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AIBU?

to think that Nintendo are a bit out of order getting primary school teachers to advertise for them?

29 replies

IHeartKingThistle · 17/10/2010 22:38

This is my first ever AIBU so a bit nervous, please be gentle!

But is it not a bit weird? I don't really have any strong feelings about Nintendo DSs per se - I have no particular problem with kids having them. I don't much like it when I see really little kids with them, or kids in restaurants, or friends of my DCs glued to them when we have gone to their house to play, but generally I think they look like fun.

This new ad, though, where the junior school teacher takes them into class and talks about what a great educational tool they are - really? I know DSs have some great learning programmes on them, but something about that ad doesn't sit right with me, I don't know why.

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readywithwellies · 17/10/2010 22:45

Hi,
Saw the ad. Was on during X Factor so they are aiming at a certain demographic I would imagine.
Well, considering some parents don't even have the basic skills knowledge to read to their children (I went on a course recently and was told about 40% of people have some basic skill need in Literacy or Numeracy) I think this generation of children need all the help they can get and if that means playing a computer game, so be it.
It is sad but it is a fact that alot of parents do not have the knowledge to help their children.
However, I think YANBU to be uneasy, I raised an eyebrow when I saw it.

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Tryharder · 17/10/2010 22:47

Well I dunno....My DS1 has just turned 6 and we bought him a Nintendo DS (after much pleading and nagging from DS1).So far, he's ignored the Toy Story game we got to go with it but is fascinated with the fact that you can type on it. We have been using it to practice the words he has to learn for homework. (I dictate, he types).

But I too hate the way that kids are apparently unable to endure more than a 5 second car journey without needing to be entertained with a DS.

So on the whole, YANBU.

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IHeartKingThistle · 17/10/2010 22:55

That's really interesting. I think the DS definitely has some educational properties, even if it's just engaging them in the first place. Sad but true that so many kids need all the help they can get, wellies.

I think maybe it's the implied crossover into formal education that I find odd. Or maybe the fact that we're constantly told to limit kids' screen time and Nintendo have wheeled out an educational expert to effectively deny that.

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asdx2 · 17/10/2010 23:01

Dd's school has a class set of 30 ds's that are used to enhance their learning. I think anything that engages a child's interest is a positive thing tbh and have no objections to dd using them in school.

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NonnoMum · 17/10/2010 23:01

But is she REALLY a teacher? Or just straight out of drama school an in her first acting job?

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serenity · 17/10/2010 23:02

Given how much they cost, plus the games, we were wondering how a primary school class could actually afford them! I presume Nintendo donated them for publicity purposes and that does make me uneasy (and I'm a big fan of DSes and their ilk, definite family of gamers Grin)

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serenity · 17/10/2010 23:05

crossposted with asdx2. So did your school buy them, or were they donated? I don't have an issue with them being used, just curious about how schools get them Smile

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IHeartKingThistle · 17/10/2010 23:05

asdx2, what do they actually use them for in school? I'm not criticising, I'm interested!

Ooh Nonno, I wonder!

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asdx2 · 17/10/2010 23:08

They were bought by the school as were the Wii's that are used to ensure all children engage in the recommended amount of PE as well. The school have had them since they opened about 16 months ago.

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asdx2 · 17/10/2010 23:10

Dd says they do sums on them she thinks it's junior brain training because we have the adult one. They aren't used daily or even weekly in her class anyway but they are used about two or three times each half term.

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emptyshell · 18/10/2010 10:22

Pssst... it's an advert - they're not always real.

Do you really think the Oxo mum never decides "sod it let's go for a takeaway", or that Ant and Dec really roll around random people's houses to play Wii with them? Or that any of those cleaning products clean aswell as they do on the adverts?!

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Feenie · 18/10/2010 10:26

30 x DSs! What a waste of money - our entire Maths budget in our small school just a third of that.
The DS does nothing that a piece of software on a computer wouldn't do.

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elphabadefiesgravity · 18/10/2010 10:37

I remember in my primary school we had a Little |Professor we used for maths. Mind you we only had one per class so we got to use it maybe once for about 10 minutes every week.

Its def not real, can you imagine the boys happily using a pink ds.

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CaptainNancy · 18/10/2010 10:38

Are you talking about an advert?
This isn't a 'teacher' any more than the people in white coats in toothpaste adverts are 'dentists'

Get a grip Hmm

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MmeBodyInTheBasement · 18/10/2010 10:44

Well, no it is probably a class full of actors and not real people, but I do get what the OP is talking about.

I had the same thought.

Basically they are trying to make us feel less guilty about buying a games console by telling us that they are very educational.

DD has one, DS is getting one this Christmas but it is a game. I really do not think that they are learning much from it, and they are not allowed to use it constantly.

As to a school buying them, seems ridiculous. You can practice sums by writing them down. And why buy a Wii when you can take the DC out to play a real game of football?

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DBennett · 18/10/2010 10:45

I you think the add is misleading (didn't see it so can't comment) then complain to the Advertising Standards Agency.

If they have no basis for educational claims you should be able to your complaint upheld.

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SummerRain · 18/10/2010 10:47

elphaba... ds1 plays with dd's pink DS quit happily Hmm

As far as i'm concerned they are quite educational, ds1 is probably dyspraxic and his co-ordination and concentration are appalling, anything in his case that improves that is great in my eyes.

And dd refuses to learn to read in school or for us, she has shelves full of books that haven't encouraged her to do it yet but not being able to read the screen prompts for games she's mad to play has spurred her on more than any other method we've tried.

but then admittedly we are a family of gamers so i am possibly biased Grin

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selby · 18/10/2010 10:55

I saw that advert and my reaction was much stronger - what a bloody cheek - trying to sell the DS as an educational learning aid! I'm sure that there are some 'educational' games but let's be honest, it's main purpose (and for what everyone) pays money for is that it's a game console first and foremost. We're still at the wavering stage (haven't quite gone down the slippery slope yet) despite much pressure from DS (nearly 7) who claims that EVERYONE owns one. Faced with that argument, we've decided that he's going to remain a deprived child for a while longer. So... more Lego for his birthday.

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IHeartKingThistle · 18/10/2010 17:03

Glad it's not just me!

'Get a grip', Captain Nancy - really? I was hardly having a panic about it, I just said it made me uneasy.

I know ads aren't reality, but it's the 'documentary' style of that one that could be misleading.

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JamieLeeCurtis · 18/10/2010 18:22

No - my guess would be that the teacher is a real teacher. I don't think they could get away with that level of deception. Perhaps I am naive - will investigate

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Feenie · 18/10/2010 18:47

Aww, bless! Grin It's more unlikely to conceive that a teacher/school would be allowed to advertise Nintendo than advertisers getting in a load of actors, tbh.

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aJumpedUpPantryBoy · 18/10/2010 18:55

I haven't seen the advert, but I read somewhere (might have been on a twitter feed) that it is a real teacher

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IHeartKingThistle · 18/10/2010 22:10

Dammit I'm going to have to find out now. Smile

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aJumpedUpPantryBoy · 18/10/2010 22:27

Just looked on Twitter and I think it is this lady - but I haven't seen the adverts so can't be sure

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IHeartKingThistle · 18/10/2010 22:42

Could be, I'm not sure. Is Nintendo sponsoring that blog or something???

Clever marketing people at Nintendo, eh?

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