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(https://i.imgur.com/y5XWqJi.png)
I have been looking at the Western fort on the Playmobil website ( both US and German ), and it is... empty! No soldiers! In fact, they don't sell them, even separately.
What happened to the US cavalry ( i.e the 'blue coats' )? I remember they came with it when i was a kid. Is this yet another example of Playmobil going politically-correct in recent years? ...Also, what is the point of having a 'fort', without a military?
Note: Playmobil don't seem to have a problem with militarized police ( SWAT / SEK ), complete with full body-armor, shields, gas masks, assault rifles, MRAP vehicles and attack dogs, though. If this is indeed a case of censorship, are we to conclude that — for example — repressing contemporary urban dissenters is ok, but pacifying the US western frontier, circa 1800, isn't? ...What gives?!
(https://i.imgur.com/VtjOpR4.jpg)
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You're right, JPSA, that it's a bit silly that they are still selling the fort but none of its occupants! :lol: The sets were – quite abruptly – removed from the webshops about 3 years ago. This was discussed in great detail in this forum:
https://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=16290.0
ACW is no longer acceptable as a play theme. But, funny enough, the three-soldiers sets have since resurfaced a few times in the bargain basement of the webshop, and then always quickly sell out. They are quite popular with the collectors.
Best wishes
StJohn
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ACW is verboten but also conflict with Indians is a no-go area. If you have bluecoats you must have greycoats or Indians, and there are too many people ready to jump down PM's collective throat at the slightest sign of wrongthink. Here's just one example https://www.change.org/p/playmobil-playmobil-stop-being-racist-create-a-world-for-all-our-children-not-just-the-white-ones This just accelerates the trend towards politically safe (for now) Hollywood properties.
You rightly point out the strange inconsistency with the police toys, but I would bet my rarest klicky that we'll see demands to remove those soon enough.
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Thank you, StJohn and Macruran, for the elucidation. Well, that's news to me — as I haven't been following Playmobil's evolution very closely over these past 3 to 4 decades, to tell you the truth!
I've got to say, though: this is bullshit! ...So, let me get this straight: 'Cowboys and Indians' ( though that's just one of the theme's play possibilities ) has effectively been "cancelled" [ strike that: erased, like the troops in the empty fort ] ?!! ...Yet, for 'Romans vs Egyptians', or 'Pirates vs Blue/Red Coats' ( i.e. French and British ), it's still: "Knock yourselves out, kids!", as far as Brandstätter is concerned?! For generations, kids — typically boys — have played 'cowboys and indians', and there are loads of movies, series, comics, etc., based around that period in history. It's even inscribed in a colloquial expression: "Too many cowboys, not enough Indians".
I also find this censorship rather hypocritical coming from Brandstätter, considering the cowboys and indians theme was a huge seller and literally helped put Playmobil on the map in the 1970s. What gives them now the moral high ground to implicitly impart ethics / history lessons — this, from a 'plastics' manufacturer, no less ( no offense )?!! I should also point out that Brandstätter doesn't seem to have any issues selling their wares in these formerly conquered western territories. Go to any Walmart in, say, Texas or Arizona, and I am fairly sure you'll find Playmobil on the shelves! In many instances, you can also visit the actual forts, next door.
Thirdly, kids — mostly boys, in this case, considering the fort is a prototypical boys toy — won't even apply a historical moral lens to the whole thing, beyond the fact that, to them, the fort is merely a place to defend against the ubiquitous 'bad guys', whoever they are ( not necessarily Indians ). Once again, I am appalled that typical boy play, usually centered around the subtleties of territorial defense ( from either sides' point-of-view! ), gets penalized.
Finally, why doesn't Brandstätter give parents and kids credit?! Whatever the moral implications regarding the American Conquest of the West, kids will sort it out and make up their own minds... eventually! Moreover, I believe kids learn about ethics by experiencing — through play — morally charged, conflictual situations [ historical or not ], and cancelling the dialectics of "Cowboys vs Indians or what-have-you" merely takes a learning opportunity away. Who knows, this theme might even have sparked, in some kids, a lifelong interest for that particular place and time in history — and beyond!
The vacant "Fort Brave" (!) sure makes one hell of a pathetic and fitting statement about the times we live in, imo.
(https://i.imgur.com/5Gru9xN.jpg)
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Good points, JPSA. I'm not sure geobra are applying censorship per se, but they have withdrawn toys which won't sell or which will attract criticism, it's a commercial and brand-conscious thing. As a child, I loved playing 'cowboys v indians' with my brothers (with Brittain's Swoppits, alas not PM, which hadn't been invented yet) and watching The Virginian and other Western-themed TV. But the Western genre for children has largely died out, partly because it sometimes promoted ideas which are now considered dodgy.
Sadly, geobra make toys for children, not adult collectors.
By the way JPSA, the expression with which I am familiar is "Too many chiefs, not enough indians". The term 'cowboys' is often applied to people who do shoddy or careless work, as in the advert put out by a Bradford building firm (presumably made up of people of South Asian heritage, or the joke wouldn't work) 'You've tried the Cowboys, now try the Indians.' In which case, perhaps 'Too many cowboys, not enough indians' would be apt!
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Hi Graham.
You're right regarding the "Too many chiefs, not enough Indians" expression. Not sure where I got the "Too many cowboys..." from? But hey, it was late, and I am not a native English speaker! :)
Anyhow, Geobra makes toys for whoever will buy them ( which includes collectors ). And even when they're clearly destined for kids, parents still have to clear the purchase most of the time, so adults are in the loop ( hence appealing to grown-ups matters ). ...I bet most boys would be quite thrilled receiving a properly manned and loaded fort. My young nephew ( age: 9 ) certainly pointed the fort in the latest 2020 US catalog, as a Christmas-list possibility, recently ( 'had nothing to do with it, though I get the appeal, as a stereotypical if incomplete fortress ). Also, if Geobra still sells the fort, despite being empty, there must be enough demand for them making money producing the handful of soldiers and accessories that used to go with it. Obviously, they discontinued the cavalry [ note: Indians are still being sold, though ] not because it wouldn't sell, but for political and/or PR reasons ( read: historical western imperialism = bad / but western corporate imperialism globalization = good! ). ...Heck, they manufacture virtually everything else! :)
The decline of the western genre you pointed out is undeniable, though ( compared to what it used to be ); but on the upside, it never completely went away either, and we periodically get new western-themed video games, series, and movies, including western mixed with other genres ( as in: Westworld, or even Star Wars / The Mandalorian — a space western, of sorts ). Somehow, the idea, and appeal, of the frontier endures — wherever it is. I believe to boys, especially.
