Toddler's Talking Elmo Book Asks 'Who Wants To Die?'

[The Straight Story]

Toddler's Talking Elmo Book Asks 'Who Wants To Die?'
Company Receives Several Complaints

POSTED: 10:37 pm EST January 1, 2006
UPDATED: 10:22 am EST January 2, 2006

A mother in Dallas is one of several parents complaining about a new interactive book for toddlers in which Sesame Street character Elmo asks "who wants to die?" according to a Local 6 News report.

Family members said 16-month-old Miranda Boll's new book, "Potty Time With Elmo," was supposed to teach an interactive lesson using voice commands.

However, when the book's buttons are pressed, it reportedly says something it is not supposed to -- "who wants to die?"

"It's a sick joke," mother Angela Bolls said. "If it's a joke then it's a bad one, you know? And it's not necessary. It's inappropriate."

http://www.local6.com/news/5784303/detail.html

[bbinacan]

1. If true

that is just sick.:wtf:

[FreedomAngel82]

15. Wow, amazing

:wow:

[tuvor]

2. Reminds me of the Barbie/GI Joe voice chip switcheroo.

Teen Talk Barbie proved to be the final straw. People who were already upset at Barbie’s anorexic figure and her way of turning play into superficial consumerism couldn’t believe their ears when Barbie’s electric voice box giggled:

* “Math is hard!”
* “I love shopping!”
* “Will we ever have enough clothes?”

Snigglers to the rescue....

http://www.sniggle.net/barbie.php

[swimmernsecretsea]

8. Oh, and the altered Barbie versions

said things like "Eat lead, suckers!" and other scary warfare phrases. I read about one young boy who got a GI Joe with a switched voice chip who liked it better than the regular, violent version and decided to keep it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. They did surgery to correct the problem

[meganmonkey]

3. Okay, I literally

sprayed :spray:

:rofl:

I know it shouldn't be funny but I just lost it a little.

Potty Time with Elmo.

:rofl:

[Rainscents]

5. Are you alright? That hurt! LOL

[meganmonkey]

6. I edited

so as to not gross anyone out :P

[Deja Q]

4. Maybe the Chinese ought to start learning English.

:shrug:

Or maybe they're hinting at something; are they reeeeeeeeeeeeeally the big friends we've been led to believe? :tinfoilhat:

[sniffa]

7. bwahahaha

:rofl:

[MrSlayer]

9. Does he say it in the Elmo voice?

Or does he go all sinister?

Sorry but I find this amusing.

[drm604]

10. I'm a little skeptical.

I think this may turn out to be a case of indistinct speech being misunderstood. It may be "who wants to go" or "who wants to try" or something like that.
If it turns out that this really is some kind of malicious prank then it is very sick and someone needs to be punished for it.

[The Straight Story]

13. or maybe 'who wants to try' - but does not seem like just one family

noticed it.

[phrenzy]

11. LMAO Classic!

Oh man - that's hilarious. Hats off to whatever bitter engineer slipped that one in!

[Island Blue]

12. "Potty Time With Elmo" sounds like a book * might enjoy. n/t

[sakabatou]

16. See this

http://www.snopes.com/disney/films/rafiki.htm

A talking Lion King book (the kind featuring picture buttons that each produce a different sound when pressed) provoked controversy in late 1994 when some parents claimed that the phrase uttered by the book after their children pressed the button picturing the baboon Rafiki was "Squashed bananas up his arse." The sound clip was actually a shorter version of a chant sung by Rafiki's wise shaman character throughout the film: "Asante sana. Squash banana. Wewe nugu. Mimi apana." According to Disney, this chant is Swahili for "Thank you very much. Squash banana. You're a baboon and I'm not." Disney's explanation, of course, failed to mollify those parents who remain convinced that nearly every Disney product contains hidden nasty words or images.

What Rafiki really says is "Asante sana" -- Swahili for "Thank you very much" -- followed by "squashed banana." As the phrases repeat over and over, they run together and produce something that does sound somewhat like "Squashed bananas up your arse."

[ohio_liberal]

17. Oh yeah? That's nothing

My son's talking Tasmanian Devil very clearly says "'Ho Bag" :D

[Sal Minella]

18. Remember the doll that said "Kill Mommy" several years ago

and the Fundies were freeking -- turns out it was chipped to speak Italian or something and was saying Caro Mami. (dear mommy)

[swimmernsecretsea]

21. Oh.

I thought you were referring to that creepy episode of "Twilight Zone." My name is Talking Tina, and I don't like you very much...

[wiley]

19. They bought the John Waters version?

Is this for real?

[marzipanni]

20. Elmo is just reminding kids not to strain too hard

on the potty; can cause an aneurysm, don'cha know...

[zbdent]

22. Chuckie . . .