Monday, December 03, 2007


OK, maybe I'm just being paranoid, and I really don't know what to make of this, but something stuck in my craw recently and I'd like to know your opinion.

I was at a discount department store strolling around waiting for someone who was in the fitting room. Something on a shelf caught my eye-- I saw a bag of dog chew toys that had a stranger-than-usual item represented therein. Now, I've seen all sorts of non-sequitir subjects represented in chew toys, but I'm baffled that someone thought to make a box-cutter dog chew-toy.

I bought it so I could snap a photo and return the damned thing - chew toys don't even merit a sniff with my dog. I just wonder if someone thought they were being cute by making and marketing a toy in the form of something that has enormous recently-historical cultural significance here. I'm not saying I think people who produce box cutters have anything to feel bad about, or anything, just that I think a toy rendered of same is more insensitive than, oh, say, naming a teddy bear Mahatma or somesuch. I mean, it's not as though one would let their dog chew on an actual cutting tool of any sort, right?

Intent is irrelevant. I'm baffled, but I'm not generally an easily-offended person. I really don't know what to think-- what do you think?

17 comments:

Christina RN LMT said...

I've never seen such a thing.
It seems totally bizarre. Are you sure it's supposed to be in there? It's not some odd prank? Why the hell would anyone manufacture a box-cutter chew toy? Are dogs prone to chewing on them? Wouldn't they get hurt?
Very, very strange.
I don't know about being offended by it, though.

Anonymous said...

Damn, what an odd thing to sell for our pets! Who would even buy such a thing? I think someone hit the dope and this is the result. What is going on in peoples head?

Strange!

B said...

That's what happens when we leave it up to the Chinese to make fucking EVERYTHING. Lost in translation, indeed.
Is that a ying-yang ball in with the assorted lot?

Just Another Old Geezer said...

The chinamen make 'em and box 'em. The importer probably doesn't even know what's in the bag. The store buyer should know but all they're concerned with is markup. I do believe you should make your objections known to the store manager when you return it. And if I see one at my local wallymart on the next visit I will make my objections known.

DBA Dude said...

I am not offended but do find this seriously weird.

Oh and now I know what a box cutter is, tend to call them Stanley knives over here.

BTW entering "box cutter dog chews" into Google brings this post in at number two - fame or what?

fuzzbert_1999@yahoo.com said...

I don't know what it is, but it bothers me too. On the one hand it something a dog shouldn't chew on anyway, and on the other it still has 9-11 connotations for me.

Bottom line, it's a stupid idea.

none said...

Chinese dog toy manufacturers have no cultural reference. I wouldn't be surprised if they had a world trade center chew toy.

My dog does not give those things a second glance either.

Buck said...

I agree with DBA Dude: No offense, but seriously weird. And "weird" is understating the case.

FatQuarterQuiltFarm said...

wow. strange toy indeed. what's next I wonder.....? chewy rubber needle and syringe?????food processor blade??????? I'm guessin its the over exposure to lead in the work environments(design studios).......stop licking your desktop toys!!!

DAMN said...

Send this entry to DRUDGE!

SpeakerTweaker said...

Uhhh... WTF?!?

I mean, let alone a squeaky box cutter, but why's it in a package with a tug-o-rope and a tennis ball?

Which one of these things is not like the other? Sheesh.



tweaker

NotClauswitz said...

It's Chinese and in some local Asian locations, dog is for dinner. The tug-o-rope is to capture playful strays.

J.R.Shirley said...

That is odd.

Mauser*Girl said...

I know this is pathetic, but when I saw this, two things came to mind before I stopped to consider the absolute weirdness of this.

1) That is the cutest box cutter I have ever seen, and if they made a working real box cutter that looked like this, I may need to buy one. Just because I like weird stuff like this.

2) If it weren't for the box cutter blade, this would look an awful lot like a penis with eyes. Now *that* is a creepy thought right there.

Then I thought about the whole box cutter as a chew toy conundrum and I came to the conclusion that it's not really THAT weird, especially considering the other kinds of toys available to us at, say, the pet stores.

There are canvas chew toys in human shapes labeled "Mail Man" and "Vet". Certainly, most of us are spending our time trying to KEEP our dogs from chewing on the real thing? (Or even barking at them.)

There are flying squirrels, chirping birds, cats, and all sorts of other plush creatures. They're adorable, yes, but most dog owners spend lots of time trying to keep their dog from chasing / lunging at / barking at / killing those little critters if they see them in the great outdoors.

Then there are the plastic chew toys where weird knows no boundaries. The tire on a rope. A set of keys. All sorts of weirdness. I don't think the box cutter is any stranger than those.

But... I do think nobody should buy any dog toys with PAINT of any kind on them - unless they're guaranteed not to be made in China. They've done too many tests and found led paint on most Chinese-made dog toys.

SoHoS said...

Its a Mr. Potato head box cutter chew toy...weirdness

Rabbit said...

My Fox Terror would have the little rubber eyes pulled off that thing in about 10 seconds, followed by the squeaker. I have enough problems with her chewing up other stuff around the house without her getting into cutting implements, fake or real. Because of her, I've had to buy two new cellphone chargers in the last month because she's eaten the plugs off the cord.

Idjit Chinee.

Regards,
Rabbit.

FHB said...

Can you imagine the conversation at the meeting where they came up with this, comewhere in China? Jeeze.