Why Did This Survive The Eighties? (Flair Etch A Sketch)

Member Name: shewhoguards

Product:	Flair Etch A Sketch
Date:	31/05/08 (38 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: In theory, you can draw nifty pictures

Disadvantages: I defy anyone to draw anything recognisable with this

Etch A Sketch always seemed to be one of those toys which looked great fun in the adverts when I was a kid. You get a board with two little knobs. Twiddle the knob, and guide a little dot up and down and sideways and draw brilliant pictures. When you get bored, shake it and the picture's gone.

It looked great in the adverts, and yet real life was harder. No matter what VerySmallMe did I could never produce anything more than a mess of lines. Possibly it could be a tangled knotof of wool or something. Eventually the thing ended up relegated to the back of a cupboard in disgust.

Apparently it survived the eighties, and on visiting a friend with kids I picked it up and suddenly felt the urge to doodle. After all, it would surely be much easier now I was an adult, right?

Not unless I was an adult wanting to draw a tangled mess of wool it wouldn't... Maybe it's my lack of creative ability, but I don't think anyone could get a picture out of this, let alone a child.

You get get one for around £13 now, but why would you do that to your kid? Buy them a pencil and paper. It may not look as cool, but it's far less frustrating.

Summary: Impossible to use