Media Head over 'Heelys' with 'Dangerous Toy' Hype

NewsBusters.org ^ | June 21, 2007 | Ken Shepherd

[freemarket_kenshepherd]

The Washington Post's Fredrick Kunkle let a leftist group skate away with the bland "nonprofit group" tag. The group, the Boston-based World Against Toys Causing Harm (WATCH) named Heelys -- a pair of sneakers with small wheels recessed into the heel -- the worst toy of 2006.

But a review of WATCH's Web site reveals that the group is headed by a trial attorney who boasts of raking in "record-setting settlements and jury verdicts throughout the country."

Oh, and they don't like toy laser guns, although they, you know, don't actually shoot real lasers:

[gnarledmaw]

I love these “safety” groups, often they come up with some of the best suggestions for Christmas...

[wbill]

AquaNet, a length of PVC pipe, a lighter, and Potatoes work even better. I wouldn't want to get in the way of one of shots, though.

Potato Cannon can vaporize beer bottles, or so I was once told by, er, a friend.

[reagan_fanatic]

I really miss Jarts!

So do I. We used to play with them all the time when we were kids, and to my knowledge, not one of us ended up with one embedded in our scalp.

If the Leisure Nazis have there way, you'll have to encase your kids in foam rubber before letting them play outside.

[dfwgator]

"This happens to be a favorite of mine, because it's a low-price Halloween costume. It's really one of the more exciting ones. You take the rags, you just pin 'em on there like a hobo, you know? And then flame on, lights up the night! It's a beautiful costume, I think."

[bigcheese]

We were too poor for potatoes. Besides, what’s the fun of things that make flames and go BOOM! unless you can (somewhat safely) shoot each other with them?

[MarineBrat]

>I really miss Jarts!

>>So do I. We used to play with them all the time when we were kids, and to my knowledge, not one of us ended up with one embedded in our scalp.

I've taken up horseshoes to fill the void. :)

[Sunshine Sister]

One of Dave Berry’s funniest articles was about a potato gun. I still grin when I think about it!

[Dumpster Baby]

[AgentEcho]

What rolls down stairs,
Alone or in pairs...
Rolls over your neighbour’s dog?
What’s great for a snack
And fits on your back?
It’s Log! Log! Log!
It’s Lo-og, it’s Lo-og
It’s big, it’s heavy
It’s wood!
It’s Lo-og, it’s Lo-og
It’s better than bad
It’s good!!!

[CholeraJoe]

I miss my Lawn Dart set.

[BBell]

My kids love their Heelys and I don’t see whats so dangerous about them. These are probably the same people who like to put up signs banning Skateboarding,Skating and rollerbladeing.

[Sender]

2006 World's Best Toys for Lawyers List:

Heelys
Z launcher
Turbo Water Balloon Launcher
Pram decoration - blossoms
Pyramid stacker
Bow & Arrow Set
Zip-Ity Do Dolly
Lil Snoopy Superman
Lamp Sky Blaster
Fear Factor Candy Challenge

If your children may have played with any of these toys, or if they may have visited the home of another child who owns one of these toys, or if they may have seen any commercial and wanted one of these toys, or if they are children who have ever wanted any toys, call the law offices of:

James Suckalove, ambulance chaser/heely reimbursement
(actual lawyer you receive will be some local schmuck)

[Eaker]

When us old people die off the new generation will have the “Post-it-Note” play kit.

It will come with a pad of Post-its and a crayon.

There sales pitch will be “Write a Message and Post-it on the Fridge! Great fun with every message!”

When I was a kid we blew fridges up.

[SledgeCS]

For safety reasons as a kid for the cannon wars we smartly decided to use tennis balls. It seemed that the neighbors steel beer cans were the perfect size to make the cannon out of. With a motocross helmet and various other gear, yes we looked like Mad Max refugees, the pain was kept to a minimum. That was of course before we came up with the bright idea to spray the lighter fluid on the tennis ball also.

Spent 2 weeks working for the neighbor to pay off the fire damage to the wheat field we set on fire.

[Red Boots]

Am I the only one who gets the urge to clothesline some kid rolling by on his heelys while at a store

NO

[KarlInOhio]

It's Log!: http://www.poetv.com/video.php?vid=9795

[KarlInOhio]

I saw those pictures of the Atomic Energy LAb and was amazed by how good the Photoshoppers are to create an authentic looking 1950s toy that could never have existed. Then I did some searching and saw it was a real kit sold for kids. Just imagine the lawyer riots if this was put out today. "Safe Radioactive Materials"? I think I just heard the entire American Bar Association moan in pleasure at the thought of the lawsuits.

[Gandalf_The_Gray]

I really miss Jarts!

I have a 24' above ground pool in my back yard. A couple of years back a guest arrived for a July fourth party with a set of Jarts. I suggested that they may not be such a good idea since the pool liner is only 20 mil of vinyl.

Regards,
GtG