If you love me you'll buy me this c/o WalMart

I'm glad that I have a few years before this really becomes an issue. Maybe by then stores will have moved beyond this kind of marketing (unlikely), or maybe I and other parents will have come up with ways of dealing with this kind of nonsense.

Parents shocked at Wal-Mart's online wish list

As retailers begin to roll out holiday season marketing strategies, Wal-Mart has upped the ante with the launch of a new toyland website that encourages children to review a parade of toys presented by two animated elves, Wally and Marty. The retail giant offers 100 options some as pricey as the Fisher-Price Power Wheels Ford Mustang for $249 and children either discard them into a dump truck or send them to a rocket ship to be delivered electronically to their parents when the kids provide their addresses.

There are a couple of issues here. The first is the victimisation of parents by a corporation that is co-opting the love that parents have for their children in order to sell toys. Then there is the value that we put on and ecourage our children to give to toys and other distractions.

The first issue can, I think, be abbeted by showing corporations like wal mart that there wholesale disavowal of any ethical decency in the name of a banner Christmas sales season is revolting and could backfire.

As for a solution to the other issue, I will have to get back on you.


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