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Hi Graham.
You're right regarding the "Too many chiefs, not enough Indians" expression. Not sure where I got the "Too many cowboys..." from? But hey, it was late, and I am not a native English speaker! :)
Anyhow, Geobra makes toys for whoever will buy them ( which includes collectors ). And even when they're clearly destined for kids, parents still have to clear the purchase most of the time, so adults are in the loop ( hence appealing to grown-ups matters ). ...I bet most boys would be quite thrilled receiving a properly manned and loaded fort. My young nephew ( age: 9 ) certainly pointed the fort in the latest 2020 US catalog, as a Christmas-list possibility, recently ( 'had nothing to do with it, though I get the appeal, as a stereotypical fortress ). Also, if Geobra still sells the fort, there must be enough demand for them making money producing the handful of soldiers and accessories that used to go with it. Obviously, they discontinued the cavalry not because it wouldn't sell, but for political and/or PR reasons ( read: western imperialism = bad / though corporate — most of it western in origin — globalisation = good ). ...Heck, they manufacture virtually everything else! :)
The decline of the western genre you pointed out is undeniable, though ( compared to what it used to be ); but on the upside, it never completely went away either, and we periodically get new Western-themed series, and movies, including western mixed with other genres ( as in: Westworld, or even Star Wars / The Mandalorian — a space western, of sorts ). Somehow, the idea, and appeal, of the frontier endures — wherever it is.
I found this page on AmClicks and got excited http://amclicks.org/foro/novedades-playmobil/3-new-licenses/240/ (http://amclicks.org/foro/novedades-playmobil/3-new-licenses/240/). The Western-styled train might possibly make a comback! In addition to the new Indian set on the German site and the return of Western-themed sets like the Ranch Home, the Schoolhouse, the Water Tower and the Windmill; they're might be a resurgence after all! ;D
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Anyhow, Geobra makes toys for whoever will buy them ( which includes collectors ). And even when they're clearly destined for kids, parents still have to clear the purchase most of the time, so adults are in the loop ( hence appealing to grown-ups matters ). ...I bet most boys would be quite thrilled receiving a properly manned and loaded fort.
I'm in my mid-30s (so the age of an adult who would be buying a child toys) and even I consider western toys to be a bit quaint. The cultural references were already thin on the ground when I was a kid - The Little House Books (minimal references to Native Americans), repeats of the associated TV show from the 70s, and ancient black and white movies repeated on Sunday afternoons. I struggle to think of anything aimed at children about the 'Wild West' from my childhood. Almost any franchise that did have Western episodes (things like 'The New Adventures of Superman' or 'Back to the Future 3') ignored both The Civil War and Native Americans. Perhaps that's why I never really asked for any Western sets, and didn't quite know what to do with the ones I got (a high-point being the completely inexplicable set of Gold Prospectors). Though I did love the Golden Nugget Saloon.
I think that the Civil War soldiers are quite separate to the 'Cowboys & Indians' theme, Obviously the cut off is generally arbitrary, but I don't think it's particularly appropriate to have identifiable soldiers from such a recent war (and one which continues to be both contested and which affects modern life). Equally I don't think a Boar War or First World War range would be particularly tasteful.
I suspect that the Playmobil Western sets tend to continue is more to do with executive decisions that hard sales data (and the fact that most to of the western re-issues aimed at collectors have often been very heavily reduced, and keep popping back up for sale, suggests to me they were disappointed with the sales)
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I suspect that the Playmobil Western sets tend to continue is more to do with executive decisions that hard sales data (and the fact that most to of the western re-issues aimed at collectors have often been very heavily reduced, and keep popping back up for sale, suggests to me they were disappointed with the sales)
So how do you explain that Indians are still being sold? There are currently 9 Indian figures available on the Playmobil.us website ( 4 discrete SKUs ), and they're not discounted either. With that, one could create a whole tribe! No cavalry, though, besides the conspicuously empty fort. ....My guess is that the overall western theme is indeed probably not a huge seller, but likely sells enough to make it worth their while ( which is why the theme never fully goes away — kind of like history ☺ ). It would be interesting to have access to actual sales figures, though ( for both the US and Europe ).
As far as 'presence on the ground' of this theme, growing up, it depends not just when, but where, one grew up. I get the sense that the appeal of the western genre has lingered far longer in Europe than in the US, for some reason — to this day ( maybe because it seems 'exotic', part of the "rêve Américain" — in this context: the idealization and mythologizing of the US ). In comics, growing up in France in the 70s and 80s, we had, for example: Blueberry, The Bluecoats, Yakari and Lucky Luke ( all European / Franco-Belgian made ). These comics are still published and popular today, afaik; not just in France, but in other European countries as well ( ex: the latest Lucky Luke album is currently a best-seller on the German Amazon ). In fact, some of these comics were made into animated series for the European market ( Yakari, 2005, and Lucky Luke 2001 ). And on TV, for kids, in the mid-80s, there was notably Bravestarr ( Filmation ), in both markets ( US + Europe ). Nowadays, the western genre appears on kids and teens' radar, everywhere, mostly via video-games; many of which are best-sellers (!), like: Red Dead Redemption ( I & II ), Hunt: Showdown, or Call of Juarez ( I thru IV ). ...It's still there! The other instances, are western mixed with some other genre ( usually sci-fi or fantasy ), as mentioned, like The Mandalorian recently, for example. The archetypes of the gunslinger and of the frontier are still very much with us, still.
Also, for a boy, a 'fort' is a 'fort'. Ultimately, beyond fleeting trend-appeal, it doesn't very much matter which theme it's from, the play-patterns are essentially the same: attack-and-defend, put the bad guys in jail, break them out by hook or by crook, etc. The western fort, medieval or Asian castles, police or spy team headquarters, are very similar, in this sense: a fortified place to defend ( with a prison, and usually a secret treasure location, inside! ). Which is why I suspect my 9 year old nephew spotted "Fort Brave" out of the blue, in the latest catalog, as a Christmas-wish possibility: it's just a different flavor ( a 'theme' ) of the thing he, and I suspect most boys, like. Which is why, as an adult, I believe you can't go wrong gifting a — preferably loaded — toy-fortress to most boys: 'western', or otherwise. They'll know how to play with it! ☺
( Adult appeal: ...Plus, with the western fort, you might get a nice discount!!! :lol: )
P.S. As far as the timeline's cutoff: it is somewhat arbitrary, indeed. Though, the conquest of the American West is roughly 200 years old, and we're well-past having direct survivors around ( 8 generations! ). I also think it shouldn't be up to a 'plastics manufacturer' to essentially take sides in the ongoing culture war, and in so doing, impose their moral views ( hypocritically, imo ), by effectively partly erasing what is now a rather distant chapter in history, but up to parents. As I said, this theme — actually, we're referring to a sub-theme within the western genre ( "Cowboys and Indians" ) — offers a plethora of learning opportunities — either way: for, or against —, which can grow out of, and extend well beyond, kids' gameplay. As far as alleged 'dodginess', mentioned earlier, I submit that all themes have dodgy elements — depending on one's point-of-view! For example, settlers in the early American West might have been thrilled to have the cavalry next door; and, it seems to me, American Indians at the time weren't exactly choir boys plucked from tribal bliss, either ( except in some movies )! ...So, where should the censorship end? And by whom?
