What ‘Vile’ & ‘Tasteless’ Toy Did This London Store Pull After Customers Complained? (Hint: It Has Big Guns)
- Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:17pm by
Becket Adams
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Described by some as “vile” and “tasteless,” this toy has been pulled from the shelves of Liberty, a popular London department store, after dozens of customers complained:
Critics are upset because they say the wooden toy closely resembles this:
Image courtesy lindsayfincher
That’s a Soviet Katyusha rocket launcher.
So what? It’s a wooden toy version of old Soviet gear? It‘s not like we’re still in the Cold War. What’s the big deal?
“Recently, [Katyusha rocket launchers] have been used by Hezbollah militants to fire rockets into Israel and during the Libyan conflict last year,” the Daily Mail explains.
“A model of a Katyusha rocket launcher and a billboard promoting Hezbollah, the
militant and political group,” the NYT reports.
Oh.
“Liberty can sell what they like, but I think it is bizarre,” Democrat MP Jo Swinson, who is also a parliamentary aide to Nick Clegg, told The Independent on Sunday.
“When small children in conflict zones around the world are being killed and maimed by rocket launchers, it seems rather tasteless to be marketing a sanitised [sic] pink version to young children in our country,” he added.
Kids on Roof, the Dutch toy company responsible for the wooden rocket launcher, lists the toy on its website under the category “uncensored toys.”
The wooden replica, which is marketed to younger children, is available in baby pink, yellow, or natural wood and cost about $36.00. Oddly enough, despite the reported backlash, the toy sold out on Liberty’s website and in store, according to a spokesman for the company.
“However,” the Daily continues, “he admitted the toy was an oversight which should not have been ordered.”
“We do not condone warfare and we apologize for any offense caused. We won’t be selling anything like that again,” the spokesman said.
What do you think?
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Comments (115)
v15
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:13pmThe only thing “vile and tasteless” is the price ($36) of the simple toy! Even if it resembles a rocket launcher, I don’t think it should be censored. I played with G.I. Joe and Star Wars toys as a kid. I put a pack of blackcat firecrackers in a nest of baby birds after I shot the mother bird with my BB gun. Then I grew up and bought an assault rifle and handguns and guess what: I have zero desire to kill anyone or anything. Even after my 2nd deer I said “Ok, I’m not going to hunt again until I absolutely need the meat.”
So why am I not shooting up colleges or movie theaters? Maybe because I’m Christian, maybe because my instincts tell me it is inherently wrong, or maybe both. I really think you should expose kids to guns at an early age and teach them about safety and respect.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:48pmI hear you can’t buy toy guns in Briton because it promotes gun violence, so I can see why they would ban this.
After all, can’t have the little urchins running around blowing people up with Katyusha rockets on the streets…
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 4:36pmI give out ICBM rockets for toys around the holidays! Peace through superior firepower!
Report Post »karen162
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 5:03pmExcept you weren’t awoken in the middle of the night by G.I. Joe attacking your house and killing your family. These people get woken at all hours of the day with rockets crashing down around them and the kids are fairly traumatized.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 8:58pmDoesn’t at all look like a Stalinorgel, but the Commie Pinko color is about right.
Report Post »Soothsayer
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 9:15pmV15- I think the baby birds thing was a little TMI dude.
Report Post »caveman74
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 12:16amdont let your boys be boys, they might grow up to be decent men
Report Post »Latter-Day-Soldier
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 2:50amSo somebody made a pink BM-21 (the vehicles official designation), big deal; kids have been playing with military look-a-like toys for decades as stated on the survey.
Report Post »moreteaplease
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:12pmThe whiners are probably the same kind of PC nuts that would buy their little boy an Out of The Closet Ken doll or something and think it’s a great educational tool.
Report Post »Alan
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:09pmI hear they‘re outlawing mimicking a cocked gun with your forefinger and thumb because it’s offensive and hurts liberal sensibilities. They just get all a flutter.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:44pmNah, it’s because when you turn the cocked gun hand 90 degrees, you get the “L” sign, for liberal loser.
Report Post »sonofdixie
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 5:13pmPeople used to keep their idiots out of the public eye. Now they roam feely among us.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:06pmThere is a list of the idiots that is consistantly up dated. It’s called a “ballot”.
