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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think that JLS condoms are really inappropriate?!

75 replies

lurcherlover · 18/11/2011 23:34

...saw them in Tesco earlier. Packs of 3, made by Durex, each pack with a pic of one of the JLS boys on. They do say "16+" on the pack but AIBU to think this is basically condoning underage sex, given that a) the average age of a JLS fan is 12 and b) if you choose your contraception based on whether or not it has a picture of a boyband member on the box you're probably not as mature as you could be?

OP posts:

FaverollesWithBoughsOfHolly · 19/11/2011 00:04

My neighbours dd spotted these in superdrug and had a full on tantrum because her mum wouldn't buy them. She was 4 at the time.

Children outgrow JLS by about 12 round here. A 16 yo would be as likely to buy condoms with Bob the Builder on them in my neck of the woods.

worraliberty · 19/11/2011 00:06

I fucking hope to God you don't teach in my DS's school

Actually I doubt it because the teachers there are very clued up and they tend to recognise that teenagers do actually have a modicum of sense......

Sex will always bee seen as 'cool' in that age group.

Condoms are often seen as 'uncool' and 'uncomfortable'

Let's face it, they do take something away from sex as you don't have that 'skin on skin' contact.

So if JLS or any other band can encourage teens to use them...all power to them, but to suggest they're encouraging people to have sex is just too stupid for words I'm afraid.

I'd love to see girl bands promoting them too...maybe the Saturdays or Girls Aloud?

That way they might get across the message that it's ok for girls to buy condoms too...it doesn't make them a 'slag' it makes them intelligent enough to look after their own sexual health.

Though no doubt the OP would see that too as 'encouraging impressionable 14yr old girls to rush out and have sex'

Original poster

lurcherlover · 19/11/2011 00:07

Squeaky...of course the ones having sex underage are the ones least likely to use condoms...which is why the bit of my post you quoted said that the ones underage having sex safely will buy regular condoms. Obviously we would all rather kids who are having sex underage are using condoms, and we need to be doing everything we can to make sure they do. But is this the best way to do it? I don't know.

OP posts:

samandi · 19/11/2011 00:07

Ew! That's awful.

difficulttimes · 19/11/2011 00:09

YABU

Silly people having underage sex are having a good day if they even bother to use contraception.

worraliberty · 19/11/2011 00:09

I can kind of see where the op is coming from, JLS is a boy band, their fans are going to be very young, perhaps there are better groups out there to get over 16's to think about condoms

Seven part of this drive is to get under 16yr olds who are sexually active to think about condoms!

squeakytoy · 19/11/2011 00:12

JLS have been around for more than 3 years now though and their fans are of the age where sex is likely to be on the cards. I doubt very much that teens would buy condoms because of JLS being on the pack, but it might at least make them think, but then again thinking about it a bit more, it shouldnt just be up to boys to buy condoms, it is just as easy and in these days of equality for the girl to carry them too. So perhaps the marketing would appeal to girls rather than the more masculine durex brand packs.

OffTheScale · 19/11/2011 00:27

Just Love Safe

cheesesarnie · 19/11/2011 00:30

you should hear the stuff jls shout into audience at concerts!thats inappropriate for the 12 year olds!

does it not stand for just love safe?

80sbabe · 19/11/2011 01:22

Oh I will probably get into trouble now seeing the above comments, but I did complain to our local Boots about these recently. They had a lovely display of them at the till and my 8 year old daughter couldn't understand why I refused to let her spend her pocket money on the "JLS sweeties" !!
I just nicely pointed out to the management that there were probably more appropriate places in store to display them.
They have since moved them elsewhere so I probably wasn't the only one to comment.

cantspel · 19/11/2011 02:45

80sbabe why could you not just tell your daughter she couldn't buy the jls sweeties because they were not sweets but condoms. And when or if she asked what a condom is you can then tell her they are to protect against unwanted babies. No big deal

Hissy · 19/11/2011 02:45

TBH, I rather wish their parents had used condoms with more efficiency. funny looking kids

IdRatherBeInBed · 19/11/2011 02:53

Iv never thought about it but i have seen them in supermarkets and noticed they are a tad more expensive than ones that dont have the face of
just left school on the front.

hairymonkey · 19/11/2011 06:39

Is the picture just on the box? or is each band member printed on the actual prophylactic? could be quite a sight.

I think it's fine, condoms are dotted all about shops, as they should be. Can't really see the point in hiding these things from our children. Our great British tradition of brushing all things sexual under the carpet as we are unable to speak frankly and sensibly has earned us the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Europe and syphilis is on the rise again.

Stick anything on the Johnny if it will get teenagers under or over age to wear them. Teenagers have sex, JLS condoms don't encourage this.

KittyFane · 19/11/2011 07:17

hairymonkey !! :o @ Is the picture just on the box? or is each band member printed on the actual prophylactic? could be quite a sight.!!

Jolyonsmummy · 19/11/2011 07:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StealthPolarBear · 19/11/2011 07:29

Surely when young people are having sex it tends to be the girls who get the condoms? I used to be involved in a free condom scheme, and iirc it was about 80:20 girls.

MinnieBloodBar · 19/11/2011 07:31

I bought some for my nephew as a joke as he is very into his indie/emo shite /rock and I thought it would be funny to think of him being conflicted

Even better, I got DH to buy them as I couldn't get to the shop that day? he wasn't impressed, mwha-ha-ha!!

carabos · 19/11/2011 07:44

I saw those and my only thought was " what if you don't fancy that guy, it might put you right off". I had no idea who he was or why he was on the pack and I'm too old for condoms anyway.

MammaBrussels · 19/11/2011 07:59

As long as the picture's only on the packet and they don't make the wearer's willy into a mini-JLS member I don't think there's a problem. A teenager isn't going to but condoms unless they think there's a chance they're going to use them no matter who is on the box.

skrumle · 19/11/2011 08:00

i think a 12yo who isn't ready to have sex is unlikely to choose to have sex just because there's a JLS condom available, but that same 12yo might take in the message that her favourite band are so much in favour of safe sex they've put their faces on the boxes and 3 years later insist on using a condom when she does want to have sex...

Proudnscary · 19/11/2011 08:52

Yes I do. Because their music is marketed a very young demographic, a large swathe of which are 8-12 year olds. Even though they have many teen fans and 'use a condom' is a good message, I think this was misjudged. YANBU.

Proudnscary · 19/11/2011 08:53

My dd quite likes JLS and yes I'd be furious if she picked them up in a shop. She's 7 and while she knows the facts of life I am not ready to explain in detail about contraception. Actually I'm quite pissed off thinking about it!

Theas18 · 19/11/2011 09:05

Kind of sad about it but withy my logical hat on I think it's a flippin good idea!

Teens will have sex underage. We've failed in the " just say no" strategy spectacularly.

Under age kids are having sex and they aren't using condoms. Anything that makes it more likely that they will do is a bonus. Any 14yr old who thinks sex is a good idea because jls are on the packet has a very vulnerable mentality and does need condoms I'm sure because if he/ she falls for that- the " do it and I'll live you for ever" type chat up will hook em for sure.

I only hope sincerely that the 16 plus tag doesn't mean chemists could refuse to sell them to under age kids...

Bproud · 19/11/2011 09:11

If it encourages girls to buy condoms and expect their boys to use them I think it is a great idea.

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