# Russian Roulette for kids!! It's fun! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 19, 2004, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-for-kids-its-fun/240823 "2004-04-19T14:08:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cerri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@Cerri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerri)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2004, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-for-kids-its-fun/240823/1 "2004-04-19T14:08:11Z")
[http://209.180.204.251/russian-roulette/index.html](http://209.180.204.251/russian-roulette/index.html) Seriously…what…the…fuck? I know Japan produces some fairly…odd toys, but seriously…who in their right mind not only comes up with this shit, but apparently manages to get a company to produce and manufacture it? (If this is too tame/lame for the pit, please feel free to edit it for MPSIMS consumption and move it there…I almost posted it there, but don’t spend much time there, I didn’t know if it was really appropriate for that forum) ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2004, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-for-kids-its-fun/240823/2 "2004-04-19T14:12:55Z")
If that’s a real toy, I weep for our children. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2004, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-for-kids-its-fun/240823/3 "2004-04-19T14:13:35Z")
I suppose I find these things funny now, but I can understand how you could get angry. Just think of how _The Deer Hunter_ would have looked with those toys. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2004, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-for-kids-its-fun/240823/4 "2004-04-19T14:16:25Z")
Bah. On looking through the site, it’s an obvious hoax. August “Teach me to post that quickly.” Derleth ---
**Author:** ![Cerri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@Cerri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerri)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2004, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-for-kids-its-fun/240823/5 "2004-04-19T14:29:56Z")
Actually, on further investigation, this apparently was a real toy produced by Takura Toys and was pulled in 1993/1992 (some of the sites I read had differing years for the cancellation of the product). Last post on this page ([http://www.cruel.com/discuss/viewTopic.php/72520](http://www.cruel.com/discuss/viewTopic.php/72520)) has a copy/paste from a News of the Wierd entry talking about it. Glad/relieved to hear it’s been out of production since the early 90’s…and hope the guy who came up with it in the first place either had his head examined or was fired…I don’t think I’d want this guy working for my toy company anyways… ---
**Author:** ![Cerri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@Cerri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerri)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2004, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-for-kids-its-fun/240823/6 "2004-04-19T14:31:51Z")
Found a link to the actual News of the Wierd article that mentioned it: [http://www.thereader.com/createpage.asp?ContentID=2232](http://www.thereader.com/createpage.asp?ContentID=2232) ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2004, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-for-kids-its-fun/240823/7 "2004-04-19T18:04:57Z")
I don’t really see what the big deal is. ---
**Author:** ![WILLASS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/54ee81/32.png) [@WILLASS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WILLASS)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2004, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-for-kids-its-fun/240823/8 "2004-04-19T19:12:51Z")
I don’t see what the fuss is either, its not like its gonna hurt or cause damage is it otherwise it wouldn’t be sold. How is it any different to that electric shock roullette game? I think people just automatically assume the moral highground without really bothering to think about it. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-for-kids-its-fun/240823/9 "2004-04-19T19:20:36Z")
But you gotta love the look on the kid’s face as he gets kicked in the head by a pink hippo gun. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cerri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@Cerri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerri)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2004, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-for-kids-its-fun/240823/10 "2004-04-19T19:24:41Z")
Well, I wouldn’t personally want to teach my kid to point and shoot _any_ gun at his head for fun, even a toy one, but YMMV. =) ---
**Author:** ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2004, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-for-kids-its-fun/240823/11 "2004-04-19T20:01:50Z")
But what you’re missing is how important it is to teach our children how to play Russian Roulette in a safe fashion! I’ll bet you’d teach your kid to ride a bike with no training wheels right off the bat. Just roll 'em on out into the street. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2004, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-for-kids-its-fun/240823/12 "2004-04-19T20:34:26Z")
Hey baby, whatcha got in that hippo gun? ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2004, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-for-kids-its-fun/240823/13 "2004-04-19T20:51:02Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Hey baby, whatcha got in that hippo gun? Great Die Fleder Maus line, from the funniest episode… ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2004, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-for-kids-its-fun/240823/14 "2004-04-19T21:05:32Z")
