The Burton snowboard company is based in Vermont and many Vermont businesses and citizens are outraged by the Love-boards. Is this a question of free speech? Vermontonians pride themselves for being liberal -- but does this cross the line? Vermont is also known to be one of the healthiest states and a great place to raise a family. Would you want your kids skiing on the same slopes? Almost like having family night at Hooters.
I can hear some of the criticism already. Please know, I'm not being a prude or naive. I just don't understand why we should have to see, explain, justify, address, or even have that conversation with our 3+ year old(s)? Yes, I know they will eventually see this and be exposed to this junk at some point -- but really, while we're skiing?
I get that it is all about money -- but don't parents have a say? How many 18 year old boys are making $400 to pay for this board? Unless that 18 year old is living on his/her own (ie., food, house, clothing, school, & all) - it is the parents' money buying this stuff. Why are parents today such wimps? Why cave in? Just say no.
And, for those on the same fight... yes, I know... there is more to this than free speech. How wrong is it to have a naked lady on a snowboard? Pro-Love-Boarders think it is just for fun. They fail to see the sexualization and how desensitized our society is becoming to these issues. The more we see it, the less shocking it becomes. Does that make it right though?
To see the pictures on the Love-Boards, click here: http://www.bloggingstocks.com/photos/burton-snowboards-too-sexy-for-the-slopes
-- Rebecca
19 comments:
Where do you find these Rebecca?
I like to think I'm pretty open minded. I really don't see this as a freedom of speech issue, its pushing the envelope to far. Tasteless and tacky.
I hardly see the family night at Hooter's comparison. Hooters girls are fully dressed, kids see more at the beach.
I think that is exaclty the issue "anonymous". I don't think the issue is the lack of clothing as much as it is the sexualization being made so present and available to young, non-sexualized, impressionable minds. Plus, I think Hippy Chick says it best... it's just tasteless and tacky (and that goes for Hooters! too).
I agree with the following from chickchatmom, "I don't think the issue is the lack of clothing as much as it is the sexualization being made so present and available to young, non-sexualized, impressionable minds." But I would also add that this extreme sexualization, exploitation, and objectification is problematic not only for the non-sexualized, impressionable minds of little kids, but perhaps even more so for teenagers who are in the midst of forming their own moral convictions, while an out-of-wack, overly and overtly sexualized society spins out of control. How can we expect our teenagers to make moral choices when the world glamourizes and promotes promiscuous and dangerous sexual behavior? Tracy PS, don't get me started on Hooters.
As a former employee of Hooters, I still don't see what all the fuss is about. Extreme sexualization, exploitation, and objectification is far more present at a place like Abercrombie and Fitch. Hooters hires girls of all shapes, sizes and age whereas A&F hires people based solely on looks and sex appeal. Hooters may have girls wearing tight shirts and short shorts, however they are hired based solely upon personality and sense of humor. Yes, their motto is "delightfully tacky, yet unrefined" but am I the only one who finds humor in that?? They have "oldies" music playing on the speakers, sports on the TV and dare I say it, a children's menu!!! I am far more offended by the horror movie ads that run during prime time TV than I am about Hooters or even a "love board" for that matter. I hope that I haven't offended anyone too terribly, I am just adding fuel to the fire for a spirited debate. I truly feel that if we are to expend energy on important things to teach our children, it should be the preservation of human life in places such as Darfur and the places that feel the need to exterminate other forms of human life. I feel as if we are going to have to deal with sexuality in some shape, form, or fashion. It is 2009, and be it a racy Levi's ad or smut in the grocery store aisle, or even Bratz dolls we are going to have to get used to it. For every email we send to Levi's vowing to boycott their product, they are selling 100 pairs of jeans, and in the grand scheme of things sex sells so there is little we can do about it. I am of the mindset that our children will follow our lead. I believe that if we make a big deal of these things and make them seem taboo that our children will be that much more drawn to them. I think that it is our responsibility to not even acknowledge the love boards and all of the other inconsequential items that we may encounter. As soon as we win a "smut free" aisle at the supermarket, it will be the one that is always closed, just like the candy free aisle.