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the Conquest of the American West is roughly 200 years old
minor factcheck here: the wild west ended around 1910, just over a century ago.
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minor factcheck here: the wild west ended around 1910, just over a century ago.
Right, but most of the actual fighting of the American Indian wars, and settling, took place around 1800 ( + or - 50 years ). Wikipedia stretching the period's end date forward is ideologically motivated, imo.
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Also not true. The "Wild West" period proper postdates the American Civil War. There were plenty of US/Indian conflicts between 1865-1910. Also remember the frontier moved: the conflicts in 1800 were happening in e.g. Michigan, in 1880 in e.g. Arizona. The date of 1910 for the closing of the west has been standard for as long as I can remember.
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Also not true. The "Wild West" period proper postdates the American Civil War. There were plenty of US/Indian conflicts between 1865-1910. Also remember the frontier moved: the conflicts in 1800 were happening in e.g. Michigan, in 1880 in e.g. Arizona. The date of 1910 for the closing of the west has been standard for as long as I can remember.
I wasn't including the Civil War. I was referring to the main — as in most — of the armed conflict between western settlers + the Cavalry and Indians. The Civil War is a different affair, and this is not what kids refer to when they ( used to ) play 'Cowboys and Indians'. Note: There may have been a number of flare-ups after the Civil War, but the fate of the American West was already pretty much determined, by then ( as in "settled" ). ☺
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I wasn't including the Civil War either, as you will see if you read my post with care.
Your assertion that the bulk of the settlement of North America was over by around 1800 doesn't stand up to even a moment's scrutiny. Lewis and Clark trudged through a couple thousand miles of Indian land in 1806. And I restate the fact that the classic "Wild West" period, the one depicted in PM sets, occurred after 1865.
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I wasn't including the Civil War either, as you will see if you read my post with care.
Your assertion that the bulk of the settlement of North America was over by around 1800 doesn't stand up to even a moment's scrutiny. Lewis and Clark trudged through a couple thousand miles of Indian land in 1806. And I restate the fact that the classic "Wild West" period, the one depicted in PM sets, occurred after 1865.
Okay. 1800, + or - roughly 70 years, for most of it ( i.e. majority of major armed conflicts between western settlers + Cavalry and Indians, commonly though of as 'Cowboys and Indians' in popular culture ). It is still 150 years ago, or so ( 6 generations ), for most of it! Well past the "DO NOT SELL UNTIL" period, imo.
The Playmobil western theme can indeed be made to depict a broader bracket — it's up to the users, since precise dates are not given. ...One can even create a scene with a movie crew filming a western! My main point, though, is that it should be up to consumers to decide.
(https://i.imgur.com/mLTew9I.jpg)
P.S. As an aside, I find the inclusion of a full-fledged western town in the 2019 Playmobil Movie rather ironic, given what we've been discussing. It's as if Geobra is basically saying: "You can play with the western town, you can play with the Indians, and the cowboys, you can even play with the fort, BUT... you can't play with the cavalry! Because that's baaad." :lol: ...Get real, Geobra!!!
(https://i.imgur.com/2gF1exG.jpg)
The Playmobil Movie ( 2019 )
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It's not the first time they've re-released a set without the original "bits." Maybe they just found a few spares in the warehouse. :lol: Given the current selection, I think your options are (a) have the bandits - or pirates - take over the fort or (b) have the fort be a historical site near your modern city.
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It's not the first time they've re-released a set without the original "bits." Maybe they just found a few spares in the warehouse. :lol: Given the current selection, I think your options are (a) have the bandits - or pirates - take over the fort or (b) have the fort be a historical site near your modern city.
Hi Ismene!
Don't worry, I got a bundle that included a few cowboys. Awesome deal, btw ( alleged "unpopularity" has its advantages ☺)! ...Besides, I have a feeling my nephew will promptly turn the fort into Spy Team's next hangout, to defend against the Darksters' next attack, or possibly Dracula's posse ( I got him a vampire klicky two weeks ago, and he's become the new main bad guy in town )! :)
Note: Given the current red-hot cultural war going on in the US, especially, I suspect the omission might have been deliberate ( as others have indicated ); and I hate having a corporation implicitly tell me what's 'right' ( or 'left', as it were ). ☺
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Note: Given the current red-hot cultural war going on in the US, especially, I suspect the omission might have been deliberate ( as others have indicated ); and I hate having a corporation implicitly telling me what's 'right' ( or 'left' ). ☺
Same. All these political/cultural wars are exhausting. I wish people would just quit being so overly sensitive about certain topics and learn to let some stuff slide. History happened, and no amount of alterations or omissions will change what was. And should it make you uncomfortable, don't reenact it! Make up your own plot they're toys for crying out loud!
On another note, I now wish they'd release some of those Western buildings in that screenshot. I'd love to have an inn and a barber for my townsfolk and what few soldiers I have.
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Hey Janilew.
I totally agree. The culture war is, as you said, exhausting, as it is non-stop and everywhere! And it's not just in the US, the same thing is afflicting Europe — albeit to a lesser extent, but they are quickly catching on ( it's a major US export )! The perverse thing, is that if people lie low and don't take a stand, they'll get stripped of their freedoms, little by little. For example, Playmobil used to sell the cavalry, and the confederates too! And it used to be O-kay. ...It's as if, as time goes on, our freedom to choose and to express ourselves, is shrinking! In a way, I posit that we are collectively less free today, than we were, say, 20 years ago ( let alone 40 years ago )! That can't be right.
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Hey Janilew.
