Toys With Issues

Wow, and I thought Nano Babies, Furbies and Zhu Zhu pets were odd toys. This is a whole new level, cuddly toys with emotional problems.

Yup, that's what it is. We have Dub the depressed turtle, Sly the snake with...what the hell does Sly have? a problem with his rattle? Next we have Dolly the sheep who thinks she's a wolf, Croco the crocodile who halucinates, I think, and Lilo the OCD Hippo. What, no bipolar bear? I'm disappointed!

Apparently, the German inventor of these stuffed toys intended them for both kids and adults, because he thinks maybe they can help some grown-ups suffering from mental illnesses towards the path to healing. Hmmm. interesting thought.

I'm going to quote a couple of the funniest descriptions, and then I'm going to post Sly's description because it confuses the hell out of me. Let's start with Dolly.

The patient seems to temporarily suffer from the delusion that she is a wolf despite the fact that she is without a doubt a sheep. The unexpectedly strong exhibition of the repressed identity completely overstrains her. Hysterical, psychotic defence reactions underline the fundamental threat which points at negative experiences and resulting fragmentation processes. In this state, the patient is unable to accept herself as a plush animal.

The patient needs your help!

This is an English translation of German, so that's probably why there is some confusing wording in there. Hmmm. I wonder if they can sell you some wolf's clothing?

Now let's move on to Lilo, because I guess he is a real puzzle.

The patient has been trying to solve a wooden jigsaw puzzle for the past few months without success. He is so absorbed in this repetitive activity that he is unaware of his surroundings most of the time. Ever since his disorder has begun, the patient hasn't talked to anyone. A connection between the inability to speak and the compulsive urge to solve jigsaw puzzles seems likely.

The patient urgently needs your help!

I'm surprised he doesn't wash his paws too.

And here's Sly's description. Can you figure out what the hell's wrong with him?

The patient’s inner conflict must be interpreted as a sign of an ambivalent relationships towards its own body. Combined with the fascination of an apparently much more potent-seeming substitute rattle, we suspect the manifestation of a deeply rooted rattle complex. Of course, the enclosed substitute rattle should not be in use on a permanent basis and should only serve as a transitional object.

The patient needs your help!

Upon reading that a second time, I'm still confused.

So yeah. That's the next big thing. I wonder how well they'll sell.