'Boys Are Stupid' T-shirts under protest

Mr. Sinister · Post by **Mr. Sinister** » 2004-01-29 10:31pm

Just when you thought Americans were running out of things to take offense to. Link

NEW YORK (Jan. 29) - The T-shirts and pajamas are meant to be funny, with cartoon captions like "Boys Are Stupid - Throw Rocks At Them." But some protesters, encouraged by a fathers-rights talk show host, are unamused and have pressured three retail chains into dropping the merchandise.

The products in question - an array of girls' clothes and accessories - are manufactured or licensed by David & Goliath, a T-shirt company based in Clearwater, Fla.

Its chief designer, Todd Goldman, has created a series of cartoonish graphics used on the merchandise with what he intended to be humorously anti-boy themes. "Boys Are Smelly - Throw Garbage Cans At Them," says one. "The Stupid Factory - Where Boys Are Made," says another.

"I have a very quirky, sarcastic sense of humor," Goldman said in a telephone interview. "Most people just love the cartoons. If a few people don't like them, they don't have to buy them."

The graphics have been in use more than two years, but only recently came to the attention of Glenn Sacks, a commentator who hosts "His Side," a weekly radio show aired in Los Angeles and Seattle that is sympathetic to the fathers' rights movement and often at odds with feminists.

At Sacks' urging, listeners and supporters have contacted targeted retailers by e-mail and other means, urging them to stop selling the David & Goliath products. At least three retail chains, Seattle-based Bon-Macy's, California-based Tilly's, and Claire's Stores, Inc., an international chain, say they will no longer carry the contested items.

Bon-Macy's spokeswoman Kimberly Reason said about a dozen products ranging from boxer shorts to baseball caps were pulled from the chain's stores in five Western states because they displayed one of three captions: "Boys Are Stupid," "Boys Are Smelly," and "Boys Have Cooties."

Tilly's, which operates 32 stores in Southern California, responded immediately to the complaints by withdrawing all "Boys Are Stupid" items and canceling pending orders, senior vice president Sam Mendelsohn said.

"I agree with what the people said," Mendelsohn said. "It was a problem and we were not aware of it."

Claire's Stores, which operates more than 2,800 stores in North America, Europe and Japan, determined after an internal review that its branches were carrying only a few items - including cosmetic bags and lip balm - with the "Boys Are Stupid" graphics.

"We've canceled all pending orders that bear any of the slogans that people found offensive," company spokeswoman Marisa Jacobs said.

Sacks, in a telephone interview, said reaction to the protest campaign had been largely positive, although some people have suggested he was overreacting.

I'm sorry if I sound like a humorless zealot, but I just don't see the humor in it," Sacks said. "My 11-year-old son, whatever the joke is, he just doesn't understand it, either."

He contended that many marketers, while wary of offending women and minorities, "have developed a moral blind spot toward disparaging males."

Sacks argues that the "Boys Are Stupid" products promote anti-male violence; some of his supporters have challenged groups that combat domestic violence against women to endorse their campaign.

His complaints make sense to Joe Kelly, president of a Duluth, Minn.-based organization called Dads and Daughters that often opposes marketing pitches it views as detrimental to girls.

"There's a stupid notion that being pro-girl is being anti-boy - it just isn't so," Kelly said. "I can see where parents and kids of both genders would be offended."

Goldman thinks the idea that he's promoting violence is ridiculous. "If you look at the violence in rap songs, in video games - that's what they should be concentrating on, not a cartoon T-shirt," he said.

Like many targets of consumer protests, Goldman said the controversy about his products has boosted sales, especially over the Internet.

"It's the best advertisement I can ask for," he said. "We're one of the hottest junior lines out there."

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2004-01-29 10:36pm

Some of them are kind of bad though.

The cootie one I though was kind of cute. But still, what do you think the reaction would be if a guy was wearing a shirt that tells people to throw rocks are girls because they're stupid?

