LettersTeletubby incident: parents should teach children about consequences
- Readers discuss the saga of the broken Teletubby figure, the response to TVB’s use of brownface, and the struggles facing Hongkongers who move overseas
This story has gone viral, sparking a lot of internet debates about whether the kid’s family should bear the consequences, whether the store should have made the parents pay, and whether the parents should punish the child.
The first time I saw the video I was shocked; I can’t believe the shop would display a HK$52,000 figure with zero protection.
Still, if I was the store owner, I would of course want the customer to pay in full for what they broke; since I clearly stated the shop’s policy, customers should be aware of it and take care of their kids. Moreover, I would not return the money to the father just because of some voices on the internet.
On the other hand, as a parent, I would understandably not want to pay a penny. But while the mistake cannot be undone, it can be learned from: the parents should teach their child by explaining to him that he cannot lean on random things.