Anonymous (BTW, it would be nice to know your name),
As a Christian, it is my goal/duty/mission to contribute to building the Kingdom of God here on earth ("Thy Kingdom come"). Part of that is fighting "evil" in all of its forms; both natural evil and moral evil, the evil that happens to people and the evil people do. I will not give up in the fight against disease, poverty, exploitation, objectification, genocide or any other earthly problem, no matter how hopeless the situation seems to be. I refuse to "get used to it" as you suggested in your post. Might sound "pie in the sky" but that's what I am called to do as a follower of Christ. Tracy
This has evolved into a "hot topic". I've read all the great feedback and the beach comment is noteworthy. However, going to Hooters w/your family is a choice, you know what you're getting into. Many parents decide a beach destination based on their family friendliness. For example, I would NOT take my kids to Gay Head on Martha's Vineyard (a nude beach). Sorry anonymous our country has become desensitized enough already...I stick by my position, the boards are tasteless, inappropriate and simply for shock value. I would also have no problem asking a kid to lower his board if he was standing in front of me and my kids at a ski resort!!!
Once again Hippy Chick- you've pegged it. It is about choice, and that is what is so hard with much of what we're talking about. Even if you make the good choices -- you are still bombarded with tasteless and tacky stuff that you just can't "control".
I often think that sometimes it is just a matter of bringing it to the attention of others - if you don't have kids, you might not realize how offensive it is. (And yes, then there are some that just don't get it at all or just don't care).
I hear ya anonymous, and you are right too.... those beaches are dangerous - cover it up already!
I'm for moderation - I love our active debate. I hope we keep it up! - Reb
And as for Darfur and all -- I'm with Tracy. I say we do as much as we can -- but come on, we're not Angie!
Sorry Tracy, I'm not going to reveal my name, only for fear of becoming the laughing stock of the blog for being a former Hooters employee (no matter how long ago it was). Where I myself do not find the "love boards" overly offensive, I certainly wouldn't hesitate to re-direct my children should we come face to face with one. But what are the odds that we will? My children or I wouldn't be riding the lift with a snow boarder, and on the slopes they whiz past us so fast that we wouldn't even catch a glimpse of it then. The only time I think we would truly come face to face with it would be if it was propped up outside the lodge, in which case I would turn around and walk the other way to a totally different rack (hopefully on the other side of the building) to rest our skis. I agree that these boards are purely for shock value, and I just won't give them the satisfaction. I would like to thank Rebecca for bringing these boards to our attention, otherwise I may not have been on the look out for them to avoid them, especially when my children are with me.
Oh and BTW Tracy, I love your conviction and do not think that your views are "pie in the sky" at all. I, too, am a christian, maybe just a tad more liberal though. I try to remember that the Bible also says, judge not, lest ye be judged. Oh and Hippy Chick, I had no clue that we even had nude beaches in the US, good to know that too. Once again, I am only trying to add my view to keep our debate going. Oh, and for the record, I don't take my family to family night at Hooters, I monitor their TV viewing very closely so that they won't have to see the racy ads or the horror movie commercial, and when the time comes that my kids pay more attention to the magazines than the candy at the grocery store, I will promptly turn the covers around so that they can't read the Cosmo headlines, but right now, my battles are over bubble gum, and I am so thankful that even if it is only for now, that's all.
I just have to say -- wow! What a great conversation and I think we have all gotten something from it! I feel like I know all you a little bit more! And hey, Hooter chick -- you're not the only one on chickchat that's been a Hooter girl! You've got some company.
