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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to hav felt physically sick at this desplay in Poundland?

275 replies

MrsFruitcake · 23/01/2011 14:35

Only popped in because it's DS's birthday next week and someone told me they sell big bags of balloons in there.

Get a pack, and approach the till area with DD (who is 7). On the till end, in clear view to everyone queing, is a display of Condoms and pink vibrating 'love-rings' - cock rings I suppose they would be better known as.

The pinkness of the boxes they are in and the word 'ring' catches DDs attention and she wants to know what they are for. There was definite sniggering from the couple behind us as I struggled to find the right words. I told her they were for grown ups to wear, which wasn't a lie, but she kept pressing me on it and I had to tell her to be quiet in the end.

DD is totally clueless about sex, but even if she weren't, I still don't think I'd like to have to explain what they are for.

I am no prude - but am I right to be angry about the fact that Poundland display them in such a prominent position, exactly where the sweets would normally be? It's wrong on so many levels IMO. I will be writing to them tomorrow.

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 23/01/2011 19:39

ditto chippin

a) just tell her
b) make something up
c) tell her you will tell her when you leave the shop.

Condoms I would explain they are to stop grown ups making babies when they aren't ready for them.

Cock rings - I would tell her that they are toys for grown ups, not little girls.

No big deal.

yes they are prob not in the best place by the till/sweets but often condoms are by the till in our local somerfield, and i dont have the problem with them

what i do have a problem is dh and i brought a cock ring from ann summers and paid much more than a £1 for it - if only i had known my local poundshop sold them ....... Grin

bubblewrapped · 23/01/2011 19:46

I think by 7 it's hightime your child knew about sex

Really??? I would disgree. I think at 7 kids should still believe in Santa, the Tooth Fairy, and really not need to know anything about sex.

Maisiethemorningsidecat · 23/01/2011 19:47

I'm sure you paid more for quality

PatFig · 23/01/2011 19:49

You should go to The 99p store,you can get them cheaper

Maisiethemorningsidecat · 23/01/2011 19:49

Bubble - totally agree. I'm actually quite surprised at some of the posts on here, and we're pretty liberal here. Why do children of 7 have to know about condoms, and why should parents be put in the position of having to explain what a cock ring is?

ReclaimingMyInnerPeachy · 23/01/2011 19:50

Anyone noticed how you get berated on here for having kids when you are poor but if the cheap shops sells contraceptives that's terrible.........

You pay what you have. Oh I know there are sexual health clinics where they are free: three buses it would take to reach ours. About £6.

Not that i;ve bought them but it's the principle: thee are kitemark or whatever they are called standards to look for on condoms, that should be enough.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 23/01/2011 19:52

YANBU - totally inappropriate to be at eye level for a child. People have the right to define their own morals. I think an awful lot of people would be very uncomfortable with this and by the till means that you can't avoid them unless you avoid the shop altogether.

falsemessageoflethargy · 23/01/2011 19:52

cor I need to get out more, or go into a poundland

Of course condoms should be on display in easy to reach places though - they are very easy to explain to a child and the embarrassment factor of having to ask puts people off - I remember dh having to ask on holiday for them, in Italian obviously because they are kept behind the till - he said it was an awful decision, he really wanted us to have sex and yet he really didnt want to try and ask for them in italian - he was worried they wouldnt understand and he would have to use gestures. Grin

oldraver · 23/01/2011 19:52

Kate.. our local 99p shop has loads of condoms but after realising our bargain 4 pack of Topics only had 3 days left on them we remarked we wouldn't trust 99p condoms

ReclaimingMyInnerPeachy · 23/01/2011 19:55

Where do they think they should be?

On a high level so anyone in a wheelchair has to ask for nhem in an embarassed factor, perhaps?

Eye level matters for many people, you know?

bubblewrapped · 23/01/2011 19:55

Maisie, to be honest, the fact that they were there does not bother me... I am more than capable of telling a child that "no, you cant have it, you dont need to know what it is", and thats, that.

Kids are walking past things all day long that they dont need to have explained to them in graphic detail.

But at 7 years old, they do not need to know about sex at all.

ReclaimingMyInnerPeachy · 23/01/2011 19:57

A friend's DD started her periods at 8.5.

The sex talk amongst the 11 year olds at our primary is constant; 7 year olds in the playground hear it.

better correctly informed (at age appropriate level) than beleiving the drivel that is out there IMVHO.

Boobalina · 23/01/2011 20:01

Pink cock rings for a quid in poundland - this is the best thread ever.

Maybe they are pink so they 'blend' in? and all you notice is big hard cockage?

Maisiethemorningsidecat · 23/01/2011 20:04

I actually don't have a problem with 7 year olds knowing the very basics, but cock rings? Nope. I'd just say that I have no idea what they are and walk on, but it's the normalisation of sex toys to the extent that they are at a till that makes me a bit Hmm.

ReclaimingMyInnerPeachy · 23/01/2011 20:09

Sex toys should be normal, they can promote variety within a healthy sexual relatio0nship: what's not to like?

I can;t see why one would have to explain the exact nature of a pink box tbh. There must be a million innocuous items one could claim they are- kettle descaler? toi0let block?

distractedhousewife · 23/01/2011 20:09

I don't think I could get my OH to wear a PINK cock ring, which probably explains why they were in Poundland...

Blondeshavemorefun · 23/01/2011 20:12

i think 7yrs should know the basic knowledge of how babies are made and what condoms are for etc

before you know it they get to 10/11 and then you and they squirm when you mention sex

short simple explanations

im still Hmm Grin that i paid £18 for ours

in future all you need to say is that its something for adults if they ask what a cock ring/etc is

Maisiethemorningsidecat · 23/01/2011 20:14

Why should they be normal to that extent? If you want to use them, fine, but it's also important that shops respect the fact that not everyone wants to see them beside the till. Stick them in the toiletries aisle FFS.

ReclaimingMyInnerPeachy · 23/01/2011 20:15

I don;t have an issue with them being anywhere and can't say I exactly have Ann Summer's stock upstairs

but

Why shouldn't they be normal to any extent?

Maisiethemorningsidecat · 23/01/2011 20:20

I didn't say that they shouldn't be normal to the extent that shops shouldn't stock them - I said that they should respect the fact that some people may be offended, and think about where they site them. Hardly difficult to do.

PrincessScrumpy · 23/01/2011 20:22

They sell them in poundland - wow, I've never been in, now I really don't want to go in!

Swimming pool was playing Lilly Allen's song about a guy who can't satisfy her today at parent and toddler time. Thought that was inappropriate. I actually like the song, but never have it on in the car when dd is with me.

A1980 · 23/01/2011 20:24

What do you do when you go to Boots?

In my local Boots the condoms, cock rings and pregnancy tests are on the same aisle as the vitamins and other health and pharmacy items.

Shineynewthings · 23/01/2011 20:27

All those saying YABU what the big deal, 7 years olds should be clued up on condoms etc, presumably you would see nothing wrong if the local off-licences put a few of the adult mags down to the same level as the cbbc and dora the explorer mags then, or simply down on the lower tier? Then you could just say well 'those are just mags for adults' then?Hmm

OP YADNBU and you should have complained to the manager, I would have.

Maisiethemorningsidecat · 23/01/2011 20:29

What do I do when I go to Boots? Um, Boots don't stick the cock rings by the tills.

bupcakesandcunting · 23/01/2011 20:29

Be honest OP: how many did you buy?

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