To think Paperchase have lost their minds over cock and anal cards

[Waffles80]

Paperchase have a series of Valentine's cards with such witty captions as "I love your big cock" and "nothing says I love you like anal".

As a high street chain hugely popular with young people, I'd kind of expect them to understand some boundaries about graphic and sexually explicit language.

They're brazening it out on Twitter, claiming their minuscule disclaimer about the cards being rude is absolutely adequate.

Grim.

I've just bought a few items rom them and never even glance at the valentines stuff.
Just as well for them because if I had, I wouldn't have bought anything from them.
Lack of taste, issue with the message itself ('Nothing says I love you like anal' really???).
Hmm I'm wondering how they think parents will explain those lovely messages to their 8~10yo when they go to the shop....

Some of the shops offer child craft sessions... tbh I think they are insane

But of course no shop in expensive locations (as Paperchase always is) can survive selling teen-orientated stuff alone, so I assumed the document boxes, albums, good pens etc were aimed at 20s-30s reading LivingEtc and wanting smart accessories for their shelves.

I think the 'anal' card is nasty and insidious.

The cock one is crass but just about passable - I'm surprised the anal one is allowed tbh, that's really shocking, sickening actually.

Urgh - so tacky and grim. I wouldn't ban them but they definitely need a larger warning, or to be covered up like Nuts, Zoo etc. I really don't want to have to explain to my DD what anal is when she's old enough to read...

Imagine getting one of those cards...at least you'd know what your partner thought of you (and your purpose) I suppose. Unless they bought it as a 'joke'. Valentines is bullshit enough without it turning into a day for sexual coersion.

I love heron98's observation that the world is in danger of becoming 'completely sanitised' for the sake of children.

Cringe. My image of paperchase is slightly upmarket (compared to tat shops) my girls 8 and 10 like it. Used to go in quite regularly - not any more.

"So anyone who thinks the cards are fine, would you be happy for your teen daughter to receive the anal one from her frisky boyfriend then?"

Teen girls mostly won't be getting these cards from boyfriends though. They'll be getting them from the sniggering bullies at the back of the class. The target market would appear to be bullies and stalkers.

Yuck - another one who'll be avoiding...

Vile and pathetic. Just like the staff in the last paper chase I went into, so I think it fits perfectly with the reality of their brand.

Don't mind the others as such, though think they are in terrible taste, but the pressure to do anal one is absolutely unacceptable given societal trends around coercion and pornification.

Bet they're all excited at the free publicity though. Pathetic.

But nothing does say 'I love you' like anal...

Another lowest common denominator product.

Perhaps they're targeting the wannabe Geordie Shore market.

They've lost my custom, which was pretty decent over the years.

How crass and vulgar. Well that's another customer you've lost, Paperchase. Terrible. You should have withdrawn them and apologised, not brazened it out.

Yuck! They've gone down in my estimation.

Really??? Where does it specify that women should "allow" anal sex rather than be "requesting" it? Clearly the range is aimed at both men and women

It is quite possible that it gives that impression to younger people, combined with the pressure there is nowadays to give anal. At least from my perspective there is more pressure these days. Got nothing against anal but it can be bloody painful and no one should feel pressured into it.

Although my autocorrect error there.. "nothing says I love you like analysis!!"

Grim. Where is this world heading? I'm no prude (I hope) but I think some standards need to be kept. These are just crass.

I've emailed Paperchase to complain and request that they remove me from their mailing list/loyalty scheme.

I could just about stomach them if it weren't for the anal one. Someone said to me recently that there is no such thing as "rape culture"; it's just "culture", which kind of took my breath away. I don't think I'm over-reaching to feel that this debacle proves it.

"nothing says I love you like analysis!!"

I would totally buy a card with that on!

Well, the big cock card might be suitable as a joke for a chicken-keeper or a farmer. Maybe.

Even on a high shelf, these are a bit grim.

This is a very useful thread - tells me which shop not to drop in to. Not a huge loss for them, as I probably only buy from them every couple of moths. But I can easily find better shops, and they can corner the tasteless downmarket end.

Wow, those cards are vile! I will not be taking DC into this shop again - really don't want to be explaining what anal means any time soon, particularly not in a shop!

I'm shocked paperchase have done this, they really have shot themselves in the foot, and for what?

Anal sex is becoming de rigour apparently amongst 16/17 year olds as it stops them from "losing their virginity" and keeping piv sex for someone special. In the same way as girls will blowjob until they're blue in the face, but won't let boys reciprocate, for the same reason.

Sounds shit to me. But Gen Z have some funny ideas around "purity".

Cards aren't very clever but am a bit meh about it all... I find paperchase to be far too overpriced, so for most mums it's not really an option for their kids.... my SDs prefer smiggle - also crazily priced. I like Tiger

So grim. I really can't believe this of Paperchase. They are not only vile and not at all funny, but, as PPs have said, smack of non-consensual sex and are part of the creeping sexist pornification of the mainstream.

And I am no pearl clutcher.

We do need to write to them direct to let them know.

Obviously a FAB idea with all the free marketing. OP are you an intern?...

Grim. And if you received one anonymously as used to be the tradition way back in my youth rather aggressive.