A lot of them aren't even trying to be cute either it seems like.

There is a double standard in this country regarding stuff like this.

justifier · Post by **justifier** » 2004-01-29 10:37pm

There is no emoticon to express what I'm feeling

Post by **Gandalf** » 2004-01-29 10:46pm

Call a guy fat and it's acceptable for whatever reason.

Call a girl fat and you're in shit over things like body acceptance.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2004-01-29 10:46pm

How about a compromise? Girls get to keep these shirts if guys get to keep the poster that says, "Freshman girls. Get 'em while they're skinny."

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-01-29 10:50pm

Durandal wrote:How about a compromise? Girls get to keep these shirts if guys get to keep the poster that says, "Freshman girls. Get 'em while they're skinny."

I agree. We should be allowed to half equal-oppurtunity offensiveness in our culture.

How bout one depicting a cartoon of a baby breast-feeding with the caption: Tits, they aren't JUST for groping anymore.

With a capture of a busty bikini-clad girl being groped by an anonymous hand opposite the prior picture.

What do you think?

Mr. Sinister · Post by **Mr. Sinister** » 2004-01-29 10:54pm

neoolong wrote:Some of them are kind of bad though.

The cootie one I though was kind of cute. But still, what do you think the reaction would be if a guy was wearing a shirt that tells people to throw rocks are girls because they're stupid?

A lot of them aren't even trying to be cute either it seems like.

There is a double standard in this country regarding stuff like this.

I see what you’re saying. That’s why I’m kinda torn. On the one hand, the t-shirts are meant to be harmless fun. I seriously doubt that girls will incite to violence against boys by just wearing these shirts.

On the other hand, you’re right that there is sort of a double standard. If a boy wore a shirt saying ‘Girls are stupid, throw rocks at them’ or ‘Girls are smelly, throw trash cans at them’, you’d have feminists foaming at the mouth. All that considered, I still don’t see the harm in them besides a few bruised egos.

Shaidar Haran · Post by **Shaidar Haran** » 2004-01-29 11:03pm

Durandal wrote:How about a compromise? Girls get to keep these shirts if guys get to keep the poster that says, "Freshman girls. Get 'em while they're skinny."

I definitely agree. No double standard, just equal oppurtunity offense.

Demiurge · Post by **Demiurge** » 2004-01-29 11:26pm

Just when I think feminist bullshit is all alone in its stupidity, something like this happens.

Still, I'd like to see that hypothetical "throw rocks at girls" shirt. If for nothing else, I'd like to see the reaction it would get.

AnimeJet · Post by **AnimeJet** » 2004-01-29 11:34pm

Haha, our local Hot Topic still sells that stuff... not that I shop there >.>
<.<

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2004-01-29 11:51pm

Mr. Sinister wrote:
neoolong wrote:Some of them are kind of bad though.

The cootie one I though was kind of cute. But still, what do you think the reaction would be if a guy was wearing a shirt that tells people to throw rocks are girls because they're stupid?

A lot of them aren't even trying to be cute either it seems like.

There is a double standard in this country regarding stuff like this.
I see what you’re saying. That’s why I’m kinda torn. On the one hand, the t-shirts are meant to be harmless fun. I seriously doubt that girls will incite to violence against boys by just wearing these shirts.

I know they're supposed to be harmless fun. Though some seem more meanspirited than others.

The real point is that if you make stuff like this acceptable for some groups, you have to do it for all groups.

The Aliens · Post by **The Aliens** » 2004-01-30 12:58pm

Saying "Boys are Stupid" is one thing, but saying "Throw Rocks at Them" is entirely different. Besides, how many girls are going to be able to pick up a garbage can to to throw anyways

?

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2004-01-30 01:01pm

Durandal wrote:How about a compromise? Girls get to keep these shirts if guys get to keep the poster that says, "Freshman girls. Get 'em while they're skinny."

Got a copy of that poster anywhere?

