Seibertron wrote:The originals are an item I can't afford so I've somehow rationalized it that it's OK for me to buy these. They are currently my favorite guilty pleasure in the world of Transformers toys.
I'm personally morally torn about knock offs and 3rd party products. Some days I wish I didn't have any 3rd party products. I am morally torn on this issue. I'm being a hypocrite. It sucks.
I'm just floored when I read posts like this.
I'm sorry, but I find this argument to be absolutely ridiculous for one reason:
They're toys.
This is not reverse engineering a computer and selling it's secrets to the highest bidder, or some other form of corporate espionage that could destroy careers and lives.
This is a bunch of toys that a few crafty individuals decided to copy. It's not the end of the world. You're not killing puppies or mowing down kittens or killing someone. These are toys. Toys that are no longer manufactured, and according to the people running the show, their molds are destroyed and no longer exist. (I.E. we're not gonna make 'em)
People have so much remorse for buying these things (or claim they do) and go on and on about it, but they wouldn't think twice about the person they just flipped off, a harsh word said to a spouse, or stealing a coworker's credit for a promotion, but this? People are tearing themselves apart over some bootlegged toys that are 20+ years old?
You've got to be kidding me. It's great to have a conscience and all, but if buying some bootleg toys makes you this miserable, that's absolutely ridiculous and it's time for you take a step back and say "Okay. I've really crossed a line. And that line's starting to blur... I think I'm losing grip with reality."
Is intellectual property important? Sure.
Is Hasbro or TakaraTomy doing anything about? Don't know, but it seems to be no.
If Hasbro or TakaraTomy aren't knocking at your door and yelling at you for it, then I think it's pretty safe to say that buying these bootlegs is not going to bring about the end of the world.
If my collecting brought me this much misery and second guessing, I'd stop collecting. I'd also go seek help because I'd need a doctor who would laugh at me and say "THEY'RE TOYS! FOR PETE'S SAKE, YOU'RE RIPPING YOUR GUTS OUT OVER TOYS! SNAP THE HELL OUT OF IT!"
And they'd be right.
It's amazing to me how much pain this topic causes and how ridiculous it really is.
I think I'd have to blow my brains out if it got to me this bad. Seriously.
tigertracks 24 wrote:I have very fine versions of all of those as well, so STAY THE HELL away from them too HASBRO and TT!
I'm sorry, but mentalities like this are only adding to the problem. It's just flat out selfish and wrong. Why? I'll tell you why.
1.) Hasbro and TakaraTomy read things like this and see people complain and they add that to their list of reasons why they shouldn't make new reissues that people clamor for.
2.) Your minty original will still be worth more than the reissue, and people will be able to differentiate between the two. The value will remain the same.
3.) This is hobby meant to be for fun, not profit. If you're worried about them losing value, go play in the stock market, don't collect toys. Toys are meant to be enjoyed and spent on, not an investment.
4.) It's been long enough. People have wanted these rare toys since their youth and it shouldn't have to cost them an arm and a leg to reclaim a piece of their youth, or get to enjoy it for the first time, ever. There is no good reason why the reissues should be vilified.
This is exactly where the bootleggers and knock off makers come in. They see people with the originals say "Oh Hasbro! Please don't devalue my collectible! Please don't!" and they see empty spaces that the companies could fill, but don't, so these 3rd party people step up and fill the void, and do so nicely.
And they make it affordable too. Everyone should be allowed to have a piece of the action, not just a select few who have more dollars than sense. If there wasn't a market for these, they wouldn't be made.
There is no one to blame for this except us. The collectors and fans. We asked, someone answered.
And we should ask, and I'm glad they answered.
This entire argument is ridiculous. They're toys. What the hell are you people going to do when a real life problem rears it's ugly head?
I mean seriously, this is ridiculous.
NOTE: Realize that I am not a perfect Christian, nor do I profess to be. I apologize if anyone's ever offended by me, I'm not perfect. Don't hold my posts and opinions against other Christians.