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Playing With Dolls or Daddy's Wallet?
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by Swan | March 25, 2008 at 08:20 am
1377 views | 30 Recommendations | 15 comments
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OPINION PIECE:
I don't know about anyone else, but when I played with dolls as a child, it involved feeding them with a bottle, changing their diapers and wheeling them around in their pram while I played Mommy.
Today however, I grudgingly introduce you to a new online game; Miss Bimbo, which teaches young girls from the ages of 7-16 that girls need breast implants (cost:11,500 bimbo dollars,) facelifts and diet pills (cost:100 bimbo dollars) for their crash diets.
When buying breast implants for the doll, the player nets 2,000 "bimbo attitudes," which increases her popularity on the site.
While the game is competitive between players, it has the benign description: "a virtual fashion game for girls," with the object of the game to ensure that your "doll" becomes the "hottest, coolest, most famous bimbo in the whole world," (Monica Lewinski?) with such sage advice as:
"stop at nothing" or even to buy "meds or plastic surgery" in order to win the Bimbo beauty game.
Securing a billionaire boyfriend is also rewarded with the all important 'bimbo dollars,' perhaps in order to get what? A tummy tuck?
I sincerely hope I'm not the only person appalled by this.
A child must first sign up with the web site, which then allows the game to begin by giving the new player a naked, virtual doll.
While competing in various ways, "bimbo dollars" are earned and spent to buy sexy outfits for the doll. The child is also able to spend the money by taking her doll clubbing.
There are numerous tasks given to the player which include plastic surgery or breast implants at the game's clinic. The child must also give her doll the diet pills which keeps her to her "goal weight."
Aside from all the pink, this is what first caught my eye on the Miss Bimbo web site:
» 2112 online players at the present time and 213 608 registered Bimbos!
Although initially the game is free to play with one's Bimbo dollars, once the virtual cash has run out, the child is expected to top their account up via PayPal or, to send text messages at a cost of £1.50 or, US$3.00.
Remember, that these are children as young as 7!
Bill Hibberd of the parents' group Parentkind says that the entire concept sends a dangerous message to young girls.
"It is one thing if a child recognises it as a silly and stupid game," he said. "But the danger is that a nine-year-old fails to appreciate the irony and sees the bimbo as a cool role model. Then the game becomes a hazard and a menace.Children's innocence should be protected as far as possible. It depends on the background and mindset of the child but the danger is that, after playing the game, some will then aspire to have breast operations and take diet pills."
With already 1.2 million players in France, the French have already condemned the doll and the game - with one parent already threatening legal action after his daughter charged over US$200 to his mobile phone, without his knowledge.
There are also currently 200,000 players between 9-16 on the British web site.
Another parent said that he was appalled when he saw his two daughters Katie, (9) and Sarah (14) playing the game.
"I noticed them looking at possible breast operations and facelifts for their bimbos at the game's plastic surgery clinic," said Mr Williams, a 42-year-old accountant."Katie is far too young for that kind of thing and it is irresponsible of the site's creators to be leading young girls astray. They are easily influenced at that age as to what is cool."
The creator of Miss Bimbo insist it is harmless fun.
"It is not a bad influence for young children. They learn to take care of their bimbos.
"The missions and goals are morally sound and teach children about the real world.If they eat too much chocolate in the game it is bad for their bimbos' bodies and their happiness levels compared to if they eat fruit and vegetables, which reinforces positive, healthy eating messages.
If they are having problems with boyfriends or at work, the bimbos can talk through them with a psychiatrist.
The breast operations are just one part of the game and we are not encouraging young girls to have them, just reflecting real life."
You ought to be ashamed Nicolas Jacquart. At age 23 you should know how impressionable extremely young children are - or perhaps you do know and are no longer a web designer but in the field of exploitation.
The Age
Virtual Doll a Troubling Game for U.K., Parents
by Karen McVeigh
CNN.com
Alarm as Dolls Get Breast Implants in 'Miss Bimbo' Game
(no byline)
Image Sources:
Miss Bimbo
CNN.com
Alarm as Dolls Get Breast Implants in 'Miss Bimbo' Game
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (15)
at 08:55 on March 25th, 2008
Swan, I like this story. This really is shocking and is a sign of the times that a game like this can be so readily accepted into society.
I'm not so sure that this is harmless fun and the fact that kids will be able to top up their account with real money is worrying, as the bill could add up to thousands before the parents even notice what is going on.
at 10:32 on March 25th, 2008
Hello Amy,
Thank you for reading my article and leaving a comment - also for the GS flag. :)
I couldn't believe this story when I first came across it!
Sadly though; rioting, bombings, murder, terrorism and other events have desensitized our male youth to those same events, but catwalks, movie stars and singers have set the benchmark for our female youth.
