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Original poster

Have I hit peak feminist or am I reading too much into this

108 replies

NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 17:02

In paperchase today I was browsing with DD (8) who liked some notepads (obviously aimed to appeal to the girl / teen girl market).

I looked at the display and as a bit Hmm.

There were 3 designs,
1 an avocado (ok - unless I am missing something)
1 an aubergine (widely accepted text speak for penis)
1 a peach (widely accepted to refer to bums, and drawn like a bum really, and with a heart stamped on one cheek so it looked like an arse tattoed with a heart)

Are they doing this on purpose? It seems really odd. Lots of people (mums and kids) might not realise especially with the dick one.

Someone did a thread the other day about girls tshirts with cherries on as well.

It's deliberate isn't it. Why do they do this? Any ideas?

OP posts:
Theswaggyotter · 18/08/2018 21:47

It seems blatant to me. Ugh Sad

MaisyPops · 18/08/2018 20:10

The designer MUST know.

I'm all for hiding subtle adult jokes or innuendos into family things and humour that works on multiple levels, but this is beyond that. It is marketing a product to pre teens and early teens with sexual references so it's a bit grimy if I'm honest.

now I'll wait and see how many eggplant pencil cases turn up in September in school

MrGHardy · 18/08/2018 20:01

"Get three of your five a day and keep everything peachy keen with this hard shell pencil case, featuring three of our favourite emojis! The hard shell protects your most precious pens, pencils and stationery accessories, with an eggplant charm attached to the zip for that extra detail- what's not to love?!"

What the actual fuck? Do they not know why the eggplant is such a favorite emoji? Or is someone at paperchase trolling people, knows what it is and convinced others who have no clue with "it's popular" leaving out why that is.

This is despicable, it's clearly aimed at (small) children!

Original poster
NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 19:34

The idea of little kids taking this stuff to school and then being laughed at by older children and very upset / confused if/when they are told what it means is what's bothering me.

It's an invitation to a conversation which could be highly inappropriate. "Do you know what your pencil case means?".

OP posts:
thebewilderness · 18/08/2018 19:32

Adults have always done this with kids stuff.
Think of all the sexual innuendo in cartoons aimed at the seven to ten year olds.
I always imagine them with that creepy con man smirk on their face when they are being "creative".

Original poster
NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 19:31

cock, cunt, woman's arse.

why????????????????

It is clearly aimed at young girls / teen girls.

Utterly baffled. It must be on purpose. But it CAN'T be, surely? Because that's bizarre and grim and weird.

OP posts:
Original poster
NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 19:29

The "women love it on their face " (facials) reference was the one that jumped out at me!

The avocado may be a flase steer.

Cock and arse, no arguments around.

Weird as all fuck.

Imagine if I was like DH and didn't know and had sent her off to school with a notepad with emoji for penis on it?

What on earth do they think they are doing? I'm baffled. It can't be an unfortanate coincidence, but to do it deliberately means motivations that I can't begin to to fathom.

OP posts:
Joinourclub · 18/08/2018 19:28

I think avocado means vulva. That’s why it was on that ‘erotic’ book cover - Wetlands - a few years ago.

Have I hit peak feminist or am I reading too much into this
SoftSheen · 18/08/2018 19:25

According to that Urban Dictionary reference, 'Its name is derived from the Aztec word for testicle'. Not a coincidence, I think Hmm

Original poster
NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 19:20

I'm not sure though because why the avocado?

I will definitely update when (if) I get a response!

OP posts:
exaspirational · 18/08/2018 18:57

So essentially it's your basic funny willy/boobs type of object, that some people would always have found hilarious, just expressed via emojis and so not as obvious to everyone?

Say what you like about the more old fashioned kind of willy-based merchandise, at least it would have been pretty obviously not something a primary school aged child should take to school. You wouldn't expect to find the comedy chocolate willies in amongst the normal sweets!

Original poster
NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 18:00

"The hard shell protects your most precious pens, pencils and stationery accessories, with an eggplant charm attached to the zip for that extra detail- what's not to love?!"

You open the pencil case by pulling a little cock.

I am just ?????????? at this entirely.

OP posts:
Original poster
NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 17:54

Vicky not just you!

Ah fair enough Lass.

The cock and the arse are indistutable though.

I can leave the avocado.

OP posts:
LassWiADelicateAir · 18/08/2018 17:44

What does it say? The racism thing?

The New Statesman article was satire /parody

VickyEadie · 18/08/2018 17:37

COCK "I'm not racist" ARSE

I'm I the only one seeing a father Ted episodes mash-up here?

Original poster
NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 17:35

The facial thing fits more with the theme.

Cock, facial, woman's arse.

Anyway. Avocado aside Grin the other two are what they are. Cock and arse.

OP posts:
ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 18/08/2018 17:34

Used to describe a person, particularly a man, who is socially construed as straight by those around him/her, but in actuality is gay. Someone who goes undected on the gaydar spectrum. Thick, deceptive skin on outside, but a fruit on the inside

Alternatively

To go soft during sex
"Is the avocado soft?"

"It's not my fault!"

Of course everything on urban dictionary is made up ... 🥑

Original poster
NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 17:32

Did urban dictionary on phone!

"Women love it on their faces"

erm.

OP posts:
Original poster
NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 17:30

I can't open urban dictionary as I put some child controls on the new router the other day and half the things I try to get at are blocked!

What does it say? The racism thing?

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ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 18/08/2018 17:27

Well this was eye opening....

www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=avocado

Original poster
NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 17:27

Have sent this.
They had trouble recently with some cards I think and had to pull them from the shelves (sexually explicit or something).
I think maybe they have a weirdo in the design dept.

"Hello
I was in your shop today and my 8yo daughter was interested in some of your notebooks. One had an aubergine on and one had a peach on. The other was an avocado.
Fortunately I am aware that the aubergine emoticon means "penis" and the peach emoticon means "arse" and in fact the one on your notepad is even drawn to look like a bum with a heart tattooed on the cheek.
The other one was an avocado - I am not aware of any sex / body related thing for that, but prepared to be enlighted if there is.
My question is, given that your range is going to appeal strongly to girls and teen girls who may well not be aware of these meanings, why you are putting these particular emojis on them. What was the thought process? Is the expectation that the purchasers (female and often young) will be keen to buy notebooks that announce "penis" when they are using them?
It would be great if you could explain this design decision as, especially given your core market, it's completely baffling.
Thanks,

OP posts:
paintedwingsandgiantrings · 18/08/2018 17:25

Aubergine definitely means penis in text speak. And that peach does look just like a bum.

No you're not reading too much into it, the designer would have known, surely.

Clairetree1 · 18/08/2018 17:21

avocado always meant similar to fig. Only from a different angle, if you see what I mean. Both have represented female genitalia since roman times

Clairetree1 · 18/08/2018 17:19

avocado always meant vulva, but I'm going back 30 years....

On the other hand, fruit does sometimes just mean fruit

CardsforKittens · 18/08/2018 17:18

Just a guess. But my daughter says no one uses the avocado emoji as a euphemism so I must be wrong.

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