Pure Evil in Stuffed Animal Form

The present of choice this year is something called a Webkinz. It is a small stuffed animal, in our case the shape of a English bull dog, named George. We know his name because it came with a tag on him with instructions on how to "Adopt" you pet. No.. the name isn't on the tag... it has you log into a web site, put in the random code on the tag, register a user for your child and you are presented with a printed out "Adoption Certificate" with the animals name, interests and his best friend (in this case a turtle). Using this login information, your child can now play in the imaginary universe of Webkinz! It's basically a web based knock off of '"TheSims" except with animals. You have a room for your pet you can decorate with object you purchase with the in-game currency. How do you get this currency you might ask... through flash based games of course. The Webkinz people must have put their whole budget into the two sound effect they use cause they're great!

It's been 4 weeks and now the oldest has one as well. I find them huddled around the laptop when I come home from work each day. They've set up each other as friends and can send each presents like Big Screen TV's or a chair. They're becoming obsessed with how much money they need in order to purchase "just one more" widget for their pretend animal on the screen. The stuffed ones are under their bed at this point.

My daughter actually threw a punch at me yesterday when I told them all to get off the computer for dinner. I turned it off yesterday evening and it won't be on again for a week. Many tears were shed but I needed to get a hold on what was happening... evil pretend virtual stuffed animals taking over my children's minds.

Be warned if you get one of these as a present. I'm thinking of buying stock in the company (I think it's privately owned...)