FARK.com: (7316978) How Nerf came to dominate in kid's guns. Short version: by being AWESOME

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		How Nerf came to dominate in kid's guns. Short version: by being AWESOME (wired.com)		170
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flucto		2012-09-09 12:41:07 PM

Nerf's N-Strike Elite Hail-Fire

The flagship dart blaster of Nerf's 2012 lineup is a hulking semiautomatic with unprecedented ammo capacity and a 75-foot range.

Want.

miss diminutive		2012-09-09 12:50:43 PM

flucto: [www.wired.com image 660x414]

Nerf's N-Strike Elite Hail-Fire

The flagship dart blaster of Nerf's 2012 lineup is a hulking semiautomatic with unprecedented ammo capacity and a 75-foot range.

Want.

4.bp.blogspot.com

Some of my fondest memories from childhood are playing nerf "war" with my older brothers and their friends in the forest behind our house.

/I was often used as cannon fodder for distraction purposes
//still had a blast

flucto		2012-09-09 12:59:48 PM

miss diminutive: memories from childhood

They didn't have those when I was a kid so I will have to have a third childhood.

miss diminutive		2012-09-09 01:05:58 PM

flucto: miss diminutive: memories from childhood

They didn't have those when I was a kid so I will have to have a third childhood.

They weren't around during your second childhood either? Are you the Highlander?

quatchi		2012-09-09 01:09:04 PM

Nerf toys are OP!

/Wut?

DanZero		2012-09-09 01:12:14 PM

"Now Nerf"?

try How Nerf, subby

KingoftheCheese		2012-09-09 01:31:19 PM

This is the problem with America. We have such a love affair with violence and war that we don't bat and eye when a company such as Nerf floods the market with "toy guns". Violence should never be a game, and yet here we are commending this company for their ability to put guns into the hands of our children. Where will we draw the line?

One might argue that these toys aren't teaching children to be violent, but one would be devastatingly wrong. Children see these facsimiles of weapons in their local toy store and instantly want them. This is only the first step down onto the slippery slope. The constant barrage of advertisements and marketing aimed towards our youth is planting the seeds for greed and entitlement. A child, that should be outside enjoying nature, sits in front of the television set, watching hours upon hours of advertising telling them that the only way to be cool and popular is to have the latest and greatest product that they will only improve upon and replace in 6 months time. So already, you have a greedy child with access to weapons. Sounds a little like your beloved George W. Bush, doesn't it? I bet he had all kinds of Nerf and BB Guns when he was a small(er) child.

So now these thankless children have guns. And what do they do with them? They shoot projectiles at other children. For fun.

Excuse me, but there are child soldiers on the other side of the world that aren't having fun little soft darts fired at them. There is no game that they are playing. There is only life of death. So, the next time your little precious child wants a toy gun, maybe it would we in your best interest to instead educate them on the subject of child warfare and make sure they know that guns are not toys, no matter what corporate America tries to tell them.

Because People in power are Stupid		2012-09-09 01:31:39 PM

Come now, Nerf has always been kinda awesome.

From my day:

coedmagazine.files.wordpress.com

Urinal Cake Mix		2012-09-09 01:32:32 PM

I bought my husband a little one shot Nerf gun as a stocking stuffer last year. Quite possibly the dumbest thing I've done. BUT. For our anniversary, my husband bought me a six shot revolver with sticky darts so I could at least return fire in the Nerf war.

/that's love
//he still wants the belt-fed bipod machine one

vudukungfu		2012-09-09 01:33:03 PM

Man On A Mission		2012-09-09 01:40:03 PM

KingoftheCheese: This is the problem with America.

cdn.styleforum.net

Spad31		2012-09-09 01:55:37 PM

*Mercilessly fires the Hail-Fire at Cheese for being a big baby*

SilentStrider		2012-09-09 02:00:32 PM

I have a few nerf guns now.
Back in the day I had one that was sold as a crossbow, but when modified by removing the bow part, essentially looked like a rifle. When my friends and I would have nerf battles, that one was always the most popular.

Right now, I have the recom six shot, a revolver with folding stock that I got at wal mart, and one thats a long honkin rifle.

