Why I returned Winnipeg's only Wii...

Posted At : December 14, 2007 5:30 PM | Posted By : David Balzer
Related Categories: Technology

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.

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Way to go Dave! We need more people with that kind of courage. Every year we buy too much in fear that to little will leave the kids unhappy. Let us know how it goes and if the kids miss the Wii! Maybe you've started something....

# Posted By Jake | 1/15/08 12:28 AM

Way to go Dave! We too found ourselves wondering if buying our 2 kids a Wii was the best way to go. Even though I thought I'd really enjoy having it, it ran against the values we are trying to teach our kids. Keep confusing the "corporate" world.

# Posted By Konrad | 1/15/08 12:30 AM

I just checked e-bay where Wii's are getting loads of bids, you could have sold the Wii at a profit and then given the extra money to the poor. It's not like you're saving another family the blight of materialism by returning it to the store, it would have been gone off the shelves again in 10 minutes or less. So in fact, you have essentially stolen from the poor.

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.

# Posted By Thom | 1/15/08 12:30 AM

Thom,
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

# Posted By David | 1/15/08 12:31 AM

Dave, what exactly are the values that led you to return the Wii? And what is about the Wii that makes it incompatible with those values?

# Posted By J | 1/15/08 12:31 AM

J,
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.

# Posted By David | 1/15/08 12:32 AM

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