749 replies to this topic

[Erika]

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.

Interesting point. It would probably be safer. Anytime a porn site is visited online then you are exposed to things that you're not even aware of. You can innocently access one and then BOOM you get unwanted email and spyware.

[Adamal]

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...

The gradual acceptance of these things is a good thing. The problems with our teens is that this stuff is not discussed. As a parent it is your duty to discuss this stuff and explain this stuff to your children. As far as the self esteem issues that is due to magazines and videos of people who starve themselfs and are air brushed. I've never heard a kid who had self esteem issues because of some Lingerie or sex toy.

If we hide this stuff (pretend it doesn't exsits) like it was in the 50's, we'll have another 60's generation.

As far as the type of element that it will bring depends on the type of store. If its a classy establishment like vicoria's secret then it won't be a bad thing. Even us upstanding citizens need a place to shop for our sex toys. I'm not saying that it should belong in the old folsom district but I'm also not saying it shouldn't.

[elvisff]

Absolutely I can say that.

Additionally, if a full blown adult store (no pun intended) opened on Sutter Street, I would visit the neighboring businesses and tell them that my family and I would no longer patronize their businesses with a store like that nearby. I can reasonable expect that they would put pressure on the landlord.

If enough people agreed with me, the store would leave. It's that simple. Money talks.

I am a little confused on what the biggie is. International Imports has "adult products" in the back of the stores and they are in a ton of American malls. You can buy printed pornography Borders. If the store is tasteful in nature, i.e. the way it presents itself, who cares. Lingerie in the front window is one thing, blacked out windows with neon is another. Additionally "ligerie shop" hardly suggests "full blown adult store". I would imagine an uptight town such as Folsom would have city regulations banning adult stores and strip clubs.

[Erika]

The gradual acceptance of these things is a good thing.  The problems with our teens is that this stuff is not discussed.  As a parent it is your duty to discuss this stuff and explain this stuff to your children.  As far as the self esteem issues that is due to magazines and videos of people who starve themselfs and are air brushed.  I've never heard a kid who had self esteem issues because of some Lingerie or sex toy. 

Yes, kids need to learn about sex from their parents. If not, they will learn about it from sources that might be questionable. Kids are very curious and sex can be a discussion at the dinner table....that is if parents are even sitting down as a family for dinner.

[Orangetj]

Lingerie in the front window is one thing, blacked out windows with neon is another

Aaahh...blacked out windows and neon...reminds me of this time when...uh, never mind!

[forumreader]

As far as the type of element that it will bring depends on the type of store.  If its a classy establishment like vicoria's secret then it won't be a bad thing.

I wouldn't call Victoria's Secret "classy." I recently saw one of their television commercials, and was embarrassed. I cannot take my boys shopping at the mall without being bombarded by ladies undergarments in shop windows. And it is not just the mall. I have to learn circuitous routes through Mervyns, Kohls, Walmart whenever I take my kids shopping. -- It would be much harder to avoid having your kids look at a "lingerie" shop window on Sutter St. -- I wonder if such a shop might just draw business away from Sutter St.

[Cloud9]

Aaahh...blacked out windows and neon...reminds me of this time when...uh, never mind!

Come on Orange! Share!

[Erika]

I wouldn't call Victoria's Secret "classy."  I recently saw one of their television commercials, and was embarrassed.  I cannot take my boys shopping at the mall without being bombarded by ladies undergarments in shop windows.  And it is not just the mall.  I have to learn circuitous routes through Mervyns, Kohls, Walmart whenever I take my kids shopping.  -- It would be much harder to avoid having your kids look at a "lingerie" shop window on Sutter St.  -- I wonder if such a shop might just draw business away from Sutter St.

Wow, underwear isn't the problem in our society. Mervyns, etc.. hardly has things that will harm your children...in my opinion. I knew of a lot of sheltered kids who grew up and turned out worse then those who weren't sheltered. If children don't learn about it from their parents then they will seek out info on their own. I think Victoria's Secret commercials are mild compared to perfume and cologne commercials and food and cheese and alchol and...

[Orangetj]

I wouldn't call Victoria's Secret "classy."  I recently saw one of their television commercials, and was embarrassed.  I cannot take my boys shopping at the mall without being bombarded by ladies undergarments in shop windows.  And it is not just the mall.  I have to learn circuitous routes through Mervyns, Kohls, Walmart whenever I take my kids shopping.  -- It would be much harder to avoid having your kids look at a "lingerie" shop window on Sutter St.  -- I wonder if such a shop might just draw business away from Sutter St.

