17 least appropiate PM sets for kids?

[Andy R]

The computers at my work read “Topless” in the site name, and blocked it. That’s what was “NSFW.”
Kind of my bad guys. (Kinda not…)
But anyways (I’m home now so I can see it), they have a good point…

“Hey, at least it can double as the Playmobil TARDIS…”

[AndrewL]

Hi All,

Back with the 'beer on the construction site' theme, is it worth pointing out that the set noted on the '17 Least appropriate sets...' is quite old? There are several construction-theme sets in the Playmobil.de product archive from the 1970s that include cases of (what was probably meant to represent) beer, such as:

http://www.playmobil.de/on/demandware.store/Sites-DE-Site/de_DE/Product-Show?pid=3112-A&cgid=1974

http://www.playmobil.de/on/demandware.store/Sites-DE-Site/de_DE/Product-Show?pid=3202-A&cgid=1974

http://www.playmobil.de/on/demandware.store/Sites-DE-Site/de_DE/Product-Show?pid=3207-A&cgid=1976

http://www.playmobil.de/on/demandware.store/Sites-DE-Site/de_DE/Product-Show?pid=3400-A&cgid=1976 (this is the one shown in the '17 least appropriate...' list, I think)

Note the dates of these sets. I can't speak from personal experience, but I would not be terribly surprised if having a case of beer around on a construction site was acceptable in Germany (and perhaps elsewhere) in the 1970s. Doing so is not (in my opinion) a good idea, but if it was common and acceptable at the time, Playmobil -- in their desire to reflect accurately the real world of the times -- chose to include the cases of beer on the grounds of realism. Times and perceptions of what is acceptable change. So do health and safety regulations.

My own childhood memories include the campaigns by MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) in the late 1970s and into the 1980s. It took considerable efforts on the part of many people to change the (widespread but not universal) attitude that it was reasonable and acceptable to have a few drinks and then drive yourself (and companions) home. Now, that idea is, I think, almost universally unacceptable; so, too, the idea that having a beer while on a construction site is OK.

Back to the Playmobil product archive, even a couple of years later, the cases of beer are absent from some construction-theme sets:

http://www.playmobil.de/on/demandware.store/Sites-DE-Site/de_DE/Product-Show?pid=3239-A&cgid=1978

http://www.playmobil.de/on/demandware.store/Sites-DE-Site/de_DE/Product-Show?pid=3472-A&cgid=1979

http://www.playmobil.de/on/demandware.store/Sites-DE-Site/de_DE/Product-Show?pid=3508-A&cgid=1980

http://www.playmobil.de/on/demandware.store/Sites-DE-Site/de_DE/Product-Show?pid=3474-A&cgid=1981

But still there in others:

 http://www.playmobil.de/on/demandware.store/Sites-DE-Site/de_DE/Product-Show?pid=3690-A&cgid=1979

http://www.playmobil.de/on/demandware.store/Sites-DE-Site/de_DE/Product-Show?pid=3492-A&cgid=1980

http://www.playmobil.de/on/demandware.store/Sites-DE-Site/de_DE/Product-Show?pid=3562-A&cgid=1982

http://www.playmobil.de/on/demandware.store/Sites-DE-Site/de_DE/Product-Show?pid=3745-A&cgid=1987

Anyway, my point is that it's worth considering the social context in which the sets were originally released.

And for the record, I don't think drinking on the job is OK!

Cheers,

AndrewL

[Andy R]

Note the dates of these sets. I can't speak from personal experience, but I would not be terribly surprised if having a case of beer around on a construction site was acceptable in Germany (and perhaps elsewhere) in the 1970s.

Actually, it was ok up until the 199Ø’s (at least in California) except in road construction. That only lasted until the mid-‘8Ø’s (due to changes in attitudes towards driving drunk).

[tonguello]

I keep coming back to this thread just for the laughs! 

[bonniebeth]

I know, I love it!

[tonguello]

number 10 is hilarious to me... maybe because I work in construction and I know this is so true 
and that is a first world situatuion... imagine a third world one 

"Continuing the unbreakable union of construction workers and the need to explosively defecate" that line cracks me up-
 
sorry to bring it up again 

[Rhalius]

A great list, although it could have been even longer. 

Like the dentist for example, who else but playmobil would release a dentist to play with? 
Now that would be a clickie you need an executioner for, right after you get back from the dentist.

The dancing bear doesnt seem to be on the list, I believe they released a dancing bear twice though.

But if you truly think about those construction sets, it does seem to follow up nicely.
First the construction workers get lots of beer, and in later sets there are toilets everywhere. Kind of like playmobil is telling a story there. 

[rms008]

my grandma thinks like that. come on people its rubbish talking from those websites. in that case children shouldnt watch transformers cos its about robot wars, power rangers cos its always about killing the enemy with special weapons and fighting, jackie chan hes always fighting even if comedy so children cant watch, karate kid  no its fighting again, simpsons family guy american dad cleveland show its cartoons for adults only than, sound of music movie its about the war period so no kids you cant see that too. harry potter wow thats to scary for children to. sory if i mention this but being fro malta i cant not do it-- the bible  children thats a story for adults too cos poeple die or kill or crusify orwhat ever..... why dont we close the kids in a house with fot toy  and leave them there. playmobil products are made on real life images which kid s will see out side the street and by playing with such situation toys they learn what life is like out there and they learn to go with the flow hehehehehehe

[Giorginetto]

First the construction workers get lots of beer, and in later sets there are toilets everywhere. Kind of like playmobil is telling a story there. 

This thread is hilarious .. it seems also there is a lot of talk reference playmo toilets modern and medieval ones these days... hilarious .....

[Rhalius]

I bet lego people look with envy at these toilets, they never had any. Probably why many of them are not smiling anymore in recent years while all clickies still smile.