Report Post »Xiccarph
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 7:22pmHeck, our dumb-down, brainwashing centers commonly called “public schools”, have cracked down, under “zero tolerance”, on any kid who makes a gun by pointing, drawing pictures of guns, talking about guns, anything, for years now.
Report Post »We, like the UK and rest of Western Europe, will be easy, mushy brained sheep to be easily conquered when the next expansionist army decides it’s time.
thegreatcarnac
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:08pmYou will notice that the wimp complaining is a ‘democrat MP’. Their democrats are as sickeningly PC as ours. Britain has become so politically correct they scarcely can defend themselves or even their families. Heads up to Argentina……; you might take a second look at attacking the Fauklands again. You will probably succeed this time.
Report Post »the gray lensman
Posted on August 2, 2012 at 12:38amThe British Lion may soon become extinct.
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:07pmFirst of all, the toy doesn’t have (or even REPRESENT) “big guns” — a rocket is not a gun.
Next, the model is much closer in appearance to an American (and NATO) weapons system — the M270 MLRS — than to the old Soviet Katyusha truck mounted with a “Stalin Organ.”
Report Post »Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:51pmI think that one looks more combat effective than the Hamas versions.
Report Post »Reavin
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 8:02pmAs an ex 13M, I agree… looks much closer to an MLRS than that old soviet garbage.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 9:04pmCHUCK STEIN, I mean this honestly and am not joking. When I first read the headline before entering the story. I actually thought they had gone fully overboard and banned Barbie dolls.
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 1:20pm@ RJ
Report Post »I believe you. The thought ran though my head as well.
John655
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:06pmWhat’s so vile or tastless? Do the wood rockets actualy blow up? If so, it’s a rather cool toy. Where do I get one?
Report Post »DSTSS2010
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 4:57pmToys, schmoys! What IS vile is that Hamas is launching rockets against Israel with impunity, while Israel is constantly condemmed for defending themselves.
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:03pmSilly. Not sure I get the pink though. It should be green, tan, or black.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:00pmAs our alcoholic VP would say what’s the BFD? The UK is thoroughly islamised already and banning the sale of a toy is ridiculous.
Report Post »NeoFan
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:08pmhere is a better one:
Report Post »http://compare.ebay.com/like/180870814703?var=lv<yp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar
RJJinGadsden
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 9:05pmNEOFAN, Nice, but would be more fun in 1/6th scale.
Report Post »Tri-ox
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:55pmDumb.
Report Post »MittensKittens
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:04pmIt’s pink for gods sake
Report Post »Best_Patriot
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:12pmit should come with a dvd of bloody war footage for the kiddies, so that they can understand what they’re fantasizing about.
guns and military crap don’t make good toys. unless you’re going to be honest with your kids about the pain and suffering they inflict, don’t encourage this behavior.
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:46pm@mus w/no tang…You should come with a DVD with an emptor caveat.
Report Post »OniKaze
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:47pmYou gotta love it…
Toy costs about $4 to make (most likely including labor) and it re-sells for over $30… Nice….
What do you bet that this toy does not have any packaging either… Just sold as is… Making it ALL profit (for the most part)….
Nice… I love capitalism…
Report Post »Best_Patriot
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:30pmAnd now they’re not selling any of them because people want them out of the store. Gotta love democracy!
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 9:09pmHey PEST, Didn’t read the story? It’s only been removed from one particular department store. Gotta love stupidity.
Report Post »jamesctheman
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:41pmEveryone wants their very own rocket launcher. Especially kids. This is the way to get them one without having to clear a bunch of red tape & a pretty big mess later. Honestly it’s a toy. I had my army men & G.I.Joe. IT’s PINK. Have you ever seen a pink scary rocket launcher? Or yellow? Or natural wood?
Report Post »freeberty
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:37pmThe next time you put vile and tasteless in a headline, I’ll just remember that you probably mean vile and tasteless like a bowl of oatmeal.
Report Post »Apatriot2
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 9:56pm@freeberty: Aw come on there is nothing wrong with oatmeal.
