Can cheap VCD's damage DVD players?

[idoc]

Cheap commercial copies of VCD's are available in my country. Some people say that playing them on standalone VCD or DVD players can eventually cause damage to the player. Is there any bit of truth in this, or is this just a ploy to discourage people from buying them, and to get the original ones?

[dinesh]

Optical media does not come in contact while reading. I do not see any reason why it should damage the player. It is not like playing a cheap cassette tape which can damage the tape head.