I totally agree. The culture war is, as you said, exhausting, as it is non-stop and everywhere! And it's not just in the US, the same thing is afflicting Europe — albeit to a lesser extent, but they are quickly catching on ( it's a major US export )! The perverse thing, is that if people lie low and don't take a stand, they'll get stripped of their freedoms, little by little. For example, Playmobil used to sell the cavalry, and the confederates too! And it used to be Okay. ...It's as if, as time goes on, our freedom to choose and to express ourselves, is shrinking! In a way, I posit that we are collectively less free today, than we were, say, 20 years ago ( let alone 40 years ago )! That can't be right.
What a world, what a world. Political correctness is poisoning us all. That's why I wish I had the energy and supplies to just make my own Playmobil stuff (and toys in general) from scratch so I could bypass all this tomfoolery. It's just so funny how other countries, with their own culture and understanding of things, insist on picking up American sensibilities.
Oh, the audacity! >:(
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So how do you explain that Indians are still being sold?
As far as 'presence on the ground' of this theme, growing up, it depends not just when, but where, one grew up.
Nowadays, the western genre appears on kids and teens' radar, everywhere, mostly via video-games; many of which are best-sellers (!), like: Red Dead Redemption ( I & II ), Hunt: Showdown, or Call of Juarez ( I thru IV ). ...It's still there! The other instances, are western mixed with some other genre ( usually sci-fi or fantasy ), as mentioned, like The Mandalorian recently, for example. The archetypes of the gunslinger and of the frontier are still very much with us, still.
Also, for a boy, a 'fort' is a 'fort'. Ultimately, beyond fleeting trend-appeal, it doesn't very much matter which theme it's from,
I think that Western Sets linger on because someone at head office likes them, and there's a feeling that 'we've always done them'. If they were huge sellers there would presumably be a full blown range.
I agree that the Western genre probably hung around longer in Continental Europe than it did in the UK - but The Mandalorian is not aimed at children and all of the computer games you've listed at rated 18, and as such probably not being played by 6 year olds.
I agree that for a child, a fort is a fort, so why would they particularly want some very specifically designed cavalry?
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History happened, and no amount of alterations or omissions will change what was.
Actually, I'd posit that the people who are upset are the ones who don't want to know history, and the 'alterations' are removing the omissions.
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The fact that people buy the soldiers in bulk proves they sell. Any proper army building set will sell in droves to collectors... and it should not really bother them WHO buys them, right?
If they want to be politically correct, can't really sell anything but SOME recent things..
However, for me, while they promote a still existing sect shamelessly, they have no moral ground for anything. Nothing in all the assortment past or present (and I hope future, cause that would be a LONG way to fall) comes near it in any way.
I'll shut up now.
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Hi Oliver.
The Mandalorian or the video-games I mentioned may not be officially aimed at kids and teens, but you can be certain they are viewing and playing them nonetheless — especially The Mandalorian ( 'Star Wars', are you kidding? )! Ditto for Fortnite, incidentally, regarding guidance rating vs. who's actually playing them ( statistically ).
About the cavalry: it's part of the theme! Boys don't have to have it, and they certainly can do without, but I think it would be nice for them to get acquainted with who the proper dwellers of such forts were. It's part of the educational value. It also maintains the cohesiveness of the theme, should one add to it with other western sets. Also, as a parent, and a consumer, I should be able to make that choice. Selling the fort without the occupants is plain ridiculous, imo. Not least, because that very same fort used to be sold manned and furnished not that long ago ( + the molds already exist ).
As far as "western sets lingering because 'someone' at the head office likes them", that's pure conjecture — I'd even say fabrication. Let me guess, this hypothetical "someone at the head office" is not a Millenial? :lol: But, I digress... Note: there are maybe 10 or so more western sets available on the German Playmobil webstore right now ( search for 'indianer' ) than on the US one, and even more on the French webstore [ no surprise to me! ], and I believe it's because they're simply selling, in those markets. No conspiracy theory required. ...Rumors of the death of the western genre in popular culture have been greatly exaggerated, as I hope to have indicated. What is abundantly clear, however, is that a number of people wish it to be dead, for political reasons — and these folks would have no qualms denying the option to others, if they could.
(https://i.imgur.com/osdWHuW.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/dKXKZnC.jpg)
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The fact that people buy the soldiers in bulk proves they sell. Any proper army building set will sell in droves to collectors... and it should not really bother them WHO buys them, right?
I think that's an interesting theory - but assuming that the American Civil War Soldiers have been removed because of a fear of bad publicity (which I think it entirely possible) - then the question is do you risk tarnishing your whole brand to sell lots and lots of one set. I'll also say that I think people on here tend to imagine that adult collectors represent a much bigger part of their sales than they really do, which is why we're such a low priority.
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Hi Oliver.
The Mandalorian or the video-games I mentioned may not be officially aimed at kids and teens, but you can be certain they are viewing and playing them nonetheless — especially The Mandalorian ( 'Star Wars', are you kidding? )! Ditto for Fortnite, incidentally, regarding guidance rating vs. who's actually playing them ( statistically ).
About the cavalry: it's part of the theme! Boys don't have to have it, and they certainly can do without, but I think it would be nice for them to get acquainted with who the proper dwellers of such forts were. It's part of the educational value. It also maintains the cohesiveness of the theme, should one add to it with other western sets. Also, as a parent, and a consumer, I should be able to make that choice. Selling the fort without the occupants is plain ridiculous, imo. Not least, because that very same fort used to be sold manned and furnished not that long ago ( + the molds already exist ).
As far as "western sets lingering because 'someone' at the head office likes them", that's pure conjecture — I'd even say fabrication. Let me guess, this hypothetical "someone at the head office" is not a Millenial? :lol: But, I digress... Note: there are maybe 10 or so more western sets available on the German Playmobil webstore right now ( search for 'indianer' ) than on the US one, and even more on the French webstore [ no surprise to me! ], and I believe it's because they're simply selling, in those markets. No conspiracy theory required. ...Rumors of the death of the western genre in popular culture have been greatly exaggerated, as I hope to have indicated. What is abundantly clear, however, is that a number of people wish it to be dead, for political reasons — and these folks would have no qualms denying the option to others, if they could.
Fortnite is rated PG13. That is the same as The Sims 2 was. I would be perfectly happy with a child of any age playing a game like The Sims (well, as happy as I would be with any child playing with any computer game....). I can't imagine any circumstances under which I would buy a child a game called 'Red Dead Redemption' or 'Hunt: Showdown'. I'm not going to pretend to know whether Star Wars is popular with children, I'm the exact wrong generation to have had any interest in it - but I'd say that none of these examples are aimed at children, and small children are essentially Playmobils market now.