SilentStrider		2012-09-09 02:01:53 PM

plus, for the long rifle, I have the drum magazine, plus two smaller magazines to go with it. That thing has PLENTY of ammo.

texdent		2012-09-09 02:06:54 PM

My four year old nephew has this
nerfgunsforsale.net

hlehmann		2012-09-09 02:08:30 PM

KingoftheCheese: ...bat and eye...

You just lost all credibility, right there.

KingoftheCheese		2012-09-09 02:16:06 PM

hlehmann: KingoftheCheese: ...bat and eye...

You just lost all credibility, right there.

I'm sorry that I may have a few typos. My anger at companies trying to sell violence to children gets me a little worked up.

Nib		2012-09-09 02:16:23 PM

Had this one as a kid. We would put needles in the end of the arrow to make them more fun.

Just another Heartland Weirdass		2012-09-09 02:17:22 PM

I dunno, bump firing an ak was pretty fun too.

Gleeman		2012-09-09 02:21:09 PM

KingoftheCheese: WHARRGARBL

cdn.overclock.net

1/10 for effort.

KingoftheCheese		2012-09-09 02:21:31 PM

Nib: [www.wired.com image 660x650]

Had this one as a kid. We would put needles in the end of the arrow to make them more ~~fun~~ sadistic.

LeroyBourne		2012-09-09 02:22:51 PM

We use to make a game out of it with this giant map of the world. Using the nerf guns with suction cups we'd tell the other person to hit a country or state, put a number value based on size (smaller states or countries would be a higher value), and who ever gets to 100 wins. Even back then the technology and accuracy was pretty good, I can only imagine what they're like now.

KaneTheMediocre		2012-09-09 02:23:56 PM

As a guy that builds homebrew knock-off nerf guns, I'm really getting a kick out of these replies.

GRCooper		2012-09-09 02:24:09 PM

KingoftheCheese: hlehmann: KingoftheCheese: ...bat and eye...

You just lost all credibility, right there.

I'm sorry that I may have a few typos. My anger at companies trying to sell violence to children gets me a little worked up.

You sound like my sister - before she had boys.

If the only toy a boy has is a Barbie, it's gonna be a blonde submachine gun

vd61		2012-09-09 02:29:25 PM

KingoftheCheese		2012-09-09 02:30:54 PM

ravenaries		2012-09-09 02:30:58 PM

Way to kill a Nerf thread....

chewielouie		2012-09-09 02:33:37 PM

Claude Ballse		2012-09-09 02:33:49 PM

Peter Griffin's job explained at last.

upload.wikimedia.org

Sleazy Rider		2012-09-09 02:35:41 PM

flucto: Nerf's N-Strike Elite Hail-Fire

The flagship dart blaster of Nerf's 2012 lineup is a hulking semiautomatic with unprecedented ammo capacity and a 75-foot range.

Want.

My kid brother has it. It's so rad

Pointy Tail of Satan		2012-09-09 02:37:13 PM

Soulds like they know how to build something. The Feds should give them the contract for the F-22 and F-35. Admittedly though, foam weapons might make dogfighting a rather novel experience.

thursdaypostal		2012-09-09 02:41:47 PM

KingoftheCheese: Excuse me, but there are child soldiers on the other side of the world that aren't having fun little soft darts fired at them. There is no game that they are playing.

And there's sex slavery too, are you telling me I have to give or get a lecture about that every time I get with someone?

tjassen		2012-09-09 02:41:55 PM

Pointy Tail of Satan: Soulds like they know how to build something. The Feds should give them the contract for the F-22 and F-35. Admittedly though, foam weapons might make dogfighting a rather novel experience.

Yeah, but just think how far the missiles would go!

radiobiz		2012-09-09 02:44:33 PM

KingoftheCheese: GRCooper: KingoftheCheese: hlehmann: KingoftheCheese: ...bat and eye...

You just lost all credibility, right there.

I'm sorry that I may have a few typos. My anger at companies trying to sell violence to children gets me a little worked up.

You sound like my sister - before she had boys.

If the only toy a boy has is a Barbie, it's gonna be a blonde submachine gun

Yeah. Ok. Not if you teach the child that violence is not the way to solve your problems and that the only people that should have guns are the military and police officers, who use their weapons as tools to ~~protect us from foreign terrorists and marijuana dealers~~ subdue the citizenry and keep them in line.

