onfire
Silver Member
How strurpid are we getting? Does your 14 year old eat metal?
If you didnât already get a set of the endless fun known as Buckyballs, it may too be late, as theyâre coming off of shelves (although as of this writing, you can still buy them online). The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is suing Maxfield & Oberton, makers of the powerful magnets, due to 20 cases over the last four years of children swallowing them. The packaging and promotional materials for Buckyballs clearly state that, like many great things in life, they are not intended for children. Of course, the CPSC notice is quick to point out the critical problems that happen between the ages of 13 and 14: âThe high powered magnets sets were labeled âAges 13+â and do not meet the mandatory toy standard F963-08 (effective August 17, 2009) which requires that such powerful magnets are not sold for children under 14.â
In a statement from Maxfield & Oberton, Craig Zucker, founder and CEO said, âWe are deeply disappointed that the CPSC has decided to go after our firmâand magnets in general. Magnets have been around for centuries and are used for all sorts of purposes. Our products are marketed to those 14 and above and out of over half a billion magnets in the market place CPSC has received reports of less than two-dozen cases of misuse. We worked with the Commission in order to do an education video less than 9 months ago, so we are shocked they are taking this action. We find it unfair, unjust and un-American.
Hereâs a call for some common sense in parenting. If you didnât already know that strong magnets post a significant danger to children, the Buckyballs box warns you that it is not for children. (Also, if you didnât know about magnet dangers, you should watch House.) Do we really need the CPSC to tell us what we can and canât have? Letâs ponder what could be banned next:
Balloons. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, the defining birthday party decoration kills more children than anything besides bicycles. They are doom on a string.
Everything with wheels. That is, the stuff that kills more kids than balloons. Itâs time to say, âYes!â to a childhood free from the tyranny of bicycles, skateboards, scooters, and Big Wheels.
Electrical outlets. Look at them. They even look at you with a face of terror that practically says, âStick that metal fork in my mouth!â (Unless you live in Denmark, in which case your outlets invite you to electrocution much more cheerfully.) Gotta get rid of them. Candlelight is so much better for your new steampunk decor plan anyway.
Doors. This oneâs personal. I slammed my hand in a door fifteen years ago, and one of the fingernails has never been quite right since. Might as well ban the things before they cause more harm to me or others.
Laptop batteries. Hooooo doggy. Those regular old C- and D-cells that powered every toy of our childhoods were bad enough. But do you know what kind of dangers await you under those little plastic keys youâre probably resting your hands on right now? Do you? If not, Iâll let XKCD explain.
Lego. There is no greater terror to the safety of your feet and staying upright than Lego bricks left on the floor after dark. Waitâthere is one greater terror. The threat so great, it needs only two characters to be named: D4.
The day star. Letâs be honest. Weâve all been sunburned. It hurts. And that thing causes cancer. Itâs time to ban the sun. We can find other sources of light, heat, and warmth
an we start exercising some rationality as parents? If youâre afraid something is a danger to you or your family, donât buy it. And if itâs a desktop toy or even something you really need that isnât appropriate for children, keep it away from them. Youâre still chopping your vegetables with knives, and your children have survived, right? Remember. You can take our Kinder Eggs, but you canât take our freeeeeeeedom! Now somebody pass me a Brawndo.
What have we Become
?
If you didnât already get a set of the endless fun known as Buckyballs, it may too be late, as theyâre coming off of shelves (although as of this writing, you can still buy them online). The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is suing Maxfield & Oberton, makers of the powerful magnets, due to 20 cases over the last four years of children swallowing them. The packaging and promotional materials for Buckyballs clearly state that, like many great things in life, they are not intended for children. Of course, the CPSC notice is quick to point out the critical problems that happen between the ages of 13 and 14: âThe high powered magnets sets were labeled âAges 13+â and do not meet the mandatory toy standard F963-08 (effective August 17, 2009) which requires that such powerful magnets are not sold for children under 14.â
In a statement from Maxfield & Oberton, Craig Zucker, founder and CEO said, âWe are deeply disappointed that the CPSC has decided to go after our firmâand magnets in general. Magnets have been around for centuries and are used for all sorts of purposes. Our products are marketed to those 14 and above and out of over half a billion magnets in the market place CPSC has received reports of less than two-dozen cases of misuse. We worked with the Commission in order to do an education video less than 9 months ago, so we are shocked they are taking this action. We find it unfair, unjust and un-American.
Hereâs a call for some common sense in parenting. If you didnât already know that strong magnets post a significant danger to children, the Buckyballs box warns you that it is not for children. (Also, if you didnât know about magnet dangers, you should watch House.) Do we really need the CPSC to tell us what we can and canât have? Letâs ponder what could be banned next:
Balloons. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, the defining birthday party decoration kills more children than anything besides bicycles. They are doom on a string.
Everything with wheels. That is, the stuff that kills more kids than balloons. Itâs time to say, âYes!â to a childhood free from the tyranny of bicycles, skateboards, scooters, and Big Wheels.
Electrical outlets. Look at them. They even look at you with a face of terror that practically says, âStick that metal fork in my mouth!â (Unless you live in Denmark, in which case your outlets invite you to electrocution much more cheerfully.) Gotta get rid of them. Candlelight is so much better for your new steampunk decor plan anyway.
Doors. This oneâs personal. I slammed my hand in a door fifteen years ago, and one of the fingernails has never been quite right since. Might as well ban the things before they cause more harm to me or others.
Laptop batteries. Hooooo doggy. Those regular old C- and D-cells that powered every toy of our childhoods were bad enough. But do you know what kind of dangers await you under those little plastic keys youâre probably resting your hands on right now? Do you? If not, Iâll let XKCD explain.
Lego. There is no greater terror to the safety of your feet and staying upright than Lego bricks left on the floor after dark. Waitâthere is one greater terror. The threat so great, it needs only two characters to be named: D4.
The day star. Letâs be honest. Weâve all been sunburned. It hurts. And that thing causes cancer. Itâs time to ban the sun. We can find other sources of light, heat, and warmth
an we start exercising some rationality as parents? If youâre afraid something is a danger to you or your family, donât buy it. And if itâs a desktop toy or even something you really need that isnât appropriate for children, keep it away from them. Youâre still chopping your vegetables with knives, and your children have survived, right? Remember. You can take our Kinder Eggs, but you canât take our freeeeeeeedom! Now somebody pass me a Brawndo.
What have we Become
?
