Shy Kids
November 15, 2002 12:11 AM   Subscribe

Shy Kids. "Each realistic Shy Kid (UK time out dolls) is lovingly hand-crafted and each one is different. Standing around 29"-34" approximately the same height as a two year old, your Shy Kid can be leant against a wall, couch or anywhere you desire."
posted by _sirmissalot_ (39 comments total)
 
these shy kid things really freak me out. i'm confused.
posted by prescribed life at 12:19 AM on November 15, 2002


if a kid could get one of these things that was the same shape as them and wore the same clothes, it'd be a sure-fire tactic for cheating in hide-and-seek... the ones hiding would be *sure* that the 'seeker' was up against the wall counting off the chosen amount of time... while he/she was really watching them hide.

*sigh* if only i could go back in time with one of these, my childhood would have been so much happier.
posted by dgt at 12:23 AM on November 15, 2002


I'd be afraid, VERY afraid, to turn one around and see "what they really look like".
posted by Witty at 12:50 AM on November 15, 2002


And after they've collected so much dust that they make you sneeze every time you move them you realize just how far you've moved in your own life.
posted by crasspastor at 12:55 AM on November 15, 2002


Is anyone else thinking 'final scence of Blair Witch Project' burglar deterrent? All you need is some bloody handprints on the wall and the burglars will run screaming....
posted by PenDevil at 1:05 AM on November 15, 2002


why on earth is this on metafilter?
posted by delmoi at 1:07 AM on November 15, 2002


Ugh, I see those in a local store and they creep me out every time I see them.

They remind me too much of Don't Look Now, and I'm always convinced one's going to turn around and kill me...
posted by Katemonkey at 2:24 AM on November 15, 2002


Why would you want one of those?

Its all a bit "dark" if you ask me.
posted by bhell13 at 3:50 AM on November 15, 2002


Its nice to see these credited to England, but the first time I saw them was about six years ago in a street market in Palm Springs, California. An English friend who was with us immediately bought one to take home with her.
posted by donfactor at 4:25 AM on November 15, 2002


why on earth is this on metafilter?

because _sirmissalot_ is e-fluential, that's why.
posted by crunchland at 4:29 AM on November 15, 2002


Ugh, I see those in a local store and they creep me out every time I see them.

Oooh - I was just about to call 'hoax' on this, but - yikes - looks like these scary kids is real!

Uh, is there supposed to be some creepy NAMBLA thing going on with these dolls? I don't want to lower the tone here, but "Bear Bottom"? - ewwww
posted by backOfYourMind at 4:54 AM on November 15, 2002


These dolls are unbelievably creepy but I guess there are useful if you need a “body” to go with the voices in your head.
posted by Smooth at 9:24 AM on November 15, 2002


Yeah I saw these in Canada years ago. Crafty crap. I remember they sold them in one gas station. They were scattered about the store, placed in different nooks and corners. It was both tacky and creepy at the same time. They are even more disturbing because when you turn them around they have no faces.
posted by picea at 9:26 AM on November 15, 2002


Those things are creepy as hell. If my daughter ever asks me for one I'm having her committed on the spot.

This is the stuff of nightmares.
posted by vraxoin at 9:31 AM on November 15, 2002


what's a time out doll?
posted by twentynine at 9:37 AM on November 15, 2002


DOLLS THAT LOOK LIKE REAL KIDS!:

CUTE
PATIENT
OBEDIENT
RESPECTFUL
NO CRYING
NO DIAPERS
NO BACKTALK
NO MESSES


What an interesting marketing concept. Oh, I forgot!...

NO FACE
posted by taz at 9:50 AM on November 15, 2002


picea:

No faces??????!!!!!!

Oh. My. Gawd.

Anybody remember the episode of Star Trek where Charlie, the kid they find in outer space, does that to one of the Enterprise crew? Oh, sweet Jebus...that one horrifying image has haunted me for decades.
posted by alumshubby at 10:04 AM on November 15, 2002


So, these are what you make if you want to make dolls but can't quite get the faces right?
posted by kindall at 10:06 AM on November 15, 2002


Years ago, I saw a large display of these things from a distance in a market in Australia and honestly thought they were a group of kids playing some strange game. They are truly freaky but after seeing them a few times the novelty tends to wear thin. I suppose they could come in handy to taunt your neighborhood pedophiles and child molesters.
posted by shoepal at 10:40 AM on November 15, 2002


These have been hits in "country-style" decorating stores for years, right next to the concrete geese and Precious Moments figurines.

PenDevil, they only stand about two feet tall, so they're not likely to scare anyone (beyond their inherent creepiness).
posted by me3dia at 11:04 AM on November 15, 2002


"obedient"?
posted by small_ruminant at 11:16 AM on November 15, 2002


What's your problem, delmoi? If you're not interested in a post, skip over it like the rest of us. Do you think you contribute anything to the community by constantly bitching? You are simply adding noise, diluting discussions for the rest of us.
posted by maniactown at 11:22 AM on November 15, 2002


My Stumbleboy does a much better job.
posted by a_green_man at 11:32 AM on November 15, 2002


jesus, a few years ago my mom got not one, but TWO of these things. and dressed them up in clothes of me and my brother from when we were infants. this is a good case of the well-intended mother and the creepy sicko sharing as a target market. when i visited during college i'd get scared every time. thank god there isnt an internet link to my folks living room....
posted by Peter H at 11:34 AM on November 15, 2002


These dolls are the affluent suburban equivalent of lawn flamingoes.