All historical themes from Playmobil have been a random pick and mix. None of them have produced a cohesive world, and have ignored less comfortable areas.
Any thoughts on why Playmobil Head Office makes its decisions are pure conjecture - it's a private company. But the fact that they're still selling 5249 and 5245 on the German Site just makes me think they have a pile of them left over, mostly because I bought 5249 about 5 years heavily reduced, and I think they have been on the constant sale rotation since then (and the use of real boxes indicates they were made for shops, rather than the DS side).
Lets look at an totally unpolitical theme - the modern mansion 5574 and associated sets. These have been constantly available and on-sale online, which indicates to me that it was a failure rather than a raving success.
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... they're still selling 5249 and 5245 on the German Site ...
They aren't – I wish they were. There's only the empty DS fort 6427, no doubt because they're looking at a pile of unsold stock.
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There are probably several reasons why Playmobil hasn't produced much in the way of Civil War army sets for awhile, but I'd say the main reason is that they've decided that their target market doesn't care. The entire brand has moved away from realistic history themes in the past few years. I'm still mourning the loss of the Victorians (and that was ages ago). We miss historical sets as adults, but Playmobil has never catered to the adult collector market.
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Fortnite is rated PG13. That is the same as The Sims 2 was. I would be perfectly happy with a child of any age playing a game like The Sims (well, as happy as I would be with any child playing with any computer game....). I can't imagine any circumstances under which I would buy a child a game called 'Red Dead Redemption' or 'Hunt: Showdown'. I'm not going to pretend to know whether Star Wars is popular with children, I'm the exact wrong generation to have had any interest in it - but I'd say that none of these examples are aimed at children, and small children are essentially Playmobils market now.
All historical themes from Playmobil have been a random pick and mix. None of them have produced a cohesive world, and have ignored less comfortable areas.
Any thoughts on why Playmobil Head Office makes its decisions are pure conjecture - it's a private company. But the fact that they're still selling 5249 and 5245 on the German Site just makes me think they have a pile of them left over, mostly because I bought 5249 about 5 years heavily reduced, and I think they have been on the constant sale rotation since then (and the use of real boxes indicates they were made for shops, rather than the DS side).
Lets look at an totally unpolitical theme - the modern mansion 5574 and associated sets. These have been constantly available and on-sale online, which indicates to me that it was a failure rather than a raving success.
If kids weren't aware of Star Wars: The Mandalorian — a space western, if ever there as one —, Disney would not be licensing action-figures and whatnot ( including LEGO sets ), sold in the toy-isle at Walmart, in the US, including obviously kid-oriented plush toys and Halloween costumes for kids! It's one of, if not the, most popular show on Disney+ right now.
Regarding Fortnite, I can attest from personal experience that it is very popular with tweens ( ages 9 to 12 ), and even younger ( for example, primary school kids where I live all know the little Fortnite victory dances; so they are all aware of it, if not playing it ). That's well within Playmobil's principal target age bracket, btw ( note: age 9, according to developmental research, being the peak age for worldplay ). That's despite the fact that the official age recommendation for Fortnite is 'Teen' ( PG-13 ) in the US, and PEGI 12 in Europe, as you pointed out.
My point about Fortnite being that the same dynamic likely applies to the popular western video-games I mentioned, regarding official parental guidance rating vs. who's actually playing them. Also, specifying a permissible age group, like "Teen", has a perverse way of making the adjacent, younger demographic want to get their hands on it! That's just human nature.
As far as the western comics I mentioned, which are still doing well in continental Europe, 3 of them are aimed at a younger audience ( kids and tweens ): Yakari ( Indians ), The Bluecoats ( ACW ), and Lucky Luke ( Wild West ). The overall point being that kids and tweens are definitely aware of the western genre — and archetypes —, as a play theme, and it's not going away ( kind of like... History! :lol: ).
As far as historical Playmobil set 'coherence', the sometimes magnificent period dioramas that can be made in, say, the medieval period, or the western era, indicate that they are very coherent — by which I meant homogeneous to the overall period ( as opposed to heterogeneous, as in 'not belonging there' ). The period sets don't come all at once, though, but if you are patient and/or go to the second-hand market, you can indeed create nice historical reconstructions ( as seen in this forum, for ex ). That's why selling the fort without the cavalry is in my view a dismal shame, as well as a missed opportunity for those interested ( kids and adults ) in putting together a more complete and verisimilar western 'little world'.
(https://i.imgur.com/HMQMEG7.jpg)
The Mandalorian kid's costume
( available from size 3 = age 2 to 3, on up! )
[ rifle and gun sold separately ]
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There are probably several reasons why Playmobil hasn't produced much in the way of Civil War army sets for awhile, but I'd say the main reason is that they've decided that their target market doesn't care. The entire brand has moved away from realistic history themes in the past few years. I'm still mourning the loss of the Victorians (and that was ages ago). We miss historical sets as adults, but Playmobil has never catered to the adult collector market.
Hi Ismene. Theme appeal is cyclical. One time it's Victorian, then Western, then back to Greek Mythology ( coming right-up in 2021! ), etc. People get bored quickly, but history is finite. Sometimes, all it takes is an unexpected hit, often a twist on an old theme, like Harry Potter or Percy Jackson, and all of the sudden, what was once considered 'passé', or boring, becomes cool again.
Regarding the western theme ( civil war or not ), specifically, from what I gathered, there has definitely been a deliberate suppression of at least some of the sets ( or parts thereof ) in recent years, for political reasons, irrespective of debatable appeal. That's what I find objectionable.
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Hi Ismene. Theme appeal is cyclical. One time it's Victorian, then Western, then back to Greek Mythology ( coming right-up in 2021! ), etc. People get bored quickly, but history is finite. Sometimes, all it takes is an unexpected hit, often a twist on an old theme, like Harry Potter or Percy Jackson, and all of the sudden, what was once considered 'passé', or boring, becomes cool again.
Theme appeal might be cyclical, but Playmobil isn't; and frankly their business strategy has seemed erratic since they lost the old leadership. Plus they've never been on the ball with trends. If they make a theme for a trend, they release it five years too late. We're not talking L*go here.
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Theme appeal might be cyclical, but Playmobil isn't; and frankly their business strategy has seemed erratic since they lost the old leadership. Plus they've never been on the ball with trends. If they make a theme for a trend, they release it five years too late. We're not talking L*go here.