FTFY. My kid is six. I'm thinking he won't have these, certainly not until he is a lot older but for totally different reasons. Guns are to be respected. The aren't toys but they aren't something to be feared either. As an American I take my 2nd amendment right and responsibility seriously - values I will pass on to my son. I certainly will not teach him that certain people get guns and the rest of us don't. But hey, you wanna teach your kids to be sheep and that the people with guns are better than them you go right ahead.

rocketpants		2012-09-09 02:45:02 PM

Because People in power are Stupid: Come now, Nerf has always been kinda awesome.

From my day:

Yup.

KingoftheCheese		2012-09-09 02:45:37 PM

thursdaypostal: KingoftheCheese: Excuse me, but there are child soldiers on the other side of the world that aren't having fun little soft darts fired at them. There is no game that they are playing.

And there's sex slavery too, are you telling me I have to give or get a lecture about that every time I get with someone?

I don't know. Do you think about child sex slaves whenever you "get with someone"?

Fark You Buddy		2012-09-09 02:46:55 PM

jaspyrnyte		2012-09-09 02:47:54 PM

Oh for crying out loud. Cheese, I grew up with things like picturearchive.gunauction.com

and i didn't turn out to be a murderer. Lot's of people grew up playing 'guns' and didn't turn out violent. As long as parents teach kids the difference between fantasy and reality and as long as someone doesn't have messed up mental issues, they'll be fine. Just love your kid and teach them why life should be appreciated.

It's like people who say heavy metal, or Dungeons & Dragons or video games make people more violent. Get a grip and focus on the root cause of all the evil on this planet. The Dutch.

quietwalker		2012-09-09 02:47:56 PM

My mother was strongly against violent toys. I didn't get to have Star Wars figures, or G.I. Joes, or He-Man, or TNMT or Transformers or any of that awesome crap from my youth. When we (my sister and I) used our allowance to buy 69 cent transparent plastic squirt guns, my mom would purse her lips in disgust, but allow it. As soon as we put them down for the day, she'd scoop them up, wrap them in a piece of fabric in her craft room, and use a dressing ham to quietly shatter them and dispose of them - took me years to figure out what happened to all of them.

As a result of the avoidance of simulated violence, I was eventually kicked out of school for continual fighting and violent behavioral problems, so it worked really well. *thumbs up*

My dad enrolled me in tae kwon do, where I learned how to hurt people easily and exactly, and I ceased fighting outside of controlled, safe environments. Like a switch, no more tantrums and rages - also, puberty happened so, that probably played a part too.

So, though this is only anecdotal evidence, I have to say that if KingoftheCheese's post isn't a trolling one, then it's simply based on several poor assumptions, not the least of which is the assumption of white/american/male guilt.

Also, I've got the chain-fed Nerf Vulcan and ... it sucks. The darts don't fire well. You have to carefully place them exactly at the right spot in the belt to ensure they make it out of the barrel, but don't jam the loading mechanism. On the other hand, the nerf vortex praxis blaster has range and accuracy ...sorta. You can somewhat rely on it curving to the left or the right, but it's still way better than having to point at a 45 degree angle to arc a shot near your target, maybe. My fave so far.

Raw_fishFood		2012-09-09 02:48:23 PM

I really wish I had some friends where I live. I'd love to have nerf battles, but without some people to shoot at, there is no point in owning these hunks of plastic, no matter how awesome they look.

KingoftheCheese		2012-09-09 02:48:52 PM

radiobiz: KingoftheCheese: GRCooper: KingoftheCheese: hlehmann: KingoftheCheese: ...bat and eye...

You just lost all credibility, right there.

I'm sorry that I may have a few typos. My anger at companies trying to sell violence to children gets me a little worked up.

You sound like my sister - before she had boys.

If the only toy a boy has is a Barbie, it's gonna be a blonde submachine gun

Yeah. Ok. Not if you teach the child that violence is not the way to solve your problems and that the only people that should have guns are the military and police officers, who use their weapons as tools to protect us from foreign terrorists and marijuana dealers subdue the citizenry and keep them in line.

