do you really want to buy anything from China ?

[kurosu.chan]

OkamiKodomo-- Yeah, I know what you mean about introductions (and pit bulls! I'm not a dog person, but the bad rap makes me angry too...). I did introduce the indoor cat (my Cloud!) to Mihika when I got her. The biggest problem was the cat wanting attention, even though she already spends every waking minute with me...I'm just glad that she doesn't like to love-bite on dolly hands like she does on my hands...and elbows, and ankles...

I mostly worry that she would get into faceup materials (Augh! Chalky little pawprints EVERYWHERE!!! I am never cleaning that up again!), or chew on spare parts. Even without lead, swallowing resin would hurt her...fortunately, she won't even play with the wigs. The most she does is sleep on the doll bed, sometimes pussing the doll off of the bed in order to fit her fat rear end on it. I'll walk into my room, look in Mihika's room and see her sitting on the floor, next to the bed, and the "mattress" has this big, fat slumbering neko on it...
But at least she isn't eating toxins!

[theodoric]

(PS: Pit bull haters have no idea what loving dogs they really are -rants privately in her head about breed-specific legislation-)

there are a LOT of really stupid owners and because of them several breeds have gotten very bad reputations
... there are also some really stupid parents of kids that dont teach them that to climb into a fenced in yard and tease or torment a dog protecting it's home is a very bad idea
... "puppy-mill" breeders contribute to the problem also

Actually, Theodoric, one of the topics you linked to had some follow-up links... the biggest source of lead poisoning is really from mom-and-pop run factories producing batteries on a small scale. Supposedly the Chinese gov't is going to be cutting the number of these family-owned factories that are allowed in any one area. Go figure, right?

yeah ... spread them around more so the problem doesnt seem so bad ......... that sounds like they are learning from the US govt

... I'm not a dog person, but the bad rap makes me angry too

one of the most cuddly lapdogs I ever knew ... was a rottweiler ... who was a guard dog in a really bad part of the town I was living in

LOL ... once he learned that I knew how to give a good scritch behind the ears ... both him and the other guard dog (a collie/german shepherd mix) became my best friends

which I found amusing ... because I am a cat person

[1/6andtinylover]

Hmmm...as lolcat or loldogs would say:

i is chewing on ur $100+ dollieh ruining da fais up

(and quite possibly their health..)

[embyquinn]

First, the dog thing. It seems like every generation for the past century or so has demonized one dog breed or another. In the 1940s and 50s it was German shepherds that were thought to be vicious and dangerous. (This was probably because of Blondi, Hitler's dog.) In the 1960s it was collies, because of their insane popularity due to the Lassie TV show--they were subject to severe inbreeding, and also many of these dogs were very mistreated by careless owners. In the 1970s it was Dobermans. In the 1980s it was Rottweilers. For the past twenty years or so, pit bulls (originally considered one of the best breeds, particularly for families with small children) have gotten the short end of the stick.

Dogfighters breed their dogs for ill temperament and cruelly mistreat dogs intended for fighting. Any animal can turn mean if it's constantly stressed and abused. Conversely, if given enough love, patience and understanding, almost any dog can be rehabilitated (provided it hasn't been driven quite literally insane, which does sadly happen).

Next up on the "vicious dangerous dog" list: Teacup poodles. No really. Pound for pound, teacup poodles are the most savage dogs on the planet.

[victoriavictrix]

While BJDs date back into the beginning of time practically (there are "bjds" found in Egyptian tombs) practically speaking, the only BJDs you are going to find anywhere other than antique doll forums are the ABJDs (Asian Ball Jointed Dolls) made of variations on a common resin formula, or, like the large Obitsus and Dollfie Dreams, of vinyl (Obitsus and Dollfie Dreams are made in Japan so they are out of this equation). (The silicon dolls are not BJDs, but have a wire skeleton or a click-skeleton.) The chances of resin being contaminated by lead or other metals is VANISHINGLY small (the stuff won't set up, generally, if it is). The reason it is carcinogenic is not because of the resin itself (though the jury is still out on how toxic the fumes are after it is cured but before it completely outgases) is because when sanded, the particles settle in the lungs and cause silicosis--just like asbestos particles. This is why you are supposed to wear a mask when sanding, or sand underwater, or both.

