Posted on 01/02/2006 6:34:23 PM PST by RPTMS
A mother in Dallas is one of several parents complaining about a new interactive book for toddlers in which Sesame Street character Elmo asks "who wants to die?" according to a Local 6 News report.
Family members said 16-month-old Miranda Boll's new book, "Potty Time With Elmo," was supposed to teach an interactive lesson using voice commands. However, when the book's buttons are pressed, it reportedly says something it is not supposed to -- "who wants to die?"
"It's a sick joke," mother Angela Bolls said. "If it's a joke then it's a bad one, you know? And it's not necessary. It's inappropriate."
Bolls said she checked another copy of the same book and found that it says something completely different; "Who wants to try to go potty?"
The company that makes the book said it has had several complaints concerning the book, according to the report.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
Wait for the ACLU to defend Elmo's freedom of speech and demand that the books stay the way they are.
NOT my fault!
Having had (at least) one Elmo toy (it was given to us), the sound quality was so bad it was very hard to understand. Frankly, just having to listen to Elmo makes me want to kill someone.
Reminds me of news story from a couple years ago,
about a popular Talking Doll, manufactured in China,
that among the normal rotation of recorded sayings
that one can expect from a childs' doll, every once
in a while, when the string was pulled, would say:
"I *hate* you!" in a childs voice with all the
malevolence that one could ever imagine coming
from the mouth of a little girl in a violent rage....
I'm guessing that Elmo is actually saying something much more innocuous and this these people are letting their imaginations and their desire for controversy overwhelm common sense. My toddler likes Elmo so I think he is alright. But he doesn't speak too clearly.
This station is in central Florida.
He's been spending too much time around Oscar in the garbage can.
Oh my. Not as bad as what the alpha bug said but I think I would want my money back.
Children are far more complimcated today than in your time, DJ. So stop raining on their parade.
:) Hehe!
She tried a second one and it didn't say "Who wants to die", it said "Who wants to try to go potty".
And there reportedly are other complaints.
"Sounds like a 'Twilight Zone' episode."
I'm your talking Tina Doll....
I know several folks who rank that as the #1 scariest twilight zone of all time.
For me, it's Burgess Meredith at the end of the world. I've never even watched that one all the way through.
LOL!
Oscar showing his unholy sway over young impressionable monsters..
"I'm your talking Tina Doll...."
I agree, that is one of their creepiest episodes ever.
I think Ms. Bolls' needs to listen more carefully.
I guess Elmo will up the ante by exclaiming, "Poop or die!"
I saw a Twilight Zone episode like this over the weekend.
That 'Tina Doll' episode with Telly Savalas was creepy.
Missus had a Furby that said something raunchy.
Was quite interesting to hear the fuzzy little thing ask 'that'.
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