New method of child discipline...

brewerpaul · Post by **brewerpaul** » Sun May 08, 2005 10:52 am

http://bratzapper.com/

I'm pretty sure this is a joke, but it's a pretty elaborate one. I saw the URL on a full sized billboard just outside Albany NY, on a very major thoroughfare. Must cost quite a bit to maintain that.

Taken tongue in cheek, the website is pretty funny. For example, the zapper has separate settings for "tot" and "teenager". Under "purchase" all you get is an 866 phone number asking you to leave your number to be called back. I didn't want to take it that far...

Random notes · Post by **Random notes** » Sun May 08, 2005 11:17 am

The site does not look like a joke. I called the number and got a recording that sounded quite serious. If Dale wasn't tied up with the massive cock-up with the forum service, I would ask what a Psy professional would have to say about this.

Personally, there is only one use I can think of and that is for the inventor to have one of these devices duct taped to his privates with a rubber band around the button until the batteries run down.

Roger

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Sun May 08, 2005 11:18 am

I really hope this is a joke.

I can't begin to imagine how this is supposed to be better than spanking?!?!?

Am I the only one who remembers the evil Spock addressing one of the crew underlings, asking for his "agonizer"?

--James

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Sun May 08, 2005 1:52 pm

It's a joke, people. It's a parody of the "As Seen on TV" ads for the Bugzapper!

Redwolf

OutOfBreath · Post by **OutOfBreath** » Sun May 08, 2005 2:09 pm

Gee, I wish my parents had had one of those. I'd much rather a brief "bee sting" than dad's belt!

I.D.10-t · Post by **I.D.10-t** » Sun May 08, 2005 3:45 pm

Kind of reminds me of when I was a kid and some one would bring in the telephone crank generator to ring the operator. We would all stand in a circle and hold hands with each other...

Um, any ways... :roll:

Having something like this around kids would not be a good idea.

brewerpaul · Post by **brewerpaul** » Sun May 08, 2005 4:40 pm

Redwolf wrote:It's a joke, people. It's a parody of the "As Seen on TV" ads for the Bugzapper!

Redwolf

I think so too, but with a huge billboard, website, and toll free number, it's a pretty expensive and elaborate one.

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Sun May 08, 2005 4:46 pm

From the folks who brought you Bonzai Kitty and Origami Boulder.

IRTradRU? · Post by **IRTradRU?** » Mon May 09, 2005 10:43 am

Walden wrote:From the folks who brought you Bonzai Kitty and Origami Boulder.

Exactly.

Random notes · Post by **Random notes** » Mon May 09, 2005 11:06 am

http://www.bonsaikitten.com/ declares that it is a joke on its website, although one would have to be particularly thick not to have picked up on that. The origami boulder site is also loaded with humor (largely of a low and abusive sort (not that that is a bad thing)) that makes it clear what is going on. I am almost certain that Bratzapper is a joke because I cannot believe that anyone would risk the blizzard of lawsuits that this product is begging for. The site itself is perfectly deadpan, which is either a strange form of humor (a la Andy Kaufman) or a total lack thereof.

I have emailed an inquiry to them. If they are in fact on the level, then I will be collecting volunteers for a lynch mob.

Roger

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Mon May 09, 2005 12:26 pm

Random notes wrote: I have emailed an inquiry to them. If they are in fact on the level, then I will be collecting volunteers for a lynch mob.

Roger

I reckon I'd volunteer for that....we don't take kindly to folks who hurt kids in this neck of the woods.

--James

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Mon May 09, 2005 1:22 pm

To me it has the feel of parody, and not particularly deadpan, with the cartoony graphics, the over-the-top language, and the altered "as seen on TV" logo, etc.

gonzo914 · Post by **gonzo914** » Mon May 09, 2005 6:29 pm

My alltime favorite parody site has to be ManBeef.com ("Your choice for quality human meats, and gourmet human meat products."), seen in archival form here -- http://urbanlegends.about.com/gi/dynami ... /home.html

There is an excellent recipe section.

Bon appetit.

Post by **Nanohedron** » Mon May 09, 2005 6:45 pm

gonzo914 wrote:My alltime favorite parody site has to be ManBeef.com ("Your choice for quality human meats, and gourmet human meat products."), seen in archival form here -- http://urbanlegends.about.com/gi/dynami ... /home.html

There is an excellent recipe section.

Bon appetit.

Too funny!!

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Mon May 09, 2005 6:54 pm

For me, the link didn't work till I stripped it of the about.com frame: http://web.archive.org/web/200104050345 ... /home.html