749 replies to this topic

[Erika]

I imagine Folsom is just like any place else with regards to people's own private sex lives.  In fact, I've recently become aware of a fairly large swinger community in this town.  You might be surprised what your neighbors are doing in this "wholesome" town!

It's true that every town has their seedy side that people don't talk about. A lot of suburban neighborhoods are responsible for this. Granite Bay has a lot of swingers in the town. I know about it because my friend's parents were invited to some parties and at the parties not everyone swings so they did occasionally go. My friend went with her parents when she was younger and didn't realize it but remembered people going into rooms. Also, I had heard about it from another friend and a house we drove by had adults going in and they were dressed differently then most party folks would be dressed. I don't know for sure about that house but it did look like something might be happening. This was also in one of the more upscale neighborhoods in Granite Bay. Plus, there was some stuff happening at the Granite Bay country club awhile back but I don't need to go into that.

How did you find out about Folsom's swinger's community? All of the stories I've heard about are from friends or acquaintances.

[cybertrano]

I think it is going on in almost every community. No surprise there.

[Orangetj]

How did you find out about Folsom's swinger's community?  All of the stories I've heard about are from friends or acquaintances.

A couple we came to know through a class here in Folsom turned out to be swingers, a fact they do not hide. Over time, we met some of their "acquaintences" at non-swingin' parties and subsequently learned of more and more people in that community. Let's just say it was an eye opening experience to come to the realization that something I had only previously heard about on late night Cinemax was actually quite common.

[Adamal]

Where are our priorities? If we are worried about the 'family atmosphere' or
'wholesomeness' of our town, we should be show more concern for things like:

1) Rampant alcohol and drug abuse among our ever so wholesome community (for more info, please come to the Healthy Families Forum on Oct 26, 7pm, at the Folsom Community Center)

2) Racist flyers that have been distributed to our neighborhoods

3) Driving at excessive speeds, causing death and injury (join and embrace the 'Slow down Folsom' movement. More details coming)

These issues pose far greater threats to our wholesomeness and family atmosphere than a thong and dildo shop on Sutter Street.

Yes, Yes, Yes!!!

[pampChefLady]

I have to disagree. I think it does matter what they sell there. The items themselves are just inanimate objects, but they are intended to draw specific types of customers. And I don't think that'll be friendly local couples shopping for such stuff in broad daylight... By the way, I see no problem calling something "deviant" if it is obviously not practiced by the large majority of people - that's what the word means!

Anyway, like I was saying, the folks that are going to drive to Sutter Street to shop for this stuff are likely not the type of people my family wants to be chatting with while we eat our Snooks ice cream. Am I judgmental and discriminatory? When it comes to my children, you betcha!

This gradual acceptance of anything "personal and private" by our society is in my opinion dangerous and very much linked to teens' destructive behavior and self-esteem issues.

My 2 cents - have at it...

[Cloud9]

de·vi·ant ( P ) Pronunciation Key (dv-nt)

adj.
Differing from a norm or from the accepted standards of a society.

n.
One that differs from a norm, especially a person whose behavior and attitudes differ from accepted social standards.

Hmm.... 50% married.... 50% divorced..... which one is the norm in our society? I guess one of those two is deviant behavior.

Who's doing the fact checking? Anyone taking surveys in people's bedrooms? Or are we assuming they're telling anyone the truth?

Everyone denies all sorts of stuff.... oh I don't drink, oh I don't do drugs, oh I don't gamble, oh I've never paid for it, oh I would never buy those things, oh I've never been tied up, oh I've never this or that..... I guess it's just one perverted old man and his lady buying billions of dollars of this stuff...

[bishmasterb]

Well said cloud.

The adult industry is somewhere between $5Billion and $15Billion (depending on who you believe).

I don't see anything "deviant" about those sort of numbers. That is mainstream business.

[forumreader]

Thank you pampCheflady!!! I absolutely agree! And at the same time I strongly agree with stevethedad about how alcohol/drub abuse, racism and unsafe driving will harm our community. But I am opposed to this type of business in Folsom, especially on Sutter Street.

I am also a little disturbed by the discussion of the prevalence of swinging pornography and these other objectionable objects in our community. I suppose I am a little naive on the subject, and wish to remain so. But I do know enough to hold the opinion that these items and activities are not something I wish to advertise to my children or the other children of Folsom.

Whatever happened to the sanctity of what goes on behind closed doors? Can't people buy these seedy objects privately over the internet, and keep them off our streets?

[zyeen]

The items themselves are just inanimate objects, but they are intended to draw specific types of customers.  And I don't think that'll be friendly local couples shopping for such stuff in broad daylight...  By the way, I see no problem calling something "deviant" if it is obviously not practiced by the large majority of people - that's what the word means!