The materials used in the faceups *might* be contaminated, but none of us are going to go licking our ABJDs, and the faceups are sealed with MSC so ....::shrug:: The 90% isopropyl alcohol I use to take the faceup off with is going to be more toxic than they tiny little amount of pigment on the face. I think the danger of getting toxins from ABJDs from China is less than being hit by a meteorite, unless you do really stupid stuff like sanding without a mask, and then it's your fault. Sanding a resin Goodreau would be just as dangerous, and they are made in the USA.

Now when it comes to the fashion dollie size.... That stuff is farmed out everywhere. But unless you plan to just completely boycott Mattel, Jakks Pacific, Disney, et al, there is no way to avoid fashion dolls from China.

So hey, non-issue, all the way around.

[1/6andtinylover]

Yay for win win logic. Speaking of 'dangerous' face ups, I was afraid of MSC because of the toxic whatever and safety precautions in big red capital letters but then decided to suck it up and order one XD

[OkamiKodomo]

Just about every toxin problem can be solved by proper precautions, maintenance, and good old fashioned common sense. :3 Personally, I don't think it really has much to do with where the products come from.

[embyquinn]

@VV: You win.

Seriously, I'd be more concerned about the sweat shop conditions in factories based in tiny U.S. territories that force native residents to work under concentration-camp conditions and slap "Made in USA" on their labels than I would be of trace chemicals in what are essentially adult collectibles.

[AlmySidaKay]

Did you know there is actually a city in India called USA so that they slap the sticker on there that still says USA.

[theodoric]

... Next up on the "vicious dangerous dog" list: Teacup poodles. No really. Pound for pound, teacup poodles are the most savage dogs on the planet.

ROFLMAO

I had to wait until I stopped laughing before I could even respond

LOL dont let Disney hear that ... they already made two Chihuahua movies ... hehehe I'd hate to see a swarm of ankle biting rat dogs headed in your direction to teach you the error of your ways for dissing them ...

... The chances of resin being ...

thank you for the information

most of the hazardous materials I have been used to handling are things I ran across in the military ... (not a big purchaser of dolls or kids toys ) ... little things like hydraulic fluid with so many chemicals in it to meet all the mil-spec requirements that it carries a health warning letting you know that if you get any in an open cut or wound it can cause permanent physical paralysis ........ show me a serviceman that doesnt get little cuts and knicks on his body while he is working ... and he has never actually been a soldier a day in his life

the other area of chemicals I am used to are those used in the auto industry, and some of those can be real fun

I dont know much about what goes into making dolls ... I can read lists of ingredients and remember warnings if I have seen one before about a certain chemical ... but that is about it as far as dolls go

Now when it comes to the fashion dollie size.... That stuff is farmed out everywhere. But unless you plan to just completely boycott Mattel, Jakks Pacific, Disney, et al, there is no way to avoid fashion dolls from China.

now to me ... that is a bit scary

us old single guys arent very likely to be buying Barbies, Bratz, or whatever the latest doll craze is

but the people who ARE most likely to buy them ... or get them bought for them ... are the most likely to be harmed by contaminants of any type (not just lead), and the least likely to pay attention to any safety precautions ....... children

Seriously, I'd be more concerned about the sweat shop conditions in factories based in tiny U.S. territories that force native residents to work under concentration-camp conditions and slap "Made in USA" on their labels than I would be of trace chemicals in what are essentially adult collectibles.

the sports equipment industry is one of the very worst offenders of that ... especially for using children to make things like soccer balls and such, and paying them next to nothing

even Michael Jordan and Nike got caught up in one of those scandals

Did you know there is actually a city in India called USA so that they slap the sticker on there that still says USA.

sadly ... that doesnt surprise me