I hate to say it, but it is going to be extremely difficult to keep kids from seeing ladies undergarments. Heck, when I was a young boy, I would sneak peeks at the underwear section of the JC Penney catalog when my parents weren't watching! When unsolicited swimwear mailers came out, I was sure to sneak at least one away to look at. This stuff has been on display in malls for a long time and I just don't personally think it causes any harm. It is just underwear fercryinoutloud, and everybody wears it. What harm is it going to cause? Boys are going to have "impure thoughts" no matter what steps are taken...that is nature at work.

[Orangetj]

Come on Orange! Share! 

I'd better not!

[Erika]

I wouldn't call Victoria's Secret "classy."  I recently saw one of their television commercials, and was embarrassed.  I cannot take my boys shopping at the mall without being bombarded by ladies undergarments in shop windows.  And it is not just the mall.  I have to learn circuitous routes through Mervyns, Kohls, Walmart whenever I take my kids shopping.

It's not the product the kids will be exposed that will affect them...it's how the parent's react that will catch their attention. If parent's overreact to things like underwear then kids will be drawn to it more. Kids are more impacted to the reaction their parent's give then the product itself.

[Steve Heard]

If we have Victoria's Secret in every mall, and Fredrick's of Hollywood in every other one, and our kids go to those, what's the issue if it's on Sutter?

The place will have a restricted area for adults.

What are we afraid of, that our kids will get some adult to go in there and 'buy up' for them?

Kid pacing outside of lingerie store, stops a friendly looking older man: "Excuse me..um...mister...can..can you go buy me..um...a...um...."

"Vibrator, son?" the man interrupts.

"Yes! Would you?" the kid says with relief.

"Of course I will, I was young once. Give me the money, and meet me on the corner".

FYI, there is a sex toy shop just 2 exits away, on Sunrise. My wife has been invited to no less than 2 'pleasure parties' since we moved here. Both times, they were given by upstanding women of our community. For those of you who don't know, pleasure parties are similar to Tupperware and Pampered Chef parties, except that instead of selling gadgets for the kitchen, they sell gadgets for the bedroom.

We are making too big a deal out of this.

[Orangetj]

My wife has been invited to no less than 2 'pleasure parties' since we moved here. Both times, they were given by upstanding women of our community.

Mine, too! In fact, she gets invited to one every couple of months. This seems to be the latest fad in multi-level marketing. The people that went were not exactly people one might typify as depraved, sex addled, perverted women - just normal married ladies looking to "spice up the night" a bit! More power to 'em, I say.

[Adamal]

I wouldn't call Victoria's Secret "classy."  I recently saw one of their television commercials, and was embarrassed.  I cannot take my boys shopping at the mall without being bombarded by ladies undergarments in shop windows.  And it is not just the mall.  I have to learn circuitous routes through Mervyns, Kohls, Walmart whenever I take my kids shopping.  -- It would be much harder to avoid having your kids look at a "lingerie" shop window on Sutter St.  -- I wonder if such a shop might just draw business away from Sutter St.

Forgive me for saying this but I feel sorry for your children. You sheltering them is not going to help them. There is nothing wrong with ladies undergarments and I'm sorry but your children will not be cursed or be hurt by seeing it. It would be best to go past those things and explain them to your children. If you hide it from them it will only make them more curious, if you talk to them about it, it won't be a big deal.

Growing up it was the sheltered kids that always lost control once they became teenagers. The ones that were exposed to it early had not problems. The trick is to talk to your kids about it.

forumreader this was not an attack on you or the way you raise your kids. I am sure you have good reasons for what you do. I was just using what you said to make a point.

[forumreader]

Well now I'm completely humiliated! (Should have kept my prudish, Victorian sentiments to myself. ) But I still don't want that shop on Sutter St.!

And don't feel sorry for my kids. They're doing just fine. (Besides, these days it would be nearly impossible to shelter a child even if one wanted to.) We do talk to our older son quite openly and honestly about issues pertaining to sexuality, drugs, safety and other adolescent challenges..... However, I am still going to be embarrassed by watching a Victoria's Secret commercial or walking past their store with my 13-year-old son or my father!