Another Moral compass question...

Kilts_Kimonos · December 2009

At my local walmart deserving/needy children were selected to receive $100 GCs. They interviewed this one teen who decided to buy a $150 ipod. Part of me went REALLY? You couldn't buy a sony or some other non "i" mp3 player and save yourself the "i"markup? So what do you think?

mlf625 · December 2009

If you're a teenager, an iPod may very well seem like an absolute necessity. ?I remember how kids at my school who didn't have the current name brand "in" things were picked on, so I definitely don't fault a needy teen for choosing something like that, frivolous as it may seem to an adult.

It was a gift, the kid used it. ?Do you really expect a teen to say "oh, I'll buy a cheap knock off and use the rest for groceries?"?

engaged678 · December 2009

if it's this kind of case, I think that child that was chosen for a reason should be able to choose whatever he/she wants. It's something special that they wouldn't otherwise be able to afford right?

susanmosley · December 2009

I think that person can do whatever he/she wants with the money given to him/her.

Unfortunately, brand names are quite important amongst our society, especially teenagers.

I don't have a problem with this at all.

(obviously your suggestion would have been wiser but teenagers are notorious for not being wise)

Kilts_Kimonos · December 2009

This explains why I got my butt beat a lot as a kid, I was never into brands. LOL

Tess12 · December 2009

Not this again. If he had the $50 of his own to spend, it's his business how he spends it. He was given the gift card to spend as he likes.

crazytmogirl · December 2009

It was probably his chance to get something that all of the "cool" kids had. You can probably remember high school and how it felt to want to fit in, right? I know in HS I wasn't worried about mark ups. I don't think it was a big deal. I would however wonder where the extra $50.00 came from though.

the_mulva · December 2009

who gives a sh*t? And honestly, the reason that apple has such an edge in the marketplace even though its products are more $ than other substantially similar products, is b/c they have all the kick arse accessories. Kids probably dig that stuff.

skoorbnibor · December 2009

mlf625:
If you're a teenager, an iPod may very well seem like an absolute necessity. I remember how kids at my school who didn't have the current name brand "in" things were picked on, so I definitely don't fault a needy teen for choosing something like that, frivolous as it may seem to an adult.
It was a gift, the kid used it. Do you really expect a teen to say "oh, I'll buy a cheap knock off and use the rest for groceries?"

I agree... and I really am bothered by the idea that KIDS who generally don't get much shouldn't be allowed to get something they REALLY want when they are in need... Let the kid be a kid for a day and not worry.

Really, most kids in a bad position get it, when my nephew was about 6, I asked him what he wanted for christmas, and he told me he wanted sparkly earrings for his mom, because she couldn't afford expensive things, because she had to pay the rent and his old toys were fine. I mean, really? My sister was VERY careful not to let on how much she was struggling, but he still knew (I am sure his a$$hat father told him, right after he left the kid, 2 days before christmas, but I digress)

So I say let the kid get whatever they want, because tomorrow they might be worried about keeping the heat on