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2004-01-30 01:02pm

The Aliens wrote:Saying "Boys are Stupid" is one thing, but saying "Throw Rocks at Them" is entirely different. Besides, how many girls are going to be able to pick up a garbage can to to throw anyways ?

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2004-01-30 01:03pm

The Aliens wrote:Saying "Boys are Stupid" is one thing, but saying "Throw Rocks at Them" is entirely different. Besides, how many girls are going to be able to pick up a garbage can to to throw anyways ?

you would be surprised at how many girls are actually capable of that. especially when presented with proper motivation. . . .

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-01-30 01:07pm

So how many women think "Boys are Stupid - Throw Rocks at Them" is actually funny? And of those, how many would react with equal amusement to a T-shirt saying "Girls are Stupid - Pretend you love them so you get some"?

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2004-01-30 01:09pm

Honestly, I'm far more thick skinned than shrill feminists and therefore it doesn't bother me that they exist, but everyone above me is right; a big old double standard. Fortunately, any time it begins to bother me, I think about the Man Show and smile.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2004-01-30 01:15pm

Darth_Zod wrote:you would be surprised at how many girls are actually capable of that. especially when presented with proper motivation. . . .

Agreed. There are a few girls out there who are just looking for an excuse to go off on men. Case in point, the friend of my Algebra pupil. See, Pittsburgh is kind of covered in ice right now. She mentioned that her walk is covered in this thick ice, so I asked if she had any tools to break it up, you know? She didn't, so I offered, since I live reasonably close to where she lives, to lend her something to break up the ice. Then as an afterthought, I offered to just do it for her, since it would take me all of five minutes to break the ice and salt it, so I might as well if I'm over there. Her friend completely goes off on me, twisting my offer into an insidious suggestion that as a woman she can't break up her own ice and it was completely rude and condescending... et cetera. I swear, she was looking for a fight.

The Aliens · Post by **The Aliens** » 2004-01-30 01:19pm

Well, these are being marketed at little girls (maybe 8-13) and I have never encountered one that could throw a rock or garbage can with meaningful accuracy or force. This is just trying to offend people, they think that being anti-boy means they're pro-girl.

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2004-01-30 02:04pm

The Aliens wrote:I have never encountered one that could throw a rock or garbage can with meaningful accuracy or force.

A garbage can, no, but a 13-year old softball player could probably hurl a rock hard enough to crack someone's head.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2004-01-30 02:09pm

I agree that the "throw rocks at them" tag is going a little too far. Now if they just said "boys are stupid," I don't think there would be that much of a problem.

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2004-01-30 02:19pm

For that matter, what the hell ever happened to ____ rule, ____ drool? Hell, with that one you could market it to both genders!

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2004-01-30 02:33pm

Tsyroc wrote:
Durandal wrote:How about a compromise? Girls get to keep these shirts if guys get to keep the poster that says, "Freshman girls. Get 'em while they're skinny."
Got a copy of that poster anywhere?

It was boycotted at my school a few months ago, so the store carrying it stopped selling it. Apparently it was "damaging to young women's self confidence" or something. I wasn't aware that the mere existence of offensive posters damaged women's self confidence.

Zac Naloen · Post by **Zac Naloen** » 2004-01-30 03:00pm

I think these t-shirts are funny. But i do understand alot of people are more sensitive about these things than me.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2004-01-30 03:20pm

Durandal wrote:
Tsyroc wrote:
Durandal wrote:How about a compromise? Girls get to keep these shirts if guys get to keep the poster that says, "Freshman girls. Get 'em while they're skinny."
Got a copy of that poster anywhere?
It was boycotted at my school a few months ago, so the store carrying it stopped selling it. Apparently it was "damaging to young women's self confidence" or something. I wasn't aware that the mere existence of offensive posters damaged women's self confidence.

Of course it does. Women are incredibly strong individuals who are also weak enough to be damaged by the mere exsitance of offensive posters. Obviously.