Hoax Museum Archives
Hoax Museum Hall of Fame
|
‘Who Wants To Die’ Talking Elmo
Status: Either a prank or a manufacturing defect
When Angela Bolls bought an interactive Elmo book for her young daughter, Miranda, she had no idea what she would be exposing her daughter to:Family members said 16-month-old Miranda Boll's new book, "Potty Time With Elmo," was supposed to teach an interactive lesson using voice commands. However, when the book's buttons are pressed, it reportedly says something it is not supposed to -- "who wants to die?" ... Bolls said she checked another copy of the same book and found that it says something completely different; "Who wants to try to go potty?" The company that makes the book said it has had several complaints concerning the book, according to the report.
So I guess some prankster with a dark sense of humor has been tampering with the potty-training books. That, or the books are satanically possessed. I actually don't think the mother should be complaining too much. That book could be worth a fortune on eBay.
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
Page 1 of 3 pages 1 2 3 >
RTMark Barbie Liberation Army Strikes Again?
http://www.rtmark.com/legacy/blo.html
http://www.rtmark.com
Posted by RTMark in Not USPTO on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 08:11 PM
http://www.rtmark.com/legacy/blo.html
http://www.rtmark.com
Tickle Me Kevorkian?!?
A less emotionally loaded answer to this mess is that the word 'die' is a corrupted end of the sentence that should come out as 'try and go potty' and the recording stops there. Maybe someone passed this thing through a strong magnetic field and fritzed the recording?
Posted by DFStuckey in Auckland New Zealand on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 08:33 PM
A less emotionally loaded answer to this mess is that the word 'die' is a corrupted end of the sentence that should come out as 'try and go potty' and the recording stops there. Maybe someone passed this thing through a strong magnetic field and fritzed the recording?
Maybe someone passed this thing through a strong magnetic field and fritzed the recording?
Darn good point!!!
Posted by thephrog in CA USA on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 08:51 PM
Darn good point!!!
My name is Talking Tina, and I don't like you.
Posted by Citizen Premier in spite of public outcry on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 09:29 PM
I have two talking star trek action figures that I've had since I was a kid, one of them Captain Picard and one Will Riker. Captain Picard says "Damage Report" and "Engage" and Will Riker says "Shields up" and "Red Alert." However if you press their buttons quickly you can get Picard to say "Damnit engage!" and Riker to say "Shit Red Alert!" Two of the best toys I ever had.
Posted by Citizen Premier in spite of public outcry on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 09:33 PM
Yes, there isn't really a lot of difference between "try" and "die", especially if the recording got mangled a bit towards the end.
Personally, I find the concept of "Potty Time With Elmo" equally as disturbing as death threats from Elmo.
Posted by Accipiter in the Northern Hemisphere, unless They have lied. on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 11:04 PM
Personally, I find the concept of "Potty Time With Elmo" equally as disturbing as death threats from Elmo.
Better than those damn Bert and Ernie dolls I had as a toddler. Couldn't keep them apart.
Posted by Craig on Wed Jan 04, 2006 at 04:19 AM
My friend got a screwed up furbie for Christmas:
Friend: "I love you, Furbie"
Furbie: "Me no like you."
Posted by Tru in Other Words on Wed Jan 04, 2006 at 06:54 AM
Friend: "I love you, Furbie"
Furbie: "Me no like you."
I've noticed a lot of toys with batteries failing knock off parts of sentences or phrases...or sound like they're underwater. I just replace the batteries, and once again our home is filled with the sweet sounds of, "Wooohooohooohoo!!! THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT TIGGERS!!" played over and over and over again.
Posted by Maegan in Tampa, FL - USA on Wed Jan 04, 2006 at 08:08 AM
"Status: Either a prank or a manufacturing defect"
or a way to get money. Google "how to hack elmo"
Posted by Craig on Wed Jan 04, 2006 at 08:14 AM
or a way to get money. Google "how to hack elmo"
My name is Talky Tina, and I don't like imposters...
Posted by The Real Deal in Australia on Wed Jan 04, 2006 at 08:33 AM
I vote for demonic possession.
Posted by Big Gary in North America in Dallas, Texas on Wed Jan 04, 2006 at 11:08 AM
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,47368,00.html
It seems Elmo could be worth a lot of money...
Posted by Owen on Thu Jan 05, 2006 at 09:18 AM
It seems Elmo could be worth a lot of money...
I'm leaning towards Maegan's answer on this one. I collect books like those, and they do play interesting sounds when the batteries run dry. Those books do sometimes arrive at bookstores with already weak batteries (or it would be abused in bookstores enough to have the batteries grow weak by the time someone pick it up). If they picked it up on eBay, chances are it would be played with enough to have a weak battery too.
Posted by RAMChYLD in Klang, Malaysia on Thu Jan 05, 2006 at 09:46 AM
Would be very funny if it's true.
Posted by Sports Bettor on Thu Jan 05, 2006 at 11:27 AM
I used to have a kiddie cd player thing that would say over and over when there was no disk, "please insert disk." When the batteries ran down, it said "please insert piss."
Posted by Otaku-maniac formerly Absinthe in the pits of hell...muhahahaha! on Thu Jan 05, 2006 at 08:08 PM
Posted by MegaMan in USA on Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 06:11 AM
Here is a link for the book for sale on ebay!!
Can you believe that people are going crazy for it!!!
Posted by Elmo Die in Oklahoma on Sun Jan 08, 2006 at 12:53 AM
Can you believe that people are going crazy for it!!!
Posted by Elmo Die on Sun Jan 08, 2006 at 12:54 AM
It reminds me of this legend:
http://snopes.com/disney/films/rafiki.htm
Posted by Boo in The Land of the Haggii... on Sun Jan 08, 2006 at 06:18 PM
http://snopes.com/disney/films/rafiki.htm
Page 1 of 3 pages 1 2 3 >