Anger over Bimbo breast ops in Internet game
LONDON: Parents' groups in the UK have condemned a new Internet game in which girls as young as 9 are encouraged to "buy" their virtual dolls breast operations and facelifts.
The aim of the Miss Bimbo beauty contest game, which was launched in Britain last month, is to become the "hottest, coolest, most famous bimbo in the whole world", and contestants who compete against each other are told to "stop at nothing", even "meds or plastic surgery", to ensure their dolls win.
Children are given a naked virtual character to look after. They compete against other players to earn "bimbo" dollars so they can dress her in sexy outfits and take her clubbing. They are given missions, including securing plastic surgery at the game's clinic to give their dolls bigger breasts, and they have to keep her at her target weight with diet pills.
Although it is free to play, when the contestants run out of virtual cash they have to send text messages costing GBP1.50 ($2.98) each or use PayPal to top up their accounts.
Bill Hibberd, of parents' rights group Parentkind, said the game sent a dangerous message to young girls. "It is one thing if a child recognizes it as a silly and stupid game. But the danger is that a 9-year-old fails to appreciate the irony and sees the bimbo as a cool role model. Then the game becomes a hazard and a menace. Children's innocence should be protected as far as possible."
He added that the game also posed a financial danger for parents if they did not keep an eye on the texts that were sent.
In France, where Miss Bimbo's sister website was condemned by dieticians and parents when it began last year, one parent threatened the creators with legal action after his daughter ran up a GBP100 ($199) mobile bill sending texts without his knowledge.
The British version already has nearly 200,000 players, most of whom are girls aged between 9 and 16. There are 1.2 million players in France.
Nick Williams, from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, said he was appalled when he saw his daughters Katie, 9, and Sarah, 14, playing the game. "Katie is far too young for that kind of thing and it is irresponsible of the site's creators to be leading young girls astray. They are easily influenced at that age as to what is cool."
The creators of Miss Bimbo insist it is "harmless fun". Nicolas Jacquart, the 23-year-old web designer from Tooting, south London, who created it, said: "It is not a bad influence for young children. The missions and goals are morally sound and teach children about the real world.
"If they eat too much chocolate in the game it is bad for their bimbos' bodies and their happiness levels compared to if they eat fruit and vegetables, which reinforces positive healthy eating messages. The breast operations are just one part of the game and we are not encouraging young girls to have them, just reflecting real life."
The Guardian
(China Daily 03/27/2008 page20)