Report Post »the gray lensman
Posted on August 2, 2012 at 12:44am@apatriot2: oatmeal is bland by itself, like a PC politico. Add sugar, cinnamon. a bit of salt and pepper, butter for richness, and raisins or dried cranberries or dried blueberries. Then you‘re talkin’! Besides, with the cranberries and blueberries, its kind of red, white, and blue. Patriotic Oatmeal.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:35pmDear Blaze: I have been forever tramatized by the site of the horrindous toy. I can’t sleep, my dogs hair is falling out and my hair has turned gray, just because you posted this story. Now for some reason, everything Obama has said makes sense. Please burn this story, or I will be forever a mass of jello and voting Democrat.
Oh the humanity. If you post a story about Harry Reid or Nancy Pelosi, I might feel better.
Thanks, Unicorns and Kisses for all.
Report Post »woodyee
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:40pmNay! A pox on you! How dare you coax the Blaze to post photos of Pelosi and Reid? Oh deah, I feel I must excuse myself to regurgitate the contents of my stomach, ol chap…
Report Post »brntout
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:43pmWas thinking back to the “dump” trucks disguised as , and they were capable of launching and did.Feel for you brother! No surveillance means no support.
Report Post »catanddogstaff
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 9:17amLove comments here–they make me laugh and make my day. Thanks!
Report Post »MeteoricLimbo
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:34pmMercy, what next, permits to buy squirt-guns or will they be banned too?
Report Post »MangoT21
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:31pm$36 dollars for a small wooden toy? Good lord, that’s expensive.
Report Post »OniKaze
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:45pmMaybe that is the price hike only found in Europe.. After all… With their economies in the toilet worse than ours, maybe THAT is how they plan to dig their way out…
Toy Price Hikes….
Report Post »AllLost
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:28pmThat has two rows of rockets and looks more like US based systems. I find it repelling because it is made of wood and painted pink.
Report Post »Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:26pmRiiiight, ban the toys but let every islamist who wants in have his/her way. Makes sense. Have these dudes seen the islamic television stations in London? I’m not sure what channel it was (BBC #) but wowza.
Yeah, banning the toy will fix everything. Uh huh.
Report Post »afishfarted
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:32pmI think they SHOULD ban it. And while they’re at it, they should ban toy cars because they remind us of everyone who died in a wreck. And they should ban coffee pots, because some one uses it to make meth. And they should ban scarves because they represent the Taliban. And they should ban socks because some people are offended by smelly feet.
Report Post »And they should ban the politically correct ’cause they are driveing me INSANE !!!!!!!!
Apatriot2
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 10:01pmIf they had balls at all they would ban the tv stations………
Report Post »Too_Far_Gone
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:26pmOh the Horror !
Report Post »randy
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:25pmWhat’s so vile about it? As a kid I would have played with it.
Report Post »woodyee
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:25pmIs it any wonder why the once mighty United Kingdom has shriveled so far, that even certain areas are unsafe for natives because of the demands of parasitical foreigners?
Then our “elitists” use our tax dollars to take junkets to Europe and learn from them? How preposterous! No wonder we’re in the fix we are!
Report Post »thetruthlives
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:25pmpuleeze!!!
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:24pmWhite sidewalls on that old truck…??
Report Post »caleejr
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:24pmhypersensitive
Report Post »it’s a TOY
Pontiac
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:19pm[is available in baby pink, yellow, or natural wood and cost about $36.00.]
Report Post »I think the real story is the insane price. I’m fairly certain this was an advertisement ploy to get the media to sensationalize the story. I can’t imagine anyone paying 36 dollars for an ugly block of wood.
DimmuBorgir
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:23pmboo hoo
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:23pmWhat a nation of absolutely brazen cowards. How England has become the antithesis of what England once was only 50 years ago, is beyond me. Bunch of sniveling, yellow bellied wimps. I’m so glad my family left that land and never looked back.
Report Post »woodyee
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:32pmI’ve no doubt you speak of the store owner and the jerks that complained and support the complainers, ‘lest someone should get on your case for labeling all Brits as cowards.
Report Post »guz75
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:50pm@GHOSTOFJEFFERSON
Report Post »Perhaps you should head over here and see how long you last talking like that without your guns big man.
GhostOfJefferson
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:51pmYes, strictly at the whiners and the cowardly owners who removes them. Though truth be told, lots of people there whine nowadays.
Report Post »the gray lensman
Posted on August 2, 2012 at 12:51amI said the British Lion MAY BECOME EXTINCT. It is not yet gone. Facts: SAS, the Black Watch, and a host of other professional military units.
Report Post »