I can't speak about recent changes in Geobra's management, as I haven't been following its evolution over the years ( though I have definitely gotten an unpleasant whiff of political correctness, of late ). However, I think Playmobil not following trends, for the most part, is a good thing, and contributes to making them a reliable, if conservative, value.
Regarding trends, the thing is, from a kid's perspective, the world is new — because he or she was essentially born "yesterday"; which means that kids are capable of developing an interest, sometimes even a fascination, for literally anything you put in front of them ( Okay, maybe not math! :lol: Although... ) — if given the opportunity!!
For example, buy a 6 year old Victorian sets, and stories, and they'll make a world out of it. Back to the Western genre, there is nothing intrinsic about that theme that would make it unappealing to a kid ( especially to a boy ), given sufficient exposure. Heck, I recently got my 11 year old other nephew into Prince Valiant comics ( from the 1940s! ) — and he LOVES it! Prince Valiant is his new hero now. :lol: The Bluecoats ( ACW ), and Lucky Luke are up next ( among many other things; not just western, of course )!
Trend appeal is more something that is imposed from the outside — by marketers — so that manufacturers can keep selling different iterations, with sometimes very minor tweaks, of basically the same thing ( 'Got to amortize them molds! ☺). Ex: "Kids, forget about the Spy Team Commander truck ( which you got for Christmas merely 2 years ago ), ask for the NEW Galaxy Police truck instead!" ...Yet, 'a fort is a fort is a fort' or in this case 'an [armored] truck is a truck is a truck' — especially when it is THE EXACT SAME TRUCK, but with a different paint job! :lol: ...Sorry, Geobra, I don't care what my nephew says, I am not buying him the GP truck, in addition to the Spy Team one! ( ...But I might be amenable to getting him the cavalry, to go with the fort! ;) ).
Classic historical themes, though, besides their permanence ( meaning, for ex: Western sets will be good forever, ditto for classic medieval sets, but 'Novelmore', or even 'Ghostbusters', are ephemeral trends: there for 2-3 years, and then gone, or dead ), have the additional merit of opening an educational window into history; and that, can become a jumping off point for kids to want to read comics and books about the period, watch shows ( with Dad or Uncle! ), etc. ...Cultural enrichment.
Note: Compare Playmobil to Lego's overall strategy. The Thundercats-inspired 'Legends of Chima' theme lasted, what, 4 years? I believe the next sword and planet theme after that, 'Nexo Knights', lasted even less: 3 years!!! Meanwhile, consumers ( parents and kids ) are placed on a treadmill, trying to keep up with the latest trend. For example, little Tommy was delighted to get the Chima castle for his 7th birthday, but 2or 3 years later, his little brother, now 7, wants the Nexo Knight castle instead — even though they fulfill essentially the same purpose, play-wise! So the Chima sets are sold off, or simply forgotten. There is another phrase for 'trendiness': 'planned obsolescence'! ☺ Compare that to giving Tommy a classic medieval castle, and his brother a different set ( maybe even another castle if parents have the money ) also from the classic medieval line: this way, the world gets bigger, and siblings can speak the same 'language' — and maybe learn something about history, too! That's value.
(https://i.imgur.com/vrz8kvm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/gATbP1c.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ScUeupA.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/TTRORX3.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/87PSKpm.jpg)
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I can't speak about recent changes in Geobra's management, as I haven't been following its evolution over the years ( though I have definitely gotten an unpleasant whiff of political correctness, of late ). However, I think Playmobil not following trends is a good thing, and contributes to making them a reliable, if conservative, value.
Regarding trends, the thing is, from a kid's perspective, the world is new, because he or she was essentially born "yesterday"; which means that kids are capable of developing an interest, sometimes even a fascination, for literally anything you put in front of them ( Okay, maybe not math! :lol: Although... ) — if given the opportunity!!
For example, buy a 6 year old Victorian sets, and stories, and they'll make a world out of it. To come back to the Western genre, there is nothing intrinsic about that theme that would make it unappealing to a kid ( especially to a boy ), given sufficient exposure. Heck, I recently got my 11 year old other nephew into Prince Valiant comics ( from the 40s! ) — and he LOVES it! Prince Valiant is his new hero now. :lol: The Bluecoats ( ACW ), and Lucky Luke are coming up next ( among many other things; not just western, of course )!
The trend thing is more something that is imposed from the outside — by marketers — so that manufacturers can keep selling different iterations, with sometimes very minor tweaks, of basically the same thing ( 'Got to amortize them molds! ☺). Ex: "Kids, forget about the Spy Team Commander truck ( which you got for Christmas merely 2 years ago ), ask for the NEW Galaxy Police truck instead!" ...Yet, 'a fort is a fort is a fort' or in this case 'an [armored] truck is a truck is a truck' — especially when it is THE EXACT SAME TRUCK! :lol: ...Sorry, Geobra, I don't care what my nephew says, I am not buying him the GP truck, in addition to the Spy Team one! ( ...But I might be amenable to getting him the cavalry, to go with the fort! ;) ).
Funny, I first found out about Prince Valiant through Alex from Super 4, particularly how he follows the same tropes as Valiant.
And I whole-heartedly agree with you! Kids aren't affected by trends like older people are unless they are convinced/made to. Otherwise, you can show them something from 50 years ago, and they could still show just as much interest as the kids from back then. That's why I try to show kids less mainstream stuff like Disney and the like, and encourage more original ideas and play. Or at the very least more obscure ones. I remember when I showed one of my younger cousins non-Disney based fairytale books and they'd ask, "where's (insert character here)?"
Siiiiiigh :'(
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That's why I try to show kids less mainstream stuff like Disney and the like, and encourage more original ideas and play.
That's my policy too! In fact, I am so fed-up with compulsory politically-correct — aka. "woke" — messaging ( indoctrination ), these days, that I have recently decided to not buy my nephews any media content ( fiction books, comics, and shows ) produced past 1990 — with few, curated exceptions ( like Harry Potter )! Also, there is more than enough outstanding works produced up until the cutoff, to last a kid's childhood + adolescence. ...Strictly classics it will be from here on ( from me, anyway )! Like you, I also think it's nice to expose kids to things that are now out of the mainstream / non-trendy. It gives them a 'differential advantage'. Ex: Before Prince Valiant, I got one nephew into Tintin comics. He absolutely LOVED them, and got all his school friends into them!
In a way, non-trendiness is part of what makes Playmobil special. For the most part, they march to the beat of their own drum. Could it be that this is precisely where the value lies?