FTFY. My kid is six. I'm thinking he won't have these, certainly not until he is a lot older but for totally different reasons. Guns are to be respected. The aren't toys but they aren't something to be feared either. As an American I take my 2nd amendment right and responsibility seriously - values I will pass on to my son. I certainly will not teach him that certain people get guns and the rest of us don't. But hey, you wanna teach your kids to be sheep and that the people with guns are better than them you go right ahead.

I will. He who lives by the sword (or gun) dies by the sword (or gun). Violence has never been child's play, so I'm just so sick of society cramming it down our throats. We need educated children, not armed ones.

Agent Smiths Laugh		2012-09-09 02:50:16 PM

KingoftheCheese: This is the problem with America. We have such a love affair with violence and war that we don't bat and eye when a company such as Nerf floods the market with "toy guns". Violence should never be a game, and yet here we are commending this company for their ability to put guns into the hands of our children. Where will we draw the line?

One might argue that these toys aren't teaching children to be violent, but one would be devastatingly wrong. Children see these facsimiles of weapons in their local toy store and instantly want them. This is only the first step down onto the slippery slope. The constant barrage of advertisements and marketing aimed towards our youth is planting the seeds for greed and entitlement. A child, that should be outside enjoying nature, sits in front of the television set, watching hours upon hours of advertising telling them that the only way to be cool and popular is to have the latest and greatest product that they will only improve upon and replace in 6 months time. So already, you have a greedy child with access to weapons. Sounds a little like your beloved George W. Bush, doesn't it? I bet he had all kinds of Nerf and BB Guns when he was a small(er) child.

So now these thankless children have guns. And what do they do with them? They shoot projectiles at other children. For fun.

Excuse me, but there are child soldiers on the other side of the world that aren't having fun little soft darts fired at them. There is no game that they are playing. There is only life of death. So, the next time your little precious child wants a toy gun, maybe it would we in your best interest to instead educate them on the subject of child warfare and make sure they know that guns are not toys, no matter what corporate America tries to tell them.

As someone who grew up in a age when our toy guns looked liked actual guns (not the rainbow colored toys of today), but who has a clean criminal record and has never shot or in any other way murdered or maimed anyone, I feel confident in calling bullshiat on your premiss.

Children can be taught to know the difference between fantasy and reality. People like you seem to think kids have to be shielded from everything, or they'll grow up to be monsters. That's crap. Teach your kids a solid moral foundation as they grow, and make sure they understand that playing with toy guns is very different from real guns and real shooting. More often than not, they'll be just fine.

I grew up with violent video games, authentic looking toy guns, plastic shooty bits, BB guns, violent movies/tv, and (gasp) real guns. Never shot anyone in my life. Why? I was taught right and wrong by my folks. I was also taught at an early age how to handle a real gun, how to be utterly respectful and careful while doing so, and how to tell the difference between fantasy and reality.

Quit treating your kids like crystalline sculptures and actually teach them things. They're clever little critters and absorb learning like a sponge absorbs water. The only thing that will keep them stupid is ignorance, and the only thing that will keep them ignorant is you (the adults). The key to a well adjusted adult is a well raised kid.

deathydoom		2012-09-09 02:51:18 PM

GRCooper: KingoftheCheese: hlehmann: KingoftheCheese: ...bat and eye...

You just lost all credibility, right there.

I'm sorry that I may have a few typos. My anger at companies trying to sell violence to children gets me a little worked up.

You sound like my sister - before she had boys.

If the only toy a boy has is a Barbie, it's gonna be a blonde submachine gun

Agreed. When I was a kid, my friend's mom was a peddler of these non-violent toys and all we did with them was make weapons and war machines. Imagination is a glorious thing, unfortunately some adults lose this and start believing their children are stupid enough to think guns that fire soft squishy ammo is the real deal and soldiers fire large foam balls from tanks. I agree that we are way to focused on violence in the states but pretending that the absence of toy guns would end the violence inherent in human nature is ridiculous. I'd say it's akin to removing internet access and print materials featuring female forms from teenage boys, human nature will prevail with or without the influential material. Removal would just lead to a greater desire for the real thing. These toys provide a safe and fun alternative for children to take out aggression while all still having fun. Nerf was pretty lackluster when I was a kid, I love what they've done recently helping with distance and accuracy... though I have also taken it upon myself to improve upon their designs to somewhat replicate an m4. What else can I say, when I was a child toy guns actually looked like guns and I still have my Laramie battery-powered uzi that could run through a roll of flat caps in like a minute. :)

Kimpak		2012-09-09 02:51:26 PM

Rizhail		2012-09-09 02:53:03 PM

FTA: "Using the largest clips available, it would be possible to load the Hail-Fire with 144 darts-more than four times the maximum for the previous blaster."