When young girls see these current high profile, adored models, actors and singers in elaborate make-up and tiny bodies, they don't even think about what they may look like when they first wake up in the morning!
All they can focus on is cloning their favorite idol and sometimes this really does mean diet pills, bulemia and anorexia.
The last thing they need is to begin learning about such things from age 7 and making Daddy pay for it as well!
at 10:15 on March 25th, 2008
Here is another article by Jarrett Martineau on the same topic.
~ Swan
at 10:18 on March 25th, 2008
Hi Swan, great work. This 'game' is appalling and outrageous. Young women have a tough enough time as it is, and Nicolas Jacquart needs to be held accountable for such irresponsible behaviour.
at 10:30 on March 25th, 2008
Hello Jarrett!
Thanks for stopping by, the comment and the GS flag. :)
Yes, Nicolas Jacquart should be booked with the corruption of minors, though I know it wouldn't fly.
Perhaps a flood of emails from enraged parents? I have to wonder how many parents even know their child plays on the web site.
It's like those online gambling hooks - they give you $25 to play at their casinos, but as soon as you lose, you have to use real money to continue!
Nicolas Jacquart should be happy he's not in our path today, eh Jarrett?
~ Swan
at 13:51 on March 25th, 2008
You know, when I was a kid, and we played a video game or watched something on tv that was innappropiate for our age, my parents actually did their job and didn't allow us to play/see it. I can't understand this mentality that since something is not appropiate for your child, that the answer is to ban said thing and harass and berate the creater. How about a little, you know, parenting, instead of crying to criminalize this person for making a perfectly legal, and non violent video game.
Do you not realize how tounge in cheek this game seems, its called "Miss Bimbo" after all, thats kind of a big clue. I dont see a problem with teenagers and young adults playing this (and yes I am sure some of these registered users are adults, not just kids play video games.)
As for the real world finicial aspect of the game - get real. What 7 year old has acces to paypal? Or even a cell phone, seriously. Are you telling me your kids have access to your paypal account? If thats the case, this game is NOT your biggest parenting concern. If a teenager wants to throw a cople of bucks into this, who cares? It'll be their credit card or cell phone bill? If a kid is old enough to have a credit card or a cell phone, they are old enough to be accountable for money they spend. If your worried about kids throwing money away at online games, I'm sure far more money is spent on WOW gold, or Gaia monthly collectibles.
at 16:37 on March 25th, 2008
Hello there,
The trouble is that many parents of today simply do not do their job, and therein lies the danger and window of opportunity for their children to be corrupted by outside influences.
I understand that children can't be protected from everything, but there are those of us that are willing to take up the slack and help where we can by bringing attention to the kinds of web sites that take money from children, such as this one.
Even the suggested methods of payment are sleazy; PayPal or text-messaging from a cell phone - knowing that most kids these days own cell phones.
Lord, I can't walk down the street in town without seeing a group of young teenagers, all on their phones, either exclaiming one thing or another, or texting each other.
Cell phones give more stranger-access to children than ever before.
That's just it, it's not only a couple of bucks. It costs the child money (texting, billed out at a special rate,) to top up their cash account when the account gets low and you can be sure that the call alone costs more than "a couple of bucks."
So yes, I care.
I care about kids being exploited for the monetary gain of others.
I care about kids not being taught how to handle their money and I care about their exposure to web sites who'd take their money faster than ask their age.
Having said all this, I'd defend your right to disagree, but I honestly don't understand your reasoning.
How can you not care about the same things?
at 16:34 on March 25th, 2008
Thanks Swan, interesting story. I agree, the game is totally inappropriate--for any age, really.
at 16:41 on March 25th, 2008
Hello Rob,
Thanks for stopping by ...
Yes, it is inappropriate - I'm sure we'll hear something more about them in the news one day too.
~ Swan
at 18:50 on March 25th, 2008
Shady? Paypal is shady? Have you ever used it? Text messaging is how I used to pay my old phone bill, while i might agree cingular is a pretty shady company, although not for the same reason.
"knowing that most kids these days own cell phones."
-I think you meant to say most people own cell phones. It's an easy and convient way for people to pay for something thats not sold in a store. 7 year olds don't have cell phones, so I guess your just talking about teenagers now. Teenagers spend money on all kinds of things, they buy mcdonalds, they buy cd's and video games, they buy shoes, they buy noserings and stupid wristbands. This costs a few dollars (texting usually cost pennies on most plans btw). They're gonna throw their money away on something, what does it matter to you.
Are you just as up in arms over kids buying ringtones of their latest pop band? What about all those kids that pay to download additional track for guitar hero? What about kids that buy virtual cash, for gaiaonline, or people that buy gold for world of warcraft. Paying real money for virtual money, and trust me these games are much more popular.