With that said --- Anonymous or Hippy Chick... want to name our new topic? Email us if you have some thoughts. - Reb
Anonymous,
Possibly my # 1 Bible-verse-quoting pet peave is quoting "judge not lest ye be judged" (Mt.7:1) out of context. If you read Matthew Ch. 7 in its entirety (and the associated commentary) you will see that Jesus was speaking about hypocrisy: when a person judges someone else for a sin that he or she, too, is committing to an even greater degree. Verse 5 says, "You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother's eye." He certainly doesn't say to ignore the beam or splinter in the eyes! We have to make sure we are living a moral life first, then we need to try to help others do the same. Tracy
I'm NOT JUDGING anyone who buys them...my opinion is the production of them is in poor taste.
I was also thinking...What would all of our reactions be if it were a half naked guy subtly exposing his private part????
p.s. I don't care if anyone works for Hooters...whatever pays your bills : )
After re-reading and re-reading again, I think I need to clarify my last post. When I quoted "judge not lest ye be judged" I was absolutely not implying that that is what other people should do (even though I can definitely see how it could have come across that way). I was merely trying to provide some insight as to my line of thinking. I refer to that quote in the Bible often for myself, only in my own thoughts. I am of the opinion that Christ was the only perfect being to walk on our earth, that we are all sinners, and therefore for me to judge someone Else's sin would in turn make me yes, a hypocrite. I remind myself of that so that I remember to turn the other cheek. I apologize greatly if it came across that I was saying that anyone here was judging anyone else,or not living morally. I would never tell anyone else how to live or what to think, personally I prefer to go with live and let live, and that was all I was trying to convey.
Dear Anonymous, I think you raise a great point. Bible verses are for what they bring to us (i.e., how they help us and bring us closer to God). I think that is what makes Bible verses so special to us. - Reb
Anonymous,
I don't mean to be picking on you, but some of the things you say just push my buttons! We obviously hold two different worldviews. You said, you "prefer to go with live and let live" whereas I tend to take the position of "all that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing" (Edmund Burke). Live and let live works only to a degree... but there comes a time when people have to stand up for what is right and fight against what is wrong. If we don't fight evil, it will continue and ultimately prevail. The history of humanity attests to this(slavery, genocide, racism, sexism, the list could go on and on). All these evils were fought against... a "live and let live" philosophy would have never ended slavery. Tracy
Tracy,
I have to say that I love the conversation we are having, I would absolutely love to meet you one day! I am so glad to know that you aren't trying to "pick on me" because I was beginning to wonder, LOL. I am sorry that I have pushed your buttons, that was truly not my intent. Please know that I would NEVER stand idly by and let things like slavery, genocide, racism, sexism or any crime against humanity take place. I agree 100% with the quote you gave from Edmund Burke. My "live and let live" philosophy was in regard to the love boards. I try to choose my battles, and I just don't see love boards as a battle that I myself would fight with Burton or the silly kids who feel as if they need to snowboard while standing on a 1970's playboy model. If the love boards depicted an underage female (or male for that matter) I would fight to the hills to have them banned, as I am sure all of the women posting here would.
In my relatively small skiing experience, I have found that the young snow boarders (who the love boards are geared towards) take great pride in pushing the envelope. I think that the love boards are a fad, and as long as I am not adding fuel to that fire, they will fall by the wayside.
So yes, as far as the love boards go, I will continue to live and let live, but if there is a fight for the rights of humanity, you can look to your left or right and I will be there beside you.
Nicely put Anonymous !!!
My Bible's translation of Mt. 7 reads, in part,
"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults - unless,of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say,"Let me wash your face for you," when your own face is distorted by comtempt? It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your own part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
Don't be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don't reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you're only being cute and inviting sacriledge."
Mt. 7, The Message
(I'd sign my name, but these aren't my words. I just thought maybe we could all use a little refresher.)
I also think that the best way to further the Kingdom is to tell one another about GOD, and to let each one seek God's views in His own words....I find that God is usually way better at expressing Himself than I am!
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