P.S. I discovered Prince Valiant fairly recently too, and I was floored at the quality of the illustrations and storytelling. Hal Foster absolutely nailed it, in terms of providing a source of inspiring, traditional, male role-modeling to boys. Note: Prince Valiant was also a major source of inspiration in Lou Scheimer's ( Filmation's founder ) rendition of He-Man. It was his favorite comic growing up, according to his biography.
(https://i.imgur.com/jQqefyJ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/C5stcoI.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/oZ2mlUe.jpg)
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Ahhh Tin Tin. I've never anything other than that 2011 movie, which was really good! When I have kids, I'm keeping mainstream to a minimum. I want them to enjoy making their own stories in addition to loving those of others.
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Playmobil used to beat to its own drum, but that's declining with its sudden surge of licensed sets and named characters. Much like L*go actually, the sets used to be more open-ended.
As for today's children, I can't seem to garner any interest for sets that aren't animals. My niece is fine poking my Victorians and knights, but she won't take them home (she did want an Alpine cow though - I felt bad for saying no, but that was my cow). Last week she left a L*go Neville Longbottom on the coffee table that my father bought for her because she was done with it (and she loves Harry Potter, but you know, it's not a dragon). I haven't dared to buy her any large buildings because that too will end up here with me.
My youngest cousin is the same way. If it's not an animal, why does it even exist? :lol:
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As for today's children, I can't seem to garner any interest for sets that aren't animals. My niece is fine poking my Victorians and knights, but she won't take them home. . . .
...How about fairies? That's open-ended and blends well with the princess' castle.
Note: I thought the Playmobil Easter bunnies theme was great! I wish they had continued the trend and came up with dog-headed klickies, teddy-bear headed klickies, skunk-headed klickies, etc. ...Basically, Playmobil's answer to Calico critters — which area adorable!
(https://i.imgur.com/e6whr60.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/08rSL9j.png)
Calico Critters
(https://i.imgur.com/7rNoKsY.jpg)
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Okay. 1800, + or - roughly 70 years, for most of it ( i.e. majority of major armed conflicts between western settlers + Cavalry and Indians, commonly though of as 'Cowboys and Indians' in popular culture ). It is still 150 years ago, or so ( 6 generations ), for most of it! Well past the "DO NOT SELL UNTIL" period, imo.
I'm going to hold firm on my rejection of your dates. Yes, the conflict was mostly over by 1850...EAST of the Mississippi. West of the Mississippi the fighting went on until just into the twentieth century. Take a look at the wars listed here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Indian_Wars#West_of_the_Mississippi_(1811%E2%80%931924) - that's not a trivial amount of conflict. Sure, the demographics and technology meant by that point there was no hope of Indian victory, so the conflict was "over" in that sense, but the fighting was clearly still going on. "Ended just over a hundred years ago" - this is the case.
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My GREAT knowledge of the before, after and during the civil war is mostly from the North And South trilogy - the 3rd book goes into the west, against the indians, and is indeed AFTER the Civil war..
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I'm going to hold firm on my rejection of your dates. . . .
Macruran actually lives in the American West (were you also born there, Mac?) so we should heed his words because he is correct about the historical timeline. I would also suggest checking out the discussion raised by Macruran here: Karl May's influence on Playmobil (https://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=17261.msg311142#msg311142). I always noticed the mish-mash of American Indian cultures in Playmobil, so the Karl May idea makes a lot of sense to me.
I, myself, was born in Portland, Oregon many moons ago and lived there until young adult-hood. I wanted to weigh in on this thread partly to support what Macruran has been saying about the historical timeline and partly to correct the idea that the western theme doesn't appeal to girls. It does. At least to one girl who is now a senior citizen. ;)
I grew up watching all the western-themed TV shows of the day plus the syndicated re-reruns of older shows. I loved them and spent many hours in front of the TV soaking in Hollywood's idea of cowboys, indians, lawmen, outlaws, and soldiers of the 19th century American West. I also engaged in a lot of imaginary play with my own western-themed toys (twin six-guns in a holster, chaps, cowboy hat, bow & arrows with suction-cup tips, head-dresses with feathers, etc.) As a young teen I got to ride horses, visit family friends on farms with all the stereotypical farm animals, and I even got to do target shooting (pistol, rifle, and bow & arrow.)
There was a lot of material in those old westerns that one might consider to be offensive or insensitive today. In addition to the ways in which American Indians, Latinos, Asians, etc. were portrayed, the portrayal of women is also problematic as most of them seem to be sex workers. :( On the other hand, most of these shows promoted a sense of justice, honesty, and fair play as the bad guys always lost. When my kids were young, some of the first Playmobil I bought was to play some of the elements of the "Little House" books that were so much a part of my husband's childhood. When we read those books aloud to our young kids, we edited out the bad stuff, such as Ma Ingalls saying, "The only good indian is a dead indian." As the years went by we were able to use those negatives as "teachable moments" to show our kids the error in that kind of thinking. The deficiencies in Playmobil, or any other toy, can still be used as teachable moments by thoughtful adults to promote positive discussion with young children.
I do feel, though, that it's very reasonable for Playmobil to stop making Confederate soldiers and flags or people in chains. Even though the ACW ended over 150 years ago, it still resonates today in the US. Can anyone think of another example of the losing side of a war being allowed to fly their flag and raise statues to their generals? Ridiculous, IMHO. Most Germans would probably not take kindly to a Nazi-themed toy line either.
. . . . the thing is, from a kid's perspective, the world is new — because he or she was essentially born "yesterday"; which means that kids are capable of developing an interest, sometimes even a fascination, for literally anything you put in front of them . . . .
Which is exactly why we should be careful about what we do put in front of them. Adult collectors may enjoy making great armies and staging famous battle scenes, but that sort of thing is not good creative play for young children. I'd like to see less emphasis on conflict in Playmobil toys and more on day-to-day life. I'd also like to see less of the blue/pink division of the genders.
Note to JPSA: I also loved Prince Valiant as a kid, despite being a girl ;). I read it in the full-color Sunday funny papers every week. :)
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Okay. I will re-iterate my point, one final time, as this discussion is getting circular: Regardless of how some people — perhaps even a ( vocal! ) minority — personally feel about it, i think it should be up to consumers ( parents ) to decide, and talk to their children if they want to. What's next, take out the comics I mentioned too? ...The conflict was long enough ago, imo. Also, Cavalry + ACW sets used to be available up until fairly recently, and that was o-kay; they were partially suppressed for political reasons — because the political climate, in the US especially, has escalated to fever pitch in recent years, not because history has changed.
