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[mother earth]

4. Apparently their mothers had no say in the choice of "gift".

But just to lighten things up a bit, there's this from A Christmas Story:

Ralphie is visiting Santa at the department store, only he can't remember what he wanted]
Santa Claus: How about a nice football?
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] Football? Football? What's a football? With unconscious will my voice squeaked out 'football'.
Santa Claus: Okay, get him out of here.
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] A football? Oh no, what was I doing? Wake up, Stupid! Wake up!
Ralphie: [Ralphie is shoved down the slide, but he stops himself and climbs back up] No! No! I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle!
Santa Claus: You'll shoot your eye out, kid.

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As a mom, I guess I can understand that some boys covet toy guns and some the real deal (bb guns). What I find extremely troublesome are the computer games that require shooting, and these days they are creepier than ever, more realistic and more violent. I think it desensitizes people to violence. (Edited to add, I am in no way making light of today's senseless tragedy, I just thought of ACS with Rick's post.)