don't get me started ... uh oh, too late

[wasabi_poptart]

Toys for Tots's heart is in the right place, but I realized today that according to its policy it does not accept any gifts that are handmade or handcrafted.

I think this is bad policy for a number of reasons:

1. It promotes commercialism by privileging disposable, manufactured crap over quality, handmade items.

2. It inculcates commercial values onto children by refusing to distribute anything other than factory sealed, brand-new merchandise.

3. It discourages creativity, both for the sender and for the child.

4. It reinforces the conviction that the holidays are about shopping, not about giving.

Shall I go on?

Comments

[dee-cee.livejournal.com]

My Dad told me back when TfT started when he was in the Corps, they took broken and used toys. Then the Marines would set up shop on base, and repair the toys to be gifted to kids in need.


I guess it's just not the same as it used to be...

[wasabi-poptart.livejournal.com]

There's some blurb on its mission page about how "every kid deserves a brand-new toy," and I think maybe that says everything we need to know about the misplaced value system at work here.

[sarcasm-queen.livejournal.com]

I understand your point, but I think the idea is that we shouldn't just be sending the broken rejects off to the poor kids. That they deserve the same as the kids whose parents can afford.

As for the repairs, etc. I'm guessing one of the other issues is toys used to be a lot simpler and therefore easier to repair. Not to mention the possible liability issues (blame the lawyers ;).

[unprotoize.livejournal.com]

Have you ever tried to make a used Barbie look nice?

[brcmapgirl.livejournal.com]

Nice? It was our mission to destroy her. ROFL.