As I said, in many respects, we are less free and tolerant, today, in terms of freedom of choice and expression, than we were 20 or 30 years ago. That's the main wrong, here; and there will be no end to it, if we let it. ...First, they'll come for the Wild West sets, then it will be pirates ( Do I detect "toxic" masculinity? ☺ ), then it will be Romans & Egyptians, then, the Victorians ( corseted women? ...Horrible!!! ). Everything can be claimed to be offensive, these days... even existing, if you're the 'wrong' demographic ( metaphorically, of course, but will get there, I am sure )! ...Geobra ought to be careful, though, because one of these days, "cultural appropriation" charges will be levied against them ( a German toy manufacturer! ) — if it hasn't already —, and they'll be pressured to pull many, if not most, of their period sets ( including Indians! ), and quite a few others besides.
This is the flipside of wanting more diversity and political awareness and so forth in PM sets. The price for that is losing the distinct cultural sets that frankly made PM something special. Merry Men's Hideout? Too eurocentric - we'll not see its like again. Christmas is oppressive. History itself must be rewritten to conform with modern notions of what's right.
— Macruran
P.S. Kids don't look at the Indians as the 'bad guys', but as the antagonists in the pair 'Cowboy and Indians', much like black and whites in chess. Sometimes they play Indians, sometimes they play cowboys / cavalry. They are not passing moral judgment ( In fact, I claim they are learning to see conflict from opposite viewpoints, which is part of their moral education ). Adults sometimes do, though. In other words, kids playing cowboys and Indians is not going to make them racist, if that's what some people are worried about ( but it might turn them into a chip in the adults' ongoing political / culture [ translation: power! ] wargames — as usual ).
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As far as historical Playmobil set 'coherence', the sometimes magnificent period dioramas that can be made in, say, the medieval period, or the western era, indicate that they are very coherent — by which I meant homogeneous to the overall period ( as opposed to heterogeneous, as in 'not belonging there' )
Actually the medieval sets provide a very neat example of where Playmobil avoided something (presumably) because they deemed it controversial - namely the conspicuous lack of any religious figures until the late 1990s when a couple of monks appear - well after the rest of the civilian knights theme was long gone.
Did they think that children weren't interested in playing with a church? Did they think that the confessional divide in Germany made it a problem? Did they think that parents would consider religious figures offensive? Were they worried about people who felt being Catholic was somehow 'unGerman' ? I have no idea, but I don't believe it's a coincidence that they ignored the church when they made those sets.
As I said, in many respects, we are less free and tolerant, today, in terms of freedom of choice and expression, than we were 20 or 30 years ago.
There is no meaningful way which people have less freedom of choice or expression than in the past - the fact that opinions have changed, or that people who have traditionally been ignored are able to have a voice is not an erosion of freedom. I'd also say it's particularly curious to complain about 'indoctrination' and then attempt to control a child's access to media to ensure that his worldview aligns with your own, but such is human nature.
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I think that's a good point Oliver, about the lack of religious elements in PM.
As a toy manufacturer, geobra can't please everyone all the time. Some themes are complete no-go areas; Nazis, adult themes, jihadists, etc. But there are potential minefields everywhere. Let's make a church. Should it have a confession box? Let's make an American historical set. ACW? Slaves? Suppression of Native Americans? Cavalry with blue uniforms reminiscent of the civil war "winners" ?
As I see it, geobra are wise to steer clear of anything which reminds people of the current divisions in their society. The polarisation of politics (and not just in the US) makes divisions even more pronounced at the moment. And Covid isn't helping people feel calm.
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As I said, in many respects, we are less free and tolerant, today, in terms of freedom of choice and expression, than we were 20 or 30 years ago.
Completely agree.
Did they think that parents would consider religious figures offensive?
I do. Even if I am not a parent. And promoting extremely violent stories as being fit for children, and making it look like a good thing... well.. that was a shock to me. Though I believe THAT particular one may have changed recently. I hope.
I hate it that they keep coming up with MORE of those. Then again, with their turn to either pink or fight, those sets ARE about the only civilians we get, so.. well. We DO need them.
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...How about fairies? That's open-ended and blends well with the princess' castle.
Oh no, she doesn't want fairies. She may have a princess or two, but they haven't seen the light of day for awhile (possibly years). I haven't shown her the rabbit people because I suspect she'd assume they were demon-possessed. She likes viciously attacking my exclusive historical klickies with large animals, but by-and-large the human klickies are accessories.
I'm also in the American West, southwest actually. My state wasn't that important in the Civil War because it wasn't a state. I agree with Macruran that the Wild West lasted into the 20th century.
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Some themes are complete no-go areas; [...] jihadists
Ahem ^-^
https://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showinv.pl?set=7461
https://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showinv.pl?set=7462
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On the larger topic of controversial etc. sets, I decided some time ago to just start letting that stuff go and concentrate on sets that I like. By the same token, I'm not a fan of any of the licensed stuff, but many enjoy them, and I have nothing positive to say about them, so I just let them pass (for the most part, sometimes I let slip some criticism). I reckon I'll do more good by promoting those things I do like - currently that means Greek mythological sets! :roman:
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Ahem ^-^
https://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showinv.pl?set=7461
https://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showinv.pl?set=7462
Yes, indeed. If you want extremists of a certain flavour, you can probably find them!
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I agree with Oliver, that the popularity of the Western in all its forms waned a lot in the past fifty years, so it makes commercial sense to focus on other, more popular themes. I am 44 years old and as a child cowboys were still quite popular in the form of toys, fancy dress costumes and so on, and we had plenty of re-runs like Rin Tin Tin, F Troop etc, as well as all the John Wayne films. Then the genre fell out of favour with children. So I understand that point.
(Then again, if we’re being honest, how many movies and shows with knights were popular in the past 30 years, with recent exceptions like GoT? And yet, PM still kept producing castles and whatnot.)
I appreciate that modern political sentiments are different compared to 40-50 years ago, and I thought it clever how they went about spinning the Western theme from four of five years ago for modern, ‘woke’ audiences, but it’s a pity that - for whatever reason - many of these sets have been discontinued. The forts and soldier designs from the 1990s especially are among my favourites. I have a ton of them, and I also use the forts in my Romans dioramas.
But what can you do, at the end of the day? Very little, I’m afraid.
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Of the (very) recent Westerns, I liked this one very much:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5478478/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_6
And this one of course, but a different kind of 'Western':
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1663202/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
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