to hav felt physically sick at this desplay in Poundland?

[MrsFruitcake]

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.

Any condom, whetehr costing £ 1 or £50, should be in date and have a BSi kitemark. Surely everyone checks for that?

Condoms costing £50

I bloody hope you get a maid to put it on for you for that!

You would HOPE people would check!

You kidding me love? Am a carer; I get £50 a week LOL.

But they are out tehre: the market caters for all tastes after all. And wallets.

"It depends - you get the ones that are supposed to keep the blood in the penis, or the ones that have tickers or vibro fronds for thrush inducing "lady pleasure" but i think I'd probably achieve a better orgasm at 3 creme eggs for a quid."

That quote from Binfullofmaggotsonthe45 is my quote of the week [week]

For the record. Not good to have condoms and cockrings on display where sweets are supposed to be. But am also genuinely amazed that they sell cock rings in Sainsbos.

To be fair I would only eat two, then i could pop one up my fanjo like an economy love egg.

Nah, who am I kidding, I'd never waste a creme egg on such idiotIc persuits!

I think my local Morrisons had the right idea on the placement of their condoms... Next to the calpol! :o

oh for goodness sake, leave the OP alone. she felt sick, so what. she's right, they shouldn't have been there. it was inappropriate and you, OP, are right to complain. as for the sniggering.. reminds me of, back in the old days when there were horse-drawn carriages in the street, I used to complain about the 'top shelf' mags on full display for all to see. 'all' being children - that was my point. got sniggered at, sneered at, constantly, told I was a prude, frigid, all the usual boring stuff. now most of the 'top shelf' mags are behind an opaque shelf so CHILDREN can't see them. that's the point.

now what to do about the sleazy dailies with camera shots up celebs skirts, right there practically on the floor, for any child to see and wonder about the nastiness of it. we may be obsessed with sex and want to flaunt our liberal view of sex and snigger at and humiliate people who don't feel the need to do that, but that shouldn't be foisted on children. if you want to use a pink vibrating cock ring in your own time then fine - if you want to buy one then go to somewhere that children don't.

You know, earlier on in this thread someone said (and I am sure she was not the only one) "I think by 7 its high time your child knew about sex" and no one said a thing. No one came back with any outrage or disgust and the theme of this being a huge joke seems to have carried on.

How much should a 7 year old know? Should they be "healthily" sniggering at cock rings by that age? I don't know about the OP feeling physically sick by what she saw at the till, I'm feeling distinctly queasy reading all these comments about letting children know all about sex ASAP.

There's a difference between carefully explaining how loving relationships result in babies to a 7 year old and showing them sex toys - these two actions are not both normal. Or on a child coming across a sex toy accidentally, deliberately explaining it to them (no matter how hilarious you find their reaction). Children are becoming increasingly sexualised, increasingly early. Don't take my word for it. Read up on it, look at the research. Consider. Its not ok, its a problem but I'm not surprised reading how many posters here think its either an enormous joke or something which a parent should actually aspire to.

I agree with you OP - totally inappropriate in a family store. They should have been top shelf only!

Condom = healthy sex

Cock ring = a personal sexual choice that is frankly a bit weird!

Both together next to the balloons in poundland = surely a joke

All I know is if I'd said to dd aged 7 'they're toys for adults/prevent babies, etc' I'd have received a barrage (sp?) of further questions in a loud and piercing voice

I'll never forget at thge Dr's - 'Whats a smear test, mummy?' and the whole waiting room turning to me for an answer!

For the record, my DD was only 7 in October. It's MY decision over when to tell her about sex, and she hasn't been asking any questions, so I don't want to do it right now.

Mumsnet have a campaign against sexualising our little girls, surely telling them about sex BEFORE they are ready comes under this banner?

I am not repentant for saying I felt ill, I did, and I wonder how many other parents have seen the display and felt as I did, but kept quiet for fear of being branded a prude?

Whilst I agree with you up to a point (7 year olds don't need to know what a cock ring is) - feeling physically sick is a bit of an over-reaction, surely??