That toys doesn’t look much different than the many different styles of [Nerf guns](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3188703910&category=11742#ebayphotohosting) available when I was a kid. I think you can still get them today. Granted, Nerf ads used to show kids shooting at each other instead of at oneself… (er, that’s not much better is it?) ---
**Author:** ![WILLASS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/54ee81/32.png) [@WILLASS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WILLASS)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2004, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-for-kids-its-fun/240823/15 "2004-04-19T21:40:05Z")
> [@Cerri](#): > > Well, I wouldn’t personally want to teach my kid to point and shoot _any_ gun at his head for fun, even a toy one, but YMMV. =) Do you have a problem with any toy that is based on a weapon? Plastic swords, Nerf guns, cap guns, water pistols that kind of thing? I don’t see this as any worse in fact maybe less so because this doesn’t fire a projectil it actually fires a pair of comedy feet…about two inches. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2004, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-for-kids-its-fun/240823/16 "2004-04-19T23:06:47Z")
Just FYI, but the ‘russian roulette’ theme is a common one in Japanese toys. This is the only one I’ve seen that involves putting something against your head, but there are a lot of toys that involve taking turns at some random chance. Two of the more common ones are the alligator game (japanese website): [http://www.geocities.jp/shunzo/freetalk/mono/mono01-10.html#No.6](http://www.geocities.jp/shunzo/freetalk/mono/mono01-10.html#No.6) In which players take turns pushing down the alligator’s teeth until he finally bites. I’ve also seen versions with dogs, lions, etc. And the pirate game: > **[TOMY Ahoy There! Card Game, A Fast-Paced Family Card Game, Action Card Game for...](https://www.amazon.co.uk/TOMY-Games/dp/B096LJ4KMC)** > > Style Name:Ahoy There! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Play Ahoy There!, the fun card game that turns every player into a pirate! Steal cards from your neighbours, keep the best ones for your hoard of booty, then pass your hand overboard to... where players push swords into a barrel until one of them causes the pirate to jump out. ---
**Author:** ![WILLASS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/54ee81/32.png) [@WILLASS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WILLASS)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-for-kids-its-fun/240823/17 "2004-04-19T23:56:03Z")
Thats a common theme in quite a few games: Kerplunk, Buckaroo, Operation etc. these all have an element of random chance. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2004, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-for-kids-its-fun/240823/18 "2004-04-20T00:05:59Z")
> [@Sublight](#): > > Two of the more common ones are the alligator game (japanese website): > [サービス終了のお知らせ](http://www.geocities.jp/shunzo/freetalk/mono/mono01-10.html#No.6) > In which players take turns pushing down the alligator’s teeth until he finally bites. I’ve also seen versions with dogs, lions, etc. I’ve played the alligator game (in America.) However, here’s a hint for those who want the edge:The tooth that bites you is, indeed, randomized (or pseudorandomized, get over it…) However, you can tell which one it is by touching it just a _bit_. If the tooth is harder than the other ones, i.e. doesnt give as much to the touch, it’s loaded. ---
**Author:** ![Lando\_Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f17d59/32.png) [@Lando\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lando_Griffin)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2004, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-for-kids-its-fun/240823/19 "2004-04-20T00:13:51Z")
> [@Sublight](#): > > Two of the more common ones are the alligator game (japanese website): > [サービス終了のお知らせ](http://www.geocities.jp/shunzo/free...01-10.html#No.6) > In which players take turns pushing down the alligator’s teeth until he finally bites. I’ve also seen versions with dogs, lions, etc. Ah, that would be _Crocodile Dentist_, a childhood favorite of mine. ---
**Author:** ![Cerri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@Cerri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerri)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2004, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-for-kids-its-fun/240823/20 "2004-04-20T01:29:11Z")
> [@WILLASS](#): > > Do you have a problem with any toy that is based on a weapon? Plastic swords, Nerf guns, cap guns, water pistols that kind of thing? I don’t see this as any worse in fact maybe less so because this doesn’t fire a projectil it actually fires a pair of comedy feet…about two inches. Lord no…heck, my step-son to be is Jedi/Ninja/Aragorn/Legolas insane and EVERYTHING is a weapon to him, complete with sound effects. I have no problem with kids playing with toy weapons. However, we’ve also had conversations about what is appropriate play with these toys and what isn’t. Pointing toy guns at real people is a no-no. Pointing them at your imaginary foe is just fine. Swinging swords wildly around the living room where there’s breakable things and a danger of someone getting hit is a no-no. Swinging them and doing away with Darth Vader outside is perfectly acceptable. Why do you think kids need to learn to handle _any_ weapon, toy or no, unsafely? Maybe if we all taught our kids about appropriate ways to handle (even toy) weapons and what is NOT, under any circumstances, appropriate, we wouldn’t have the gun/child accidents we do. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-for-kids-its-fun/240823.md?page=2)