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Original poster

AIBU to think that the Willys should be moved?

109 replies

RubyPatterson · 24/10/2019 22:03

There are two branches of Poundland near us. Both stock a range of hen party type products, Penis straws, penis deelie boppers etc. Both stores display them on a low/middle shelf opposite sections that are for kids. One lot is situated directly opposite the toys and in the other store they are situated opposite the kids craft equipment.
AIBU to think that if they are going to sell them they should be situated elsewhere? My DS (11) asked me why they sell them and said that he thinks its inappropriate opposite the little kids toys etc.
They have been positioned like this for months now. On one occasion I was in Poundland without the kids (my life is that glamorous) and spoke to the manager. I mentioned that it's maybe not the ideal place for them. She said that she agreed and has had lots of complaints but when she has questioned it with her superiors they insist that, that is the plan for the store so that's where they are displayed.

OP posts:
ReanimatedSGB · 25/10/2019 00:07

Most kids find body parts (in the form of models or pictures rather than attached to an adult who is trying to hurt or frighten them) hilarious rather than traumatizing.
I'm a little sad for the 11-year-old who was worried that the sight of a plastic willy might offend someone ELSE.

WhatTiggersDoBest · 25/10/2019 00:14

Womens mags
I meant barely-dressed/naked women in men's mags.
I was wrangling a sick baby and ths was the first chance I had to correct my previous post.

frostedviolets · 25/10/2019 00:22

Would the "it's just a body part" brigade be similarly relaxed about a fleshlight being sold opposite the kids' toys, or a plaster cast of a nude woman with legs akimbo?

Do you honestly think a child would ever in a million years guess without being told what a flesh light was? Honestly?
Probably just think it a funny looking torch!

And in any case, the opening of a flesh light is nothing more than a pretend vagina, no more offensive that the pretend willies being discussed.

And as for the nude model, she is just that.
A model of the nude female form.
What all females naturally look like.
There is no need to panic.

Wilmalovescake · 25/10/2019 01:06

This thread is madness.
Exposing children to porn or other sexualised stuff at home is a massive safeguarding red flag.
Apparently though in Poundland it’s completely fine???

MonChatEstMagnifique · 25/10/2019 01:16

Poundlands are usually quite large shops so it does seem strange to put things like this in the aisle where the kids will be hanging around, it shouldn't be difficult for them to it them in another aisle with all the space they have.

I wouldn't be hugely concerned but I would notice it and think it's bad planning. I'm not sure where they should go instead, but by the kids toys/crafts seems the least appropriate place.

VenusTiger · 25/10/2019 02:30

Oh ffs! My son would definitely ask what they were and I’d say straws and he’d ask why they had willies on them. He knows his privates are private, he wouldn’t expect to be in a shop and see some plastic versions on straws!

@WorraLiberty sexual connection! No, he mould ask why you’d want a willy on a straw, he knows what a willy is for ffs! And he’d ask why is it on a straw? His question wouldn’t be anything at all to do with sex in any way! But the answer obviously is as it’s a bloody hen party willy straw! Obviously I wouldn’t tell him that.

Btw my son is very mature for his age and as another pp has mentioned, he’d ask again and again, why is it a willy on a straw though?

TheBitchOfTheVicar · 25/10/2019 07:33

There are some right weirdos on this thread

funinthesun19 · 25/10/2019 08:19

I think they’re really really tacky anyway. I mean, what’s the point in them? I’m not a prude but women who go on nights out with willies around their neck I think they just look like dicks (no pun intended Wink)

You don’t see men with vaginas around their neck do you? They’d probably get called intimidating and demeaning towards women anyway....

5zeds · 25/10/2019 08:55

I can’t imagine gaping vulvas to eat or drink out of would be treated with the same calm acceptance.

GPatz · 25/10/2019 09:11

Nice