Yes, it's a toy. No, I won't let you make me feel silly.

The BBQ Pit
21

Hope you’re happy with the new toy, THespos, hope you all enjoy many years of four-wheelin love. Most of the guys around here have ATVs. Some of them are the morons who take them on the road (driving on the road at 60mph as if they were a motor vehicle licensed to do so). I really hope you’re not one of those.

Also, on the same POV as Redboss, are you making sure you’re not disturbing any sea/waterfowl nesting sites? There are some protected beaches where endangered species nest, (around here they don’t get abused much by the ATVers because of marsh mud) but it is something to keep in mind :wink:
Don’t take me too seriously, i’m an alarmist.

Play safe! goes back to tree hugging and smacking puppies with newspaper

22

Thespos, congratulations on your new toy! I’m not trying to make you feel silly, I promise. You don’t know me, therefore you don’t know what my true intent is…but, you do know your mom and your sister. You know their heart, are they trying to make you feel silly, or are they teasing you. There is a difference.

Many times when I get something new I refer to it as a toy. Whether it is a bread maker, or a food chopper, printer, PDA, or a circle/oval cutter, it is a toy! I want a Xyron 510 for Christmas, but, I don’t think Santa will bring me one! I whispered it to mom…but, she wants to get me clothes…but, I want a Xyron 510.

Yes, I’m an adult…I’m 34/Single, but I still like toys of all kinds ;).

My Dad bought an ATV to "carry the deer out of the woods"...we teased him about it....but, we also bought him the "dilly thingys" to enable him to transport it to the hunting grounds.

All this to say Thespos, have fun and I don’t think they were trying to be ugly to you, and I don’t think they meant to make you feel silly. If it continues to bother you, maybe you just need to say “Hey mom, Sis, for some reason when you call my ATV a toy, it makes me feel bad. It makes me feel like I was silly or irresponsible for purchasing it. I know I wasn’t, but could you please just not refer to it that way.”

Polly

23

THespos, I would just like to add a more mature voice to the thread. My honest adult opinion, as opposed to some of the more juvenile, flighty ones you’ll recieve, is that your new ATV is really awesome. Can I try it?

24

I stay away from the areas with beach grass, so I don’t add to the erosion problem. Also, any time I’ve heard of any waterfowl nesting areas on these beaches, the local conservationists have been quick to post signs and rope off any nesting areas, so I think I’m in the clear there. Mostly, I just stick to the areas that the 4 Wheel Drive trucks frequent. You won’t find any of those guys cruising around at night, though. I guess they’re too afraid of being caught on the beach when the tide rolls in. My machine is a lot more maneuverable, and doesn’t get stuck, so I can usually stick around a bit longer than the trucks.

If I do ride any of the dunes, it is where ATVs and trucks have ridden before and where there isn’t any beach grass.

25

Nope. I have been known to cross roads when I need to get to a new trail, but I don’t ride on the road.

All ATVs have warning stickers that tell you not to ride them on the road. There’s a good reason for that. These machines have solid rear axles, which means that you don’t have the benefit of a differential (like a car) when taking turns on the road. I keep hearing horror stories about people riding on the roads and failing to understand this. They end up flipping over and wondering why. It’s because the inside wheel can’t slip.

26

Wow, no one has said it yet:

“The only difference
between men and boys,
is the price of their toys.”

I, too, like to dabble in many hobbies. I have done everything from motorized toys to glued together toys to high-tech to artsy to ???

It keeps me sane. You get excited, you have something to look forward to, and it keeps the bored Tomcat’s out of their wife’s hair on rainy days.

I’m looking forward to having a kid (next June!). “No, really honey! She NEEDS a gas-powered remote controlled car to help her with her eye-hand coordination! Yes, I know she is only 6 months old, but A) I need to be able to teach her about it properly, and B) She’ll grow into it.”

-Tcat

27

Zappo said:

I’m sure you got a lot of comments about it being a “pimpmobile”, too.

Know what? Those people can go fuck themselves.

–Necros, proud owner of a black 1968 Eldorado, 1995 Deville, former owner of a 1973 Eldorado and 1990 Deville

28

THespos, it’s an ass kicking toy and hobby!

Ironically, I just rode my first ATV this past weekend. My father in law has a ranch in Colorado and we wanted to go plink some prarie dogs because their holes break the legs of his cattle and horses. So we put our rifles in the 4 wheeler’s side scabbards and took off across the prarie to a couple of towns about 8 miles away. Those machines are awesome! Took us straight up a couple of mesas and across creeks without any problem. Though it was too cold for the varmits to be out, we still just plinked at some targets and explored the countryside. Boy howdy, I’m hooked!

Congrats on your purchase.

29

Why?

Wow, thank God you didn’t grow up in my house. They would chew you up and spit you back out. Your response is great for a rational person, but won’t work well for someone who is intentionally trying to belittle your decisions for their own personal gain. If that sort of statement were made to my mom or sisters, my “toy” would be brought up at every opportunity and poked fun at (good naturedly, of course!) Nothing gets the sharks circling like fresh blood.

It’s hard to tell what the intent of the speaker was from the OP, but if Thespos felt that strongly about it, I suspect this isn’t the first time he’s heard it from them. Some people honestly AREN’T happy when you get new groovy things and ARE jealous and nasty because it makes them feel deprived. Ugly stuff, all of it, but it is out there.

Zette

30

Back to the topic that inspired the rant in the first place…

Why is it that “toy” has such a negative connotation when used to refer to something that amuses an adult?

