As difficult as it is to believe, reports of alleged Tamagotchi abuse are beginning to crop-up all around America: Apparently, not everyone loves these little alien lifeforms.
Although American Tamagotchi don't die (it is rumored Japanese Tams do), they will get fed-up with your abuse and return to their home planet!
Though the American government has no official position on Tam abuse, we feel that any of the following should constitute abuse:
Leaving your Tam's light on all night
Everyone knows how difficult it can be to sleep with the lights on, but when you live inside a tiny plastic egg it can be torture! If a Tam doesn't sleep well, it may be irritable when it awakens. As a result, it might not feel like playing and thus not get proper excercise.
We have recently received a very distressing report of a Tam abuser who continually turned their the light on and off while their Tam was sleeping (and sometimes when it was awake, too) ! Based on this report, some therapists predict that the victimized alien is likely to become psychotic or perhaps join a web cult.
Discipline for the Wrong Reasons
It is true that all Tams need to be disciplined sometimes: When they complain without reason for example, or refuse to eat anything except candy. Without discipline, these little aliens can become obstinate, bothersome rug-rats.
However, discipline can be damaging to a young Tam psyche when it is used excessively or without cause.
Disciplining a hungry Tamagotchi, for example, is the worst form of abuse there is. If a young Tam is punished for being hungry, it will be afraid to ask for food: It will become malnurished, angry, stupid and ugly . . . it will eventually leave you.
Punishing a playful Tam? That's just plain mean-spirited.
Not Cleaning Up
A proper Tamagotchi habitat is clean and organized. As the caretaker of your visiting alien friend, it is your responsibility to ensure that bathroom messes are cleaned-up quickly.
When Tamagotchi poop is not cleaned-up, it gives-off an odorless toxic gas. The tiny Tamgotchi eggs are roomy enough most of the time, but there isn't much extra oxygen.
A Tam cramped in their tiny room with a pile of poop will quickly become ill from the toxic Tamagotchi-gas. No guest would take very much of this mistreatment . . . most return to their home planet in a few days.
This article was posted 12 June 1997
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