Why I returned Winnipeg's only Wii...The look on the Best Buy guy's face said it all. It was a healthy mix of disbelief, horror, fear and flat out perplexity. If you ever want to leave a salesperson in a silent inexplicable stupor, just hold up a brand new, unopened Wii at the Returns Counter and tell them you're returning Winnipeg's only available Wii because you'd like to get your kids something great for Christmas. That's exactly where I found myself the other day and that's exactly what happened. Of course my true story doesn't start there. It was two days earlier when I had ventured into Best Buy, frankly looking for a big screen TV that would give me a few minutes of sports. I wandered down the Wii aisle because it had come to my attention that this was the "must-have" game of the Christmas season (and year for that matter). Finding none, I asked a passing salesperson if there might be any available (I had a hunch what the answer would be). "None available and we can't say when they'll come in." I thanked him and did another loop. No less than 2 minutes later, he was back and handed me a brand spanking-new Wii with this comment, "This one was on Web pick-up, the person missed the deadline and I'm re-shelving it, it's yours if you want it." Unbelievable! Without even getting up at 4am to wait in the bitter cold for hours to get one of 12 units shipping in, here I had the coveted prize that would bring joy to my world. A quick call to my wife and we were the proud parents of soon to be happy children. Two days later, I found myself confidently walking up to the other end of that same checkout counter, handing the coveted prize back to its corporate citizens. And that's where the bewilderment, the amazement, and the silent stupor occurred. You see, it's Best Buy protocol that you must ask the customer why it is that they are returning the product. I've told this story to a few closer relations, and I have received similar reactions - the bewilderment, the disbelief. My reasoning goes like this. Do I think my kids would be entertained by a $400 Wii (don't forget the must-have controllers and games)? They would. But, if it's a $400 forced choice investment into my kids' lives - as in, their sense of self, worth, and character...then a Wii doesn't cut it for me. Call me crazy, I'm sure I'm the only guy on the planet who literally had a Wii dropped into their lap and then decided it wasn't going to cut it as a gift idea. I must admit, for a moment there at that Returns Counter, I actually felt like a bit of a revolutionary, taking back some parenting ground lost to the malaise of a material world. So, the question remains, what am I getting my kids for Christmas?! Well, while I don't anticipate my 8 year old surfing over to my blog tonight, I wouldn't take the risk to spill the beans here. Perhaps in a post-Christmas blog I'll let you know. For now, all I can say is, I'm looking forward to enjoying what emerged in my imagination once I had sorted out some of the clutter. And no, the kids haven't heard this story. It will be an interesting conversation when they do! Comments welcome... |
|
I'm curious, at what point did you know you had a compelling blog, before or after you returned the Wii? Just thought your kids might be curious...
Ha, I'm only kidding around, I wouldn't buy my kid a Wii this Christmas either. Our Game Cube works just fine.
The blog emerged after I returned the Wii. It was not a small decision and there are more variables at play than just the few I mentioned in the decision. But I felt some public reflection was worthwhile. I recall a recent interview with Halo 3 gamers. One of them asked...what does gaming have to do with God?
David
About the values that led to my decision. There's a short and long version to my response. Here's the short version...
Value #1 Life is lived to its fullest when we acknowledge that we have forced choices. I do not live with a limitless amount of resources (physical, emotional, financial, etc.)
Value #2 A way of sorting out forced choices is to look for need rather than want. When it comes to gift-giving in a Canadian society where many of us have all our physical needs met, this may mean looking beyond our geographic borders when we choose to give.
Value #3 Ultimately, I see in my children and in me a need for significance and purpose.
You asked, is the Wii incompatible with these values? I was not convinced that empowering my kids to swing a joystick in a basement was going to give them a sense of their purpose and significance and I couldn't see easily how that would connect them to me. When I asked the questions of my values, I more easily came up with simpler answers that felt more joyful, more connected and harnessed resources for greater good.
Of course, there's a much longer valid conversation that we had and that could be had... for now, this is just a short response.