AdventureDad

Parents, educators, and organizations are outraged by the "Virtual Fashion" site Miss Bimbo, saying it promotes anorexia and boob jobs for kids that are not even teenagers.  The site is aimed at 9-16 year olds and the online game is very popular.  Kids can use "Bimbo Dollars" earned on the site for diet pills, face lifts, or nightclub outfits.  Are these kind of sites a danger, will they influence many kids to start unhealthy habits?  Or should this just be seen as an innocent game, kind of like playing with dolls?

This virtual fashion game  is creating lots of controversy in several countries.  Here's a short description of what you can expect:

In the month since it opened the site, which is aimed at girls aged from 9 to 16, has attracted 200,000 members. Players keep a constant watch on the weight, wardrobe, wealth and happiness of their character to create “the coolest, richest and most famous bimbo in the world”.

Competing against other children they earn “bimbo dollars” to buy plastic surgery, diet pills, facelifts, lingerie and fashionable nightclub outfits.

Kids in this age can be sometimes (often?) be easily manipulated.  Believing thin as a rail from diet pills or a boob job being a lifestyle for a young teenage girl doesn't sound like a healthy thing.  Experts on the field argue that giving our kids these ideas early on can lead to disasters.  And I agree, they can. 

One sometimes has to wonder where society is heading when looking at what's hot and trendy at the moment.  This site is used by hundreds of thousands of kids, I thought it was interesting to look at the different levels and what was seen as more desired:

Level 7
After you broke up with your boyfriend you went on an eating binge! Now it’s time to diet . . . Your target weight is less than 132lbs

Level 9
Have a nip and tuck operation for a brand new face. You’ve found work as a plus-size model. To gain those vivacious curves, you need to weigh more than 154lbs

Level 10
Summertime is coming up and bikini weather is upon us. You want to turn heads on the beach don’t you?

Level 11
Bigger is better! Have a breast operation

Level 17
There is a billionaire on vacation . . . You must catch his eye and his love! Good luck

Clearly I chose the wrong path in life.  Should have gone and married an old rich bat instead:-)) 

I don't think the site is appropriate but I don't have a problem with it.  But my views on parenting may not shared by everyone (anyone?).  You see, I believe parents are responsible for what their kids do, good and bad,  and more importantly for giving them a basic  idea of what is appropriate.  When my daughter grows up, I would have no problem with her visiting sites like these.  I only say that because I'm confident I will be able to teach and talk to her about what's right and wrong.  About what's a good idea and what's just playing around. 

I've been exposed to a large amount of temptations and bad things during my life.  But somehow I managed not to fall into any severe traps (so far).  I credit my parents with this.  Many things could have been done better but at least we could talk about things when there was a problem.  And if they weren't there I usually knew what was appropriate to do. 

I see limiting or forbidding things from children as a bad idea in general.  It only creates more interest and hype, something I see every day.  I have clear limits of what's alright and permitted but just saying "No!!" doesn't seem a good way to deal with this.  My kids aren't allowed to play with sharp knives or matches but I make sure to sit down with them and let them get some exposure to these items.  I don't allow walking on our thinly ice covered lakes without me but we'll play on ice for hours together.  That way I can explain why it's dangerous and let them try it out as much as needed.  This always seems to take some interest away, it becomes less of a taboo activity and far less interesting than if I just denied access.  Same thing with Miss Bimbo, all these fuss seems to creating more hype than just treating like an innocent (but tasteless) site.

I should admit that my wife has a different opinion on Miss Bimbo.  She's furious and think it should be shut down since it's such a bad example for kids.  Maybe that would be a good idea.  But let's say we start censuring activities and sites this way, where will we end up?  Breaking the law is never alright but what about bad taste?  Who should decide what's allowed and what's not?

One of my main goals with being so involved with the kids and spending so much time together early on is I want their full trust and confidence.  I know this will come in handy during the teenage years.  I must sound like Dr. Evil with my plan but it makes sense to me.  When my son is 15 and has a problem, I want him to have enough respect for me and us be good enough friends to talk things through.  Not him telling me to fuck off as soon as I open my mouth, which I often see with weekend fathers.  They've go no credibility with their teenagers since they were never there when needed.

I know parents are busy working and it's a hectic world for many of us.  But is it totally inappropriate to shift more responsibility on parents instead of society in general?  This seems to be a topic that comes up often nowadays. Parents blaming everyone except themselves.  Is it really likely than a normal girl with involved and responsible parents go to Miss Bimbo and quickly become and anorexic-boob-job-wanting-girl age 11?  It could happen but I think one should look a little closer to the family situation if a child is so desperate for attention and easily manipulated. 

Categories: Family, News, Parenting
Tags: anorexia, boob job, boobs, diet pills, education, Parenting, teenage girl