keep ourselves amused. Seems like nowadays the toys, especially video games, don’t require that – rather they seem to provide a ‘canned imaginative experience’. So kids are still experiencing imaginative events- just not of their own making. I wonder what effect that may have?
floreta said
its very true that toys show a part of a history of society. just thinking of all the toys i saw in textbooks for art history..
anthonynorth said
Hi Linda,
Very true. Media does the thinking for so many nowadays. Strange, when they say individuality rules. But as I’ve said many times, individuality is more a marketing con.
The other thing that has gone, of course, is the ability to be bored, which ties in with your words. When kids are bored, their imagination forces itself to work.
Hi Floreta,
Thanks for that. Yes, it’s amazing how such innocuous seeming objects can tell us a lot about who we are, and who we have been.
Quilly said
I suspect Michael Jackson will share the fate of Elvis and never actually be allowed to die.
I enjoyed the meme your muse did, and thank you for giving words to my thoughts about Farrah’s “courage” — it isn’t that she didn’t have it, but that I felt it an ill-fitting label. And I was a young girl who wore Farrah’s haircut, but luckily, I had the hair to wear it well — but my face certainly didn’t need a center part!
paisley said
i find it sad that the days of shared toy games seems to be over ,, and children are growing up and playing more alone with their electronic gadgets..
interesting take on michael jackson ,, in that we will have to wait to hear what comes from the mouths of the conspiracy theorists…
anthonynorth said
Hi Quilly,
Sadly it is the fate of such icons – they are never allowed to rest. I can see you now in THAT hair style.
Hi Paisley,
Yes, I think kids miss out on so much with their toys nowadays. And sadly those conspiracy theorists do rule culture in such areas.
Carleen said
You raised a really good point about the sensationalism that always surrounds the passing of an icon. It doesn’t say much good about us, though, that we can’t let them RIP once they’re gone. Jeez, I still hear Elvis conspiracies!
Tumblewords said
Great take on toys – how true this is -
AD said
Toys vs. Heart
anthonynorth said
Hi Carleen,
Thanks for that. Sadly, this is usually the case.
Hi Tumblewords,
Indeed. Much appreciated.
Hi AD,
What can I say? Thanks again
Dee said
Tony your ‘conversation” speaks of actual kids toys, but your verse seems to speak of more adult and less innocuous things, like weapons. Just wondered if your were making a point or if that’s just how the words fell…
I think you made a wonderful point about losing the ability to be bored. Even as an adult, it’s usually in the still quiet times that ideas come to me. Not when I am surfing the net.
I agree that whether you are playing video games with others or just on your own, you are still isolated. I don’t think toy guns lead to violence. When we were kids, we didn’t need toy guns, sticks became guns and swords, and we played war. We also took care of our “wounded” and made treaties. I think the tendency for violence comes more from the isolation from others and the lack of learning to play well with others. Thought provoking post.
Love the blurb about vitamin sales slump as people buy fruits and vegetables – what an example of how crazy we humans are.
Not going there about the deaths over here. The media will go there, stay there, and force us all to relive it ad nauseum. Enough for me
anthonynorth said
Hi Dee,
Thanks for that. Much appreciated. I tried to mix children’s and adult toys in the prose and verse – just that imp of the perverse in me
I agree with you about the deaths. We will be hearing about one of them, for certain, for many years to come.