Get em educated I say - and if that means answering embarrasing questions at an early age so be it. Perhaps then our un-enviable teenage pregnancy rate will start to decrease.

A smear test? What a test to see if mummy could be ill or not? I find it easier to answer question that have a really technical answer - ie the doctor will look under his microscope for cells that have changed and arent doing what they are supposed to etc. Whats hard to answer about that - that it takes place where it does is neither here nor there surely?

Much rather that then - do you believe in god - why dont you, why do they? why does x believe in a different one etc etc.

should this thread be linked to martin @ money saving expert because if these are vibrating cock rings they are surely a bargain at £1!

Berocca - "get em educated" - what in?

How babies are made, or sexual techniques? There is only a certain level of knowledge that a 7 year old can cope with - cock rings are over and above that. Are you seriously suggesting that you would, or already have, talked to a 7 year old about sex toys?

Its our job to protect children giving them just enough knowledge each year that they can handle, not shove it in their faces. Why is a display of sex toys directly connected to children having proper, timely and age appropriate sex education? I just cannot get that connection.

I don't think yabu MrsFruitcake.
I agree with one poster who said that they should be in a sex toy shop.
Totally inappropriate for them to be on display at a till there. I have open discussions with my 9 year old about sex, she's asked and i've answered honestly but i see this as something different. I certainly would not want to have to explain what that was.
I think you're right to complain, it's disgusting.

'want to buy one then go to somewhere that children don't.

'

back to Waitrose then!

They've beene verywhere for ages, since Durex launched it's own range.

you see false I love the questions on different gods, why etc.

i think those chats are so amazing.

Sex is important to discuss but at 7 so bland: if two people love each otehr etc.

Philosophy is everything.

MrsNonSmoker - my reply stated that 7 was to young to be told about cock rings. My response of get 'em educated was clearly referring to embarrasing questions.

I was also suprised at the OP's assertion that she felt physically sick. Really - come on....

Oh Peachy - you are putting me to shame - I just find them so very tiring

On the Friday school run we did the war in the Pacific, god knows where he got his glimmer of info about that. he's 7. I found myself explaining nuclear bombs. It was really satisfying though - the first time he's listened intently for ages and ages.

Sorry have drifted away from the cock rings

Well the BA in religion and philosophy migt help , though the boys do philosophy in their (state) school bt get a lot of creationism as well so have had to become adept at pulling it apart.

Creationist cock rings. Now there's a thought.

I think having sex toys placed prominently in shops is reinforcing the general sexualisation of society which is affecting children. From the clothes they wear to the toys they play with (eg thinking Bratz).

Of course for a healthy attitude sex shouldn't be a secret from children or shameful, but a basic knowledge at a young age should be sufficient.

A blasé attitude suggesting 7yr olds should know about sex toys, and what else? Sexual positions? Dirty talk? Slutty lingerie? All a normal part of many adult sex lives, but are you really saying necessary for a 7yr old to know?

I find that very disturbing.

I think sex is for adults.

I think children should not be exposed to explicit sexualisation or sexual ideas.

As they are children.

Fine knowing what sex is and that adults do it to express love and make babies, but an exposure to the explicit, albeit normal, variables within sex is unnecessary and wrong.

Put them in medicine or toiletry aisle, but not in a high profile 'pick up a few extra when you pay' position.

Sex should not infiltrate every aspect of life. Including a general shopping trip. It's not good for children.

OP I think you are NBU.

And I think many of posts attitudes to children and their level of exposure to sex as normal is worrying.

But the OP said it as in box, which surely did not have pictorial diagrams of intended usage on the front?

There's a far distance betweenn that and an Ann Summer-esque display surely?

FWIW tyoiletry aisle is fine with me' I care not. I just don't get the outrage.

or the need to explain what's in the box if asked: condoms absolutely, sex toys can be brushed off with a fib.

Well yes you can fib. But why should you have too? Why are products which parents feel they do not want to discuss openly with their children, and which they feel forced to fib about, being placed in an area where many parents and children will stand together?

I agree it's not the most pressing issue ever, but I do think it's part of a more general sexualisation of every aspect of society which I think is damaging for children, and which is a pressing issue.