Mom: Talking doll called my daughter a slut.

[Sequoia]

It's supposed to say sweet things to little girls like, "You're a wonderful friend," but push its button the wrong way and the Little Mermaid Shimmering Lights Ariel doll may say something else — "You're a slut," according to a California mother whose allegation came to light in a newspaper report.

The doll's manufacturer, Mattel, doesn't believe it's possible, and a company spokeswoman said the complaint by Stephanie Herrera of San Jose, Calif. — first reported in the San Jose Mercury News — is the only one it's heard of.

Normally, the doll says the phrases, "Your sparkles are so beautiful," "Life is the bubbles" and "You're a wonderful friend." It also hums a song without words.

Herrera said she discovered the fluke when her 3-year-old daughter, Juliana, was pressing the button quickly so she could skip the phrases and get to the melody. Instead of just moving to the song, Herrera said her daughter got the wrong message. "I was in absolute shock," said Herrera, "especially after my daughter repeated it."

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=2714761&page=1

[petronius]

1. I'm a bit skeptical... I'm sure an adult could hear whatever they wanted

in a jumble of strung-together bits of phrases, but I really doubt that a 3 year old that was trying to get past the speech would happen to fixate on that particular sound to repeat, especially as other adults aren't even sure they're hearing it...

Kind of funny if it's true, though - sort of like Bart Simpson's Talking Krusty doll: "I'm going to kill you!"

[baldguy]

3. But, the Talking Krusty doll was EEEVEEEL!

[petronius]

4. True, but this Ariel doll is evil too - it may not use razor-like teeth to remove

the childs fingers, but it is attacking her unformed sexual identity and attempting to instill harmful feelings of self-doubt and a diminished sense of self-worth. Either that, or her mom is a twit. :)

[texas1928]

2. Well i guess if you pushed my button to much and to fast...

I would call you a slut too.


:P

[matcom]

5. "Your sparkles are so beautiful........"

:bounce:

[Javaman]

6. Perhaps the mother is a slut and the child was just being honest?

:shrug: