Swearing Toy Bought At Toys 'R' Us

Talking Police Officer Toy Uses F-Word; Dad Wants It Taken From Shelves

(AP)  A father is asking Toys "R" Us to take a popular toy set off the shelves because the one he bought for his 6-year-old son utters a curse word.

The toy is a police officer set that includes a nightstick and a utility belt. A recorded message that includes a curse word plays when the nightstick is removed from the belt.

"I've had to explain to parents why my son is saying the f-word; it's horrible," said Philip Morton. "It's really a cute little toy; but God forbid, it's not what I want my kid hearing."

Morton returned the toy to the Geoffrey store where he bought it. The chain is owned by Toys "R" Us.

Store managers gave him a set that didn't include the obscene word, but have declined to stop selling the toy and referred Morton to the manufacturer. A spokeswoman for Wayne, N.J.,-based Toys "R" Us did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The manufacturer, TekNek Toys International L.P., has also said it won't pull the toy, but will examine Morton's complaint.

Michelle Perea, the products and marketing manager for TekNek, said the recorded voice actually says "stop," not a curse word. The voice is an adult's, while the other recordings are those of children.

"I understand they can't check every toy on the shelf," Morton said. "But if one doesn't say it and one does, maybe someone is playing a game and got in a hurry and forgot about it. Personally, I think they should be held liable."

[gmond]

How did a news item about an allegedly cursing toy turn into a free speech / vulgarity debate?

[laurelmss]

Well, whats the problem. Just say "Stop!" Oh,"stop it." What the "stop " are you doing here? What the "stop" did you do that for? I don't understand the problem when we casually send our youth out to kill, maim, poison, set fire to,destroy the homes of, use the resources of starving people everywhere. Why should we think either *** or curse words are vulgar? Disgusting? Insulting? We are so casual about worse things. Guns are out of control, in private hands, parents are not available to kids, kids are exposed to crime and violence and vicious *** acts that mutilate and torture victims in particular women and children. What's in a word? A rose is still a rose and *** is just a ***.

[imperfexshun]

kalcoh, I didn't say Panic Room was family viewing. I was making a separate reference about the soundtracks on DVD's. By the way, the tv commercials about Panic Room or the back of the package didn't tell about the bad language. And no, the violence doesn't bother me so much since I grew up watching cowboys/Indians, war movies, and murder mysteries and my dad was a cop, unless it gets real gory (I won't watch the Jason or Freddy Kruger type movies, but Psycho is a classic). But while we're discussing family viewing, what about the sexual innuendo in antimated children's movies? I'm talking about Spongebob (which my grandson is not allowed to watch) dropping his drawers which was shown as movie promos; in Sinbad, a hole is ripped in his pants and it shows a butt cheek instead of something funny like polkadot underwear; also in Sinbad, Sinbad makes reference to a big guy standing behind him, something like "the big guy better watch out before he gores someone with those (referring to his chest)". Is Hollywood afraid that parents won't take their kids to see movies unless they put that kind of junk in the movies? I won't buy Sinbad either, after we watched it once and I saw that. A 6-year old doesn't need that stuff and I don't care for it either. I'd much rather watch the Absent Minded Professor with Fred MacMurray than the Robin Williams version with the flubber doing a booty dance.

[tvgenius]

Umm... not to mention the fact that the FCC has no business regulating DVDs. There are some DVD players out there that can 'mute' around the foul language, though I've never used one myself to find out how well it works (they use the subtitles to find words). I understand your argument, as I too find it unfortunate how many movies have language that adds nothing to the plot. Sunday Morning had a great piece on swearing that they re-ran a month or two ago.

[cantshutup]

I used to have to give my son a quarter every time I used a swear word...god, I owed that kid a lot of f**king money!!!

[skalpakian]

"I have purchased movies that sounded like they had a good plot (like Panic Room) and given them away when I heard all the bad language. Hearing or seeing the f-word is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. I think the FCC should require a separate sound track and subtitle language on all DVD's for people who want family viewing without bad language. "

You are a moron if you believe Panic Room is for family viewing. Don't you even read about a movie before buying it? Panic Room is about criminals trying to attack a mother and daughter who are holed up in their "panic room" of the house. You didn't think there would be swearing? I note you didn't complain about the violence.

[therealet]

I don;t like that. Swear is not good for adults or children..nothing will come of it ..You can kill your spouse, rape molest as long as you don't
bet on baseball...

[imperfexshun]

MrPete8, contrary to what you may believe, not everyone uses cursewords. I agree with the dad in objecting to that toy. I do not use that language and do not enjoy literature, music lyrics, movies, tv, etc. that are filled with language like that. I will watch and may allow my grandson to watch a movie that has an occasional swear word (like Speed, Space Camp, etc. where there is only a word once or twice in the movie), but I still don't like it. I have purchased movies that sounded like they had a good plot (like Panic Room) and given them away when I heard all the bad language. Hearing or seeing the f-word is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. I think the FCC should require a separate sound track and subtitle language on all DVD's for people who want family viewing without bad language.

[mrpete8-2009]

Yeah... right..... like he NEVER has used langugage by accident in front of kids.. his or otherwise...

[iridium51]

Yes, you can make a mistake in this country...it will cost you millions though.

[phil-in-fin]

Morton said. "But if one doesn't say it and one does, maybe someone is playing a game and got in a hurry and forgot about it. Personally, I think they should be held liable."

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of the the lawsuit ... the American way ...

Can nobody make a silly mistake in this country?