I have received a really odd email from someone. They're asking me to give them advice on how to make their son into a puppet. At first I thought they meant a portrait puppet, but apparently not:

"I was wondering how to make him literaly into a puppet? like strings tied to his arms that kind of thing do you have any suggestions?"

I want to offer some useful advice on making puppets, but to be honest, I feel uncomfortable about mentioning tying someone's son with strings.

How should I reply? Should I simply say I can't help them, or should I suggest creating some sort of costume that has 'strings attached' (or some other puppet costume)?

It is always possible that their son is in a production where he has to play Pinocchio.   I think your idea about approaching it from a "costume" angle is a good.  You could also email them back and ask for more details on what then need.  For example you could ask them if this is for a production of  Pinocchio and if they well need a quick way for the "strings" to detach or be attached. That would give you a better idea of what they are after. It also does not hurt to be honest with them and say that their request caught you a bit off guard and you wanted to make sure this was not a situation where they thought they could actually control their child this way. If you started your email with that in a light way... for example... "You know that simply string tied to your child can not control them right?"  Ok that is not the best example but do you get my drift?

Sounds like a good approach. The person has really given me no specifics as to what they're after, just a sentence or two. I'll ask them to provide some more info, and suggest something for a costume.

I'm still a little wary, and though I normally assume the best of people, it's just such an odd question.

Oh terrible - I did as Shawn suggested and wrote back a suggestion for a costume puppet, and asked politely if it was for a play. This is the response back:

"No I just wanted to do a play in my house for some friends, detachable strings would be nice, I would like to have control over as much of his body as possible, so his legs, head, arms, shoulders and hands if possible. Is there anyway to do that? like the link you sent me but without the gloves, shoes and hat. Thank You. "

I did send on a link to a site that sells a children's marionette costumes:

http://www.costumecraze.com/PLAY112.html

... What do I do now? This just sounds a little weird to me.

OMG, that really offers a horrible picture in my mind. Na, you are right to feel uncomfortable with that request. They seem to want to control their child like an object, and that to me is appauling. Who knows, maybe the person who wrote this email is young and doesnt seem to think of the consequences. What may seem funny to them is in reality shocking and could be illegal. A bit like that famous picture circulating online about a baby being ducked taped to the wall. Seems funny, but in a very dark and morbid way i think.

If you are really uncomfortable with the idea, tell them. Its your right as a puppet maker and puppeteer to say what you think is or not appropriate.

Just my two cents,
Puppet hug,
SHould

Well, I got another reply back:

"http://www.makebelieve.com/images_product/large/Forum_Novelties/59586.jpg But I want more control of the strings. Does that make sense? I would like to be able to move the strings indepedpently if that makes any sence.  "

I think I might just say to them that the link I sent them pretty much matches the link they sent me, and that I really can't offer more info than that. I don't know how to make costume puppets anyway, so it's not like I can give good advice on the subject.

Given that there is so much news lately about people neglecting their children (over in the US and in Australia - some 28 year old mother didn't notice her children were dead until her eldest child 'smelt' something horrible a week later..)... It just makes me feel really cautious.

Na,

I have to agree that this has a very uncomfortable feel to it....If you feel that this is something you can not do or want to do...Simply turned down the job.  I understand your dilemma and empathize with you as well. However, I would have to say this is just a little to odd...I hope this helps.
Sincerely,

Spoon

Oh, it's not a job - just someone who wanted some advice. I definitely wouldn't take it up if it was.

Otherwise, as advice, it's sort of a grey area. There are legitimate reasons for making a costume like that, such as for a school play or a community event. But "just for home"? ... Well, anyway, I've done all I can, and hopefully there's nothing sus about it and it's just my imagination.

Well, I just went onto Yahoo Answers, and by accident saw this:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AlFc524lIXJdEDQSU6nqXjMjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20080703101922AApULWb

Apparently the person has asked four different times on Yahoo, and gotten various responses. (If you look at the person's profile on Yahoo, you'll see one other question asked that is of interest to this dilemma)

Do you know how old the child is.........
Simply answer back that you have problem with this and you can't answer it because because you don't like that kind of puppets. Explain is shortly and if they want this costum they will find it but not from you. Be Honest. Don't play around the problem. When you do that it going be growing that make it bigger and bigger.......
But are they going to do it on this way or aren't they thinking that you can't have more control. They have to pratice what movements the puppets make so the child knows what movements they make and looks like the puppeteer is in control.
Once I saw a dramaplay here in Holland that a puppeteer has a living marionette with real string like the ballerina picture I saw. They had to practice for a while before it looked like a marionette. The controll you have to pratice.
The word controll in combination with a kid calls a lot of not friendly going around with a kid. But are they going to do that....................
Be honest to them tell them that it looks like something you don't want, explain that you have to pratice the controll with a living marionette maybe they only wants to look the play like real moving as a marionette does. But that is the differences between an puppet marionette you have to control you have to move the strings and with a living person you have to pratice  a lot and it looks real .........................