Norfolk -- Word was, they'd be in People;
Bryant Gumbel
wanted 'em and Oprah was calling. So what
sells better than controversy?
"At first glance, you might say it makes boys the stars, but the goal is to print
content for girls to think about boys in different ways,"... "This is about
empowering girls, to show them they can make choices." -- PilotOnline
What’s it all about? www.boycrazy.com
The Pilot quote was directly spun from it's parent's (decipher.com) office. It's annoying
mostly. I'm doing web résumés for people and providing web scoops on employment
searches. I'd seen a web design gig online and replied via e-mail to the ad. They wanted
to talk to me. Since my web résumé was at monster.com (you know the TV spot: "I wannabe a yes-man. I wanna'
have a brown nose. I wannabe forced into early retirement"?) and I'd heard from
the Warner Brothers TV earlier that
week, I wasn't all that jazzed yet. This was local though, so okay --I'm a shaker who
doesn't wanna' move. The ad said something about empowering girls. Kewl-- this might be
something I could really get into.
R K's of an era where told if we did too
many 'Jumping Jacks' in gym class, we might not be able to bear children someday. The
female staff is convinced that Boy Crazy is a worthwhile endeavor. It's Cindy's
"baby" blonde Monica explained; Caroline was studying me, leaving a trail of
snack crumbs on the flawlessly kept hardwood floor. The office is drop-dead-Dallas atop a
bank building downtown. Told I'd made the final cut, I'd be contacted for a subsequent
interview. Having boys only, I noted games on the elegant shelves: Star Wars, Austin
Powers, Star Trek and Pokemon, targeted to young males-- games that nourish
an aptitude for adventure and problem solving. With such quality, I couldn't have been
caught more off guard.
I wouldn't have e-mailed the custom graphic. I'd indicated that developing the self is
so important; I'd lacked enthusiasm for nurturing appetites for 'a future man' or playing
to loyal viewers of Jerry Springer-- I just didn't get it. During the appointment, Girl
Power was emphasized. Boy Crazy was glossed over. I wasn't getting the
potential role-- 'R K, Teen's Pimp?' --running the website and it's associated chat
rooms. The "game" has no strategy except to encourage the girls to express views
on which boys are hottest and plays, to the lowest denominator.
I’m particularly annoyed by the spin that the game is empowering. They're
capitalizing (if not exploiting) on that many girls are already "boy crazy" and
want to market it both ways. If these girls are already "jones-ing" on boys, how
do the "pushers" cash in? By giving them a choice, on what-- a twelve or a 22
year old?
I hate to finish with "In my day..." all they had then, was
"Hooker Barbie" and I was tickled this year to buy Courtney (age 5) for
Christmas: NBA and Soccer Barbie dolls. Hell, not tickled-- inspired. Girls were rarely
groomed for college unless it was to find a college man. A sister-in-law complained that
now they even have a 'Wheelchair Barbie'. Kewl. Self image is everything, if you are an
aspiring anything. I was never a fan of Mattel’s
Barbie products in youth or their board game-- where you won if you wound up with Ken
and bit the bullet if you were stuck with geeky Poindexter; but uh, if Boy Crazy's
aim is retro, then why are they calling it revolutionary?
Overall, the deal would've opened doors with a progressive,
risk-taking "out of the bun, box or whatever they're saying this week" group of
people. My reaction was likely colored by sour grapes not making the final cut, as someone
tired of the template mind-set usually encountered.
Here's another take on Boy Crazy
issues:
In a message dated 00-12-12 16:41:46 EST, Dave wrote:
Dear R K: A friend of mine recently was selected as a Boy Crazy 'Boy' for
2001. I read the contract for his appearance on these cards and it seems really fishy.
Included is another contract for modeling and acting which they ask you to sign. In this
contract it says they get a ridiculous 20% commission for any modeling, T.V., film or
theatre work you get, whether or not they had anything with you getting that role/part.
As someone who visited the offices of Boy Crazy, I thought you may be
interested in the fact not only does this card game do nothing to help the girls in our
society: realize there's more to just the way people look, etc., I believe it also is
taking advantage of the boys involved...
Thanks, Dave
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© 2003 R K Puma
rk@rkpuma.com
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