All my life, I’ve had toys. As a kid, toys were things like Star Wars action figures, Atari 2600s, GI Joes, Matchbox cars and other stuff like that. These days, it’s whatever can keep my mind off of issues at the office, terrorist attacks, etc. The way my mom and sis use the word “toy,” it’s almost derogatory, like I’m too old to be spending money to amuse myself.

Screw that! If the rest of the world thought that way, there would be no market for things like sports cars, big screen TVs, video games or bass boats.

A bunch of my friends who also recently bought ATVs have been taking flak at home for it. They can understand any objections on the basis of money concerns, but what they’re having trouble with is complaints about “buying toys” as if their amusement is somewhat of a low priority.

I gave my mom a gift a couple years back - she said she wanted something called a “reflecting ball,” which from what I gather, serves no purpose save for taking up space on a pedestal in the middle of her rose garden. (Actually, I think that it is supposed to reflect images of the roses surrounding it, but I can’t see the appeal…) Did I make remarks about how my mom wants to amuse herself? Heck, no. She said she wanted it. I had the cash to spare, so I bought the thing.

My sister wants Rollerblades for Christmas. Do I draw attention to her expenditures on art supplies, computer graphics programs and digital cameras? Nope. I just accept that those things help her pass the time doing interesting things that she likes to do.

So why do I have to deal with this “boys and their toys” thing? Women have as many toys as guys do. (Or at least, they do in my family.)

31

Thespos, I don’t know how to answer your question, as I am a woman with a house full of toys, a husband with a life full of toys, and I never intend to stop with the toys.

I think that the “boys and their toys” taunt comes from the idea that boys are considered by many to be more immature then girls and that they don’t “grow up” like women do. Some people still subscribe to the “Peter Pan” theory that some men want to be taken care of and live in a fantasy world rather then growing up and doing adult things like making car payments, mowing the grass on weekends, and snaking out the toilet.

They think that women make rational decisions about money and such and that the men just want to have fun and blow cash. They take on the “parent” duty of tsk,tsking your purchase and saying “what a silly way to spend your money”.

Obviously I don’t subscribe to this theory, but many people do. I’ve heard similar taunts from my family for the “toys” my husband and I have: (A Harley, big screen TV with surround sound, 2 laptops + a PC, swimming pool and deck, digital camera, etc, etc. I also love video games, so I have Game Gear, Gameboy Advance, handheld games, PC games, etc, etc.)

The motivation for their snide comments whenever they make them are for two reasons:

  1. They made life decisions that prevent them from having the fun things I have. My one sister has 3 kids. Needless to say, there isn’t enough extra money floating around to buy a DVD player or some other toy. She is jealous that she cannot spend like I can due to her own life decision. I do not have children, therefore I can spend all the damned money I want on whatever I want.

  2. They lack interests. My own mother has literally no friends and not a single interest. You cannot buy her presents because she has no hobbies. Painting? Nope. Fishing? Nope. Collector? Nada. Movies? Nope. Some people are jealous that you have the guts to go out and try something new and fun, just for the heck of it.
    Enjoy your ATV and the next time someone says “Oh you boys and your toys”, make the engine revving sound really loud and yell “I can’t hear you! I can’t hear you! Vrooom! Vroooom! Vroooooooooooooom!”

Zette

32

I just have one question; can I move in with you, Zette? I can bring my comic book collection. You’re the kid on the block with all the cool toys!
(ps - one of my first gifts for my now-fiance was an electric gun that made flashing lights AND laser-y noises! We love it! The cats hate it!)

33

Man, since when does Cannondale make ATVs? Last time I checked, they only made kick-ass bicycles.

Pretty damn cool, though. I already have spousal approval for a VW-based, street legal sand rail dune buggy. I have a nice, warm place in my garage for it, too… now I just need the $$$ to buy it.

34

BTW, they’re called toys because they serve very little fuctional purpose, yet are fun as all get-out.

The Saab and Caddy are more luxury items than toys, given they fill a preexisting need, even though in a manner more fun than other options. A four-wheeler wouldn’t be a toy for a guy on a ranch, lifeguard on a beach, etc, however. If a cop own a handgun, it’s a tool of the trade. If a normal guy owns 20 handguns, at least 19 of them are toys (maybe 20, depending on if you subscribe to the belief that you need a, i.e. one, handgun for your personal protection).

35

Yeah, Necros! I knew you were a right-thinking person.

Where you at? Maybe we can get together sometime and convert some dead dinosaurs into fun.

Zap!

36

People make snobs of themselves when they criticize those who enjoy life. A former friend of mine used to put me down for spending money on computer games (I can hear her voice exclaiming “you spent your money on a computer game?!?”).

In the last couple of months, I have spent my hard-earned cash on a new computer games, a force-feedback steering wheel to go with the game, an Xbox plus one game, and a disc brake conversion kit for my future weekend car (a 1969 Dodge Charger). I am very pleased with my spendings. They are investments in my enjoyment. Thanks a lot, THespos, now I’ll have to plan on getting an ATV. (I had one growing up on the farm (licensed for street use) and took it for granted, man I miss that).

37

I think the proper response to that question is “I don’t know. What is it with girls and their shoes?”

38

as someone who has more “toys” than anyone else i know, it seems to me anytime i hear someone make that kind of remark, it is quickly followed by “can i borrow it?” or “can i come, too?”

right now, im looking for a good deal on a 73 camaro, a ural with a sidecar and another landcruiser to fix up! i just might get me a ducati, too!

toys kick ass!