Well, I've figured out what I'm bringing for the next Humans vs. Zombies game on campus.

/*drool*

LOTN		2012-09-09 02:53:26 PM

KingoftheCheese: This is the problem with America. We have such a love affair with violence and war that we don't bat and eye when a company such as Nerf floods the market with "toy guns". Violence should never be a game, and yet here we are commending this company for their ability to put guns into the hands of our children. Where will we draw the line?

One might argue that these toys aren't teaching children to be violent, but one would be devastatingly wrong. Children see these facsimiles of weapons in their local toy store and instantly want them. This is only the first step down onto the slippery slope. The constant barrage of advertisements and marketing aimed towards our youth is planting the seeds for greed and entitlement. A child, that should be outside enjoying nature, sits in front of the television set, watching hours upon hours of advertising telling them that the only way to be cool and popular is to have the latest and greatest product that they will only improve upon and replace in 6 months time. So already, you have a greedy child with access to weapons. Sounds a little like your beloved George W. Bush, doesn't it? I bet he had all kinds of Nerf and BB Guns when he was a small(er) child.

So now these thankless children have guns. And what do they do with them? They shoot projectiles at other children. For fun.

Excuse me, but there are child soldiers on the other side of the world that aren't having fun little soft darts fired at them. There is no game that they are playing. There is only life of death. So, the next time your little precious child wants a toy gun, maybe it would we in your best interest to instead educate them on the subject of child warfare and make sure they know that guns are not toys, no matter what corporate America tries to tell them.

The problem with America is butthurt nancies who seriously believe that children cannot tell the difference between going out and having fun playing with nerf guns, and shooting actual people. Guess what. They can.

Playing out violent games in safe situations gives rise to early temperaments of fairness. Ever hear kids rules-lawyer over what's fair in a game of "war"? These are lawyers and policy makers being born. "You can't do this. Why? Because it's not fair. Is too. No, it's not. Because . Yeah, well, you're just mad you can't stop me. I'm doing it anyways. Then you're out. What, no fair. Neither's what you're doing. Okay, what if we can this, is that alright. That's fine, just not the original thing, agreed? Agreed.", etc.

These are the sorts that can grow up to discern why using chemical and biological weapons to kill other people is more wrong than hitting them with bullets and explosives.

Then there's guys like you, who suggest that knives would be ever so much less detrimental to your poor constitutions if they had little round balls instead of points. That way they can't be used for stabbing. Oh if only we could convince people to simply give up diets that require cutting things, wouldn't the world be so much nicer?

Yes, I'm aware I've built up a false position to smash in your stead, but honestly I can't tell if that initial warrgarbl is serious or not. I've talked to people that actually think that way, and they disgust me.

UsikFark		2012-09-09 02:53:47 PM

"I'll cry when I'm done killing."

radiobiz		2012-09-09 02:56:45 PM

Agent Smiths Laugh: Quit treating your kids like crystalline sculptures and actually teach them things. They're clever little critters and absorb learning like a sponge absorbs water. The only thing that will keep them stupid is ignorance, and the only thing that will keep them ignorant is you (the adults). The key to a well adjusted adult is a well raised kid.

QUOTED FOR TRUTH. Capitalized for emphasis.

sift		2012-09-09 03:03:30 PM

Yeah. Ok. Not if you teach the child that violence is not the way to solve your problems and that the only people that should have guns are the military and police officers, who use their weapons as tools to protect us from foreign terrorists and marijuana dealers. If I wanted to live in a criminal society, I'd move my family to Canada or New Zealand. No thanks.

KingoftheCheese , you suck so much at life. Go troll somewhere else and leave toy guns alone. ITS A GAME ITS FUN.