Last I checked, parents held their teenagers accountable for their cell phone fees. Teenagers are not complete idiots, the website says to buy "game money" it cost money. We're not talking about 5 year olds, with no sense of how to handle money. You seriously think some teenagers are going to go nuts and throw endless amounts of cash at this game?
Also, I created an account to verify what I suspected, when your money runs out, you don't have to pay real money to get more. You can win game money by playing games, giving your bimbo girl a job, selling items you dont want any longer, and i think asking your boyfriend (once your avatar gets on i guess). Online games that have their own in-game currency work this way. Acomplishing these tasks to receive your reward is what makes games of this nature fun, and sometimes addicting.
Here it is from their site:
"How to gain BD?
Firstly your job. If you don't know how to have a job go to the topic apiece of help
Secondly your boyfriend
Thirdly the games. You can play twice a day to the mastermindand scratch game.
You can also sold on market more expensive some item bought on the shop.
And you also earn money when you win a challenge with bet."
Kids don't have alot of money, I highly doubt they will be spending what little they have in this online game where, if they log in and activatly participate in the game, they will get money for free anyway.
I've never even heard of this website untill today, where you and several onther people have been posting and blogging about it all day at news site popular with teenagers, you've probably just cause a ton of traffic to this website, and a lot more kids are probably gonna sign up and get involved with this game. So good job.
at 22:08 on March 25th, 2008
Hello again,
Yes, I have a business account with them. Please be careful about how you quote me; what I actually said was:
I don't think that I implied PayPal was anything of the sort.
No, I said what I meant - and I meant what I said.
Most kids do have cell phones these days. What I omitted to do was define the age group about whom I was speaking.
I'm constantly amazed when I go to the mall, or walk around town and see groups of just-teenagers with their cell phones.
The children don't have to pay for the cell phones because Daddy signs a plan that also includes as many free cell phones as the family needs - they just have to pay for the calls and for texting.
Oh, and the cost of the texting? Don't scroll up, I'll paste it for you here again:
Now isn't the latter where they enter into a contract with a phone company and split the sum total between them? I think you'll find that it's very close to the truth.
Ahh just a minute, I've just realized that you're referring to my last reply to you, where I said:
There's an 's' on 'method' where there shouldn't be. Now I understand your comment. My comment was about the text-messaging alone.
Holding kids responsible and actually having them not get caught up in the online game world, are two different things.
They'll want to look after their Bimbo, long after (want amounts to) a 'free money' game trial. Some will play well, but there will also be a portion of the Bimbo population that play badly and continuously have to 'top up' their account, in order to keep playing.
I understand that you're ok with that - but surely you understand that there will also be many situations such as this around the world:
It's definitely predictable. Just as there are young to older adults literally addicted to the internet (and undergoing therapy,) there will now be an even younger crowd, coming from a portion of the Bimbo community.
Competition for some people is addictive - and the site is all about competition and having the sexiest Bimbo.
Some, yes - I do think exactly that. Look what happened to the parent in France. He's out of pocket to the tune of $200.00 on a cell phone bill (without his knowledge!)
Now what the heck do they have to do, to lose $200 on the Bimbo web site??
You've got to be kidding. Well ok, the one in France didn't, so she used Daddy's money - but in general, kids today have access to lots of money - especially in a world where divorces have become the norm.
In such situations, many children are receiving double allowances, one from each parent, depending upon the situation. I happen to know that for a fact - and I'm not living in a wealthy area by any means.
When I was a kid, a normal allowance consisted of around $1 each week, but today, kids are receiving anywhere between $5 - $50.00. Heck! I don't even have $50.00 to play with each week. ;)
I'm aware of that - but more importantly, I've brought the site to the attention of those parents who care what their children do on-line and whether or not they're being exploited.
Thanks for stopping by again,
~ Swan
at 22:11 on March 25th, 2008
I apologise for the formatting of my last post, I have no idea what the problem might be.
I've even pasted it all back into Notepad with no formatting, pasted it back here and reformatted the blockquotes again - with no luck.
~ Swan
at 22:29 on March 25th, 2008
Applause for sounding the alarm on this one, Swan!
at 22:49 on March 26th, 2008
Hello Karen,
Thank you for your comment and the flag!
~ Swan
at 08:28 on March 31st, 2009
What's wrong with looking good and having a good diet and exercise? The site wants you to keep your bimbo in a healthy weight range which is what people should do and being over weight can lead to depression. The site teaches you that eating chocolate can make you happy but that healthy veggies and water are better for you. It teaches you that exercise is a good healthy way to maintain your weight. Going under your healthy weight (which is set at 127. Which is even over my healthy weight) also makes you depressed. There is nothing wrong with teaching kids about diet and exercise in a time when McDonalds is a typical kids meal.