Ballys, Curves, and World Gym...have I got an idea for you! I am copyrighting the idea and expect dividends to arrive before you use this fantastic idea.
You ever hear of banks giving out ipods for joining? (Actually, that's how I got mine!) Well, my copyrighted idea is for these fitness centers to give away a free Wii after 3 months paid membership.
It's a complete shoe-in success partnership! Because apparently you're suppose to get in shape BEFORE you use the Wii.
Seriously...there's been a spate of injuries, shoulder pulls, twisted ankles, twisted minds....and so now retailers are worried about Wii injuries.
Can you blame them? Check out this photo
They look absolutely maniacal! Like serial somethings!
The WSJ even took time out of their busy schedule to put up a satire piece on the Wii:
So, we've all had a good laugh when it comes to the "Wii injuries" meme -- retailers worried about flailing arms during demos, websites publishing tongue-in-cheek guides to potential hazards, and a few folks breaking TVs, beer mugs, and the like -- but it must be a pretty slow news day if an esteemed publication like the Wall Street Journal has space to print a completely serious, anecdote-driven piece on the supposed physical dangers inherent to the Wii experience. In a nutshell, author Jamin Warren interviewed a handful of people and, based on their tales of aches and pains following heavy Wii usage, concluded that a dangerous epidemic of sprained wrists and sore muscles is about to strike the world of gaming. Unfortunately for his thesis, almost everyone quoted in the story -- a 12-year-old girl, computer programmer, and a weightlifter -- come across as out-of-shape in the first place (even the lifter eschews cardiovascular exercise), so is it any wonder that this rare physical exertion caused some aches and pains? Or, as Nintendo's Perrin Kaplin so aptly puts it, "[Wii] was not meant to be a Jenny Craig supplement; if people are finding themselves sore, they may need to exercise more." Kaplin also points out that while it may be fun to swing the Wiimote around like a maniac, all of the games can be played perfectly adequately with small movements while sitting on the couch.
And the WSJ warns that your injury lawsuit won't pass the laugh test, and I completely agree.
The lawyer might get his exercise laughing you out of his/her office and if that doesn't happen first, then I'm sure the judge will find the proper motion to swing her gavel without injuring herself. (Maybe he's been Wii'ing too.)