I take that back - lawn flamingoes at least have a high kitsch quotient, these dolls are just plain revolting. Almost every upper end store in my area has been carrying them for several years now, although I honestly can't figure out who's buying them (besides PeterH's mom). When you turn one of these things around to look at the front, you'll feel like you were just punched in the stomach, believe me. Since it's so not what you expect, it seems horrifying. The "face" (of the ones around here, anyway) consists of a twisted up wad of all of the leftover material that was pulled up from all the limbs and torso to tighten everything up.

Sort of like what Joan Rivers' scalp must look like.
posted by iconomy at 11:39 AM on November 15, 2002


I don't think anyone would buy the shy kids as toys for their children, unless either the children are somehow fascinated by the dolls as they would any cuddly toy or you think the dolls may help your shy kids deal with their own shyness. I'm not sure exactly how it can help, (and I may be digressing here) but shyness in children can be overcome by getting them to communicate more on subjects or objects they like and moving on from there. As shyness can become a real psychological problem with some children as they grow older, I would think any parent recognizing their children are "too shy" may find the shy kids just the right companions. It's just my guess that there may be some real shy kids out there who can relate to the shyness embodied by the doll.
posted by taratan at 11:45 AM on November 15, 2002


taratan:

only if the real kids are shy beacause they have no face.
wtf are you trying to do, traumatize the poor kids.

"You're my best friend. Turn around so I can....
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
posted by sdrifter at 11:58 AM on November 15, 2002


I'd hide it in the corner, oh wait these dolls are for folks living in the far corners of all places.
posted by thomcatspike at 12:02 PM on November 15, 2002


wtf are you trying to do, traumatize the poor kids.

sdrifter : My point is about shyness in children which should be helped. Don't be an asshole by making knee-jerk remark.
posted by taratan at 12:39 PM on November 15, 2002


Extreme niche marketing.... reminds me of Dog-In-Shell.com
posted by mildred-pitt at 12:41 PM on November 15, 2002


taratan: I'm sorry if that is how I came off.
I didn't mean to contest what you were saying at all, and I probably took it too lightly at first.

Although I don't know very much about psychology, I didn't think that these were meant for children, since they didn't have a recognizable face or anything. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong, but it seems like it would be very difficult to identify with something that didn't have a face, especially if it looks like a person in all other respects.

Also, judging from the responses here, these dolls seem to disturb even adults, so I thought the effect on children might be even worse. So, I guess my point was that these dolls might not be the best way to deal with the problem, especially if there are a plethora of other dolls available for children to interact with.
posted by sdrifter at 1:04 PM on November 15, 2002


These annoying dolls have been showing up at car shows for years also. They are usually placed against the grill of the car (it's usually 50's vintage for some reason) peering into the grill. It's just so darned cute! This mania also manifests itself in the purchasing of lawn ornaments, like the classic "old lady bending over" variety.
And we wonder why the rest of the world hates us......
posted by reidfleming at 1:19 PM on November 15, 2002


Dog-In-Shell?
No, more like a super-cleaned-up version of the Realdoll (NSFW), which I think is even creepier.
posted by a_green_man at 1:28 PM on November 15, 2002


how is it FOR YEARS NOW every internet forum thread about a stuffed anything, animal or otherwise, ULTIMATELY ENDS IN A REALDOLL LINK OR A PLUSHER ONE? ..and further how does the linker always defensively say, "brrr, creepy" ..come on, you link it, you LOVE it.
posted by Peter H at 1:38 PM on November 15, 2002


MetaFilter: You link it, you love it.
posted by moss at 3:32 PM on November 15, 2002


I know about RealDolls, but what's a Plusher? Am I going to have to get one of those too? Is it RealDoll compatible?

And these Plushers... do they vibrate?
posted by armoured-ant at 3:51 PM on November 15, 2002


Something better.
posted by UKnowForKids at 4:53 PM on November 15, 2002


When my daughter was 7, she received one of these for an Easter present from her godmother. She really took little interest in it-- probably because by that time it was old hat to her. There has been one at Grandma's Candy Shop in Seal Beach peering in at the candy for many years. That fascinated my daughter when she was about 3.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:53 PM on November 15, 2002


sdrifter : Thanks for your clarification. Well, I think it's a case of using one's common sense and parental skill to determine the effects such dolls or any other toys may have on your children. If the dolls do actually look scary to any parent (not just an imagination), then by all means do not buy or give to them. Regarding shyness in children ( the severity varying from child to child), some parents do have to deal with the condition in even normal healthy children. Let's just say I have a soft spot for real shy kids.
posted by taratan at 9:38 PM on November 15, 2002


« Older U.S. states ranked according to smartness.   |   Amateur Scientists Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments