Oh WOW I haven't thought about those in years. My older brother got one for Christmas when they came out. It's almost disturbing how long ago that was
Same here, with the older brother at Xmas. Big Trak may have been the tipping point for me, where I went from Barbies to electronic toys, because I think it was the following year that I got Merlin and maybe the Magical Musical Thing.
I believe Big Trak is still in my brother's closet at my mom's. We pulled it out a couple years back and it still worked after we found enough batteries for it, although I seem to recall that the beeping was less enthusiastic than it used to be.
As a guy I can't speak for the "pretty-pretty princess factor" (in whatever your style), and everything has it's time and place. But how aren't electronics and the like more fun than dolls as a kid growing up? (This is probably choir preaching here?)
But how aren't electronics and the like more fun than dolls as a kid growing up? (This is probably choir preaching here?)
Dolls were good for boosting the numbers of my army of minions. The stuffed animals had to have lesser minions to boss around. I liked the idea of the electronic toys were okay, but I was always miffed that they didn't have Mind Control Ray options.
mulberry-eating grackle shit
Sarameg and I have the same memories of clotheslines. My mother didn't get a dryer until after my sister and I were out of diapers. Pre-disposables. In Chicago.
but I was always miffed that they didn't have Mind Control Ray options
Mhmm you and I are both STILL waiting on that one J
Jilli doesn't need Mind Control Ray technology, now. She has Clovis to take care of all of that.
Jilli doesn't need Mind Control Ray technology, now. She has Clovis to take care of all of that.
Except he frequently demands bribes. Note to self, bake gingerbread bats over the weekend to bribe the Devilbunny into getting you a new job. Or an insanely good book deal.
If I ever get a roomba, my new hobby will become constructing the 1812 shell to put over it.
But how aren't electronics and the like more fun than dolls as a kid growing up? (This is probably choir preaching here?)
Dolls are probably better for social play (i.e., girl stuff), I think, because with Big Trak or Merlin, you take turns playing with it individually, whereas with dolls or stuffed animals or whatever, you're interacting with each other using the toys.
I do recall a few weird gender-crossover things... I had mostly male friends for the first few years of elementary school, and having an older brother I was cool with playing with Matchbox cars and stuff like that. But I treated the cars like dolls -- they had personalities and storylines, and I remember there being some confusion when I realized the boys were just treating the cars as, well, cars. Crazy!
If I ever get a roomba, my new hobby will become constructing the 1812 shell to put over it.
Matt, check it out: [link]
