Novelties 2016

[Ismene]

My father was 30 years older than my stepmother when they married (he was 60 and she was 30) and they were happily married for just short of 30 years.  Cleopatra seems to have been 20 or 21 when she met Julius Caesar,  so it's certainly not a child/adult relationship.  It's not age difference that matters as such, but absolute ages.  If people can't get hold of that, then they really do have problems.   Also, when we read of marriages between 14 and 15 year olds in the past, these were often marriages in legal terms but not in physical terms until the two were older.

What are we to draw from the fact that Cleopatra was married to her brother, btw?

Once you're an adult and capable of making informed decisions, age difference is not anyone else's concern. I think what Klickteryx was getting at is that children are not necessarily sophisticated enough to understand that an age gap at 14 is a very different thing than an age gap at 21. Plus, it's a weird factoid to drop if we are going to pass Cleopatra and Caesar off as "just friends." But yeah, Cleopatra's life is a bundle of events that made sense in her time and culture but don't necessarily transfer well into the modern world (marrying a brother, committing suicide).

I don't mind repeats in the Egyptian and Roman themes because it has been a few years and there's a new batch of children who are now old enough for Playmobil and unless they slow down the turnover of sets, it's not feasible to have everything be completely new. Plus having some historical sets means they haven't drop the idea altogether. I like the new Cleopatra figure, though she's another one of those that can't sit down! She does, however, appear to have sensible shoes. I adore the other Egyptian lady (in the back, by the palm tree).

[playmofire]

Interesting that they highlight the age difference between Caesar and Cleopatra. Do children really need to know that Caesar was 31 years older? I think it's interesting, but it could send a wrong message to children that age differences don't matter.

Once you're an adult and capable of making informed decisions, age difference is not anyone else's concern. I think what Klickteryx was getting at is that children are not necessarily sophisticated enough to understand that an age gap at 14 is a very different thing than an age gap at 21. Plus, it's a weird factoid to drop if we are going to pass Cleopatra and Caesar off as "just friends."

It is not just the age difference which needs considering in relationships but also the nature of the relationship and there does seem to be a view developing in the world that "young + old = bad", without considering what that relationship is.   

I am 72 and my great niece is five and a half and when I am out with her and her parents we sometimes get separated from them in a shop or crowded street and I find that I am very cautious in my physical contact with my great niece.  She is confident for her age and likes to walk without always holding hands when she is out, so what do I do if I try to take her hand and she pulls away and says, "No, I don't want to hold your hand, I can walk by myself"?  Do I try again to take her hand and have her say "No" again and maybe find myself surrounded by an angry crowd? 

We have friends who find it very difficult at times with one of their grandchildren who will kick and scream and shout if he doesn't want to get in the car to go home when they do, and they, too, have concerns about what might happen in these circumstances. 

Recently, a taxi driver who had a contract with the education authority to take children to and from school who live a long way from school and with no bus service was suspended for 10 days while a complaint against him was investigated.  The complaint was made by a member of the public who had seen him kissing and hugging two young girls when he dropped them off at school - the children, it turned out, were his own!

Yes, children need to be educated about the importance of age difference but also about the fact that it isn't the age difference itself which is important, but also the nature of the relationship, and - sadly - they need to know this well before they are 14.

And, maybe, it is the nature of the relationship which is more important than the age difference.

[Klickteryx]

Once you're an adult and capable of making informed decisions, age difference is not anyone else's concern. I think what Klickteryx was getting at is that children are not necessarily sophisticated enough to understand that an age gap at 14 is a very different thing than an age gap at 21.

That is what I meant, I may be being paranoid, but I was thinking that children don't need to think that an adult who is 20, 30 years older than themselves is okay because that's the age difference between two of their toys.
I preferred the subtle way they did things like the first Cleopatra coming with a snake. Children don't need to know that she killed herself and that fact wasn't mentioned, but the snake was there as a bit of dark humour.

I agree that so long as you're both of age then age doesn't matter.

I mean most of us here come from western countries with a christian background yet even things like age of consent can vary. Anyway, enough of that, I look forward to getting these two figures when they're available.

[Ismene]

playmofire, I was only thinking of romantic/sexual relationships. Naturally, there will be large age gaps in familial relationships.


The cruise ship looks a lot like they were cutting corners to save productions costs. Can you imagine how expensive a larger, more realistic ship would be?

[playmofire]

That is what I meant, I may be being paranoid, but I was thinking that children don't need to think that an adult who is 20, 30 years older than themselves is okay because that's the age difference between two of their toys.
I preferred the subtle way they did things like the first Cleopatra coming with a snake. Children don't need to know that she killed herself and that fact wasn't mentioned, but the snake was there as a bit of dark humour.

I agree that so long as you're both of age then age doesn't matter.

I mean most of us here come from western countries with a christian background yet even things like age of consent can vary. Anyway, enough of that, I look forward to getting these two figures when they're available.

I understand what you are saying.  I think we are maybe all a bit paranoid in this area now in the light of some recent events.

[playmofire]

playmofire, I was only thinking of romantic/sexual relationships. Naturally, there will be large age gaps in familial relationships.

Quite, but, sadly, there can also be inappropriate romantic/sexual relationships in family situations.  Evidence suggests that children are more at risk in these matters from family members or family friends than from strangers, although the internet may be changing that nowadays.

[Junker Jörg]

Wenn ich mal kurz zum Thema 'Neuheiten 2016' zurückkommen dürfte...  - if I just may return to the tread's topic...

Die Messefiguren, ein Present für die Gäste auf dem Spielwarenmessestand. This year's gift to those visiting Playmobil at Nuremberg Toy fair.

jj:

[Tiermann]

Thanks JJ, that's a good look at the new scutum shield. Note it has no center boss and a more adaptable handle.

I just posted my blog post with all the new animals from 2016, including a surprising number of part numbers already thanks to Heather at PlaymoDB. Blog link in my signature.

Oh and back off topic - JJ that custom ice queen in the background is gorgeous 

[Klickteryx]

Why is there is no centre boss? 

So they move the handle at the suggestion of a clever fan but then make the shield flat instead of keeping the look of the existing one.
Sometimes I feel I'm living in one of those dreams where you're trying to do something fast but everything you do is slow and you get nowhere.

One step back for everyone forward?

The boss is an integral part of the shield, it's what protects the hand in a centre-grip shield. I didn't notice it before in the catalogue, probably because it's not my main theme but it is obvious now I go back and look at the images.

[Erik]

Why is there is no centre boss? 

Didn't notice this, darn!!!!!!!!!!