I would really like to know what type of people you think are using toys in there life? I am sure some of your neighbors are and you just do not know. Tell me do your children watch TV? Do you close there eyes so they do not see what is on daytime TV or TV in general? We have become people who can watch violence on TV but when it comes to sex we yell and scream about it. What is wrong with you people? Violence on TV is ok but a shop that will contains lingerie is bad? Ok so they will have adult toys in a back room behind a closed door where your children will not see it.

[Erika]

This gradual acceptance of anything "personal and private" by our society is in my opinion dangerous and very much linked to teens' destructive behavior and self-esteem issues. 

My 2 cents - have at it...

One thing I will say is that the family structure is a more important factor to teen's behvior problems then say a lingerie shop. I would also say that the TV shows they have on now are pretty "personal and private". Most of the shows aren't appropriate for kids and there really are no sitcoms anymore. It's a lot of this reality TV crap. Sure it's entertaining and I watch it...so I guess I can blame myself...but would I let kids watch it? Shows where people are getting plastic surgery and hooking up while they're with someone else...come on! I'm not saying we should eliminate them but there needs to be a better variety of family programs on TV. Whatever happened to shows like Full House...ok, I know you're thinking it was lame and unrealistic... but it's better then Temptation Island, The Swan, and many others.

[Orangetj]

I have to disagree.  I think it does matter what they sell there.  The items themselves are just inanimate objects, but they are intended to draw specific types of customers.  And I don't think that'll be friendly local couples shopping for such stuff in broad daylight...  By the way, I see no problem calling something "deviant" if it is obviously not practiced by the large majority of people - that's what the word means!

Anyway, like I was saying, the folks that are going to drive to Sutter Street to shop for this stuff are likely not the type of people my family wants to be chatting with while we eat our Snooks ice cream.  Am I judgmental and discriminatory?  When it comes to my children, you betcha!

This gradual acceptance of anything "personal and private" by our society is in my opinion dangerous and very much linked to teens' destructive behavior and self-esteem issues. 

My 2 cents - have at it...

Interesting points, but I respectfully disagree.

How would you picture the types of customers who would purchase lingerie and sex toys? I'd say it's highly doubtful that the reality would match what you're picturing. There are plenty of perfectly "normal" married couples who use sexual toys and aids in the privacy of their own homes....some of them may even be the parents of your childrens friends. What, exactly, is wrong with two loving people experimenting in their sex lives together?

In my opinion, the fat & sugar loaded food served at Snook's (mmm...yummy!) is probably more likely to harm your children than the people who would shop at the store in question! The drunk people stumbling out of one of the bars on Sutter Street and hopping into their cars are most definitely a greater threat than anything sold in that store.

[Cloud9]

Well said cloud.

The adult industry is somewhere between $5Billion and $15Billion (depending on who you believe).

I don't see anything "deviant" about those sort of numbers. That is mainstream business.

Also depends on how one defines the 'adult industry'... by some standards over half of the American public engages either directly or indirectly in the industry....

There was a show about it not too long ago either PrimeTime or 20/20 that went into a full hour on the subject, corporate America's involvement, the mainstreaming of the industry, etc.

So, by some people's definition, if you're not in the majority.... well then, you must be the deviant...

Ah the hypocrisy in our society... my favorite is the priests that claim the moral high ground and are then off molesting children.

[Erika]

Ah the hypocrisy in our society... my favorite is the priests that claim the moral high ground and are then off molesting children. 

Absoultly true!! That itself is a huge problem.

[Erika]

I am also a little disturbed by the discussion of the prevalence of swinging pornography and these other objectionable objects in our community.  I suppose I am a little naive on the subject, and wish to remain so.  But I do know enough to hold the opinion that these items and activities are not something I wish to advertise to my children or the other children of Folsom.

It is something that needs to be discussed to children to some degree. Maybe I misunderstood...I too don't think swinging is something kids need to know about...but with all the exposure out there through the internet there is a lot more kids get access to nowadays. It use to be you could hide things like a Playboy magazine but now kids are innocently being exposed to trash and measures need to be taken to eliminate that and also sex needs to be talked about. There are so many parents who don't properly protect their computers and even if they do then there is email, chat rooms, the list is endless.

[Orangetj]

It is something that needs to be discussed to children to some degree.  Maybe I misunderstood...I too don't think swinging is something kids need to know about...but with all the exposure out there through the internet there is a lot more kids get access to nowadays.  It use to be you could hide things like a Playboy magazine but now kids are innocently being exposed to trash and measures need to be taken to eliminate that and also sex needs to be talked about.  There are so many parents who don't properly protect their computers and even if they do then there is email, chat rooms, the list is endless.

This just made me think of something - if people go to the shop to buy their sex toys, at least they aren't exposing their computers and children to the pornographic pop ups and spam they'd likely get if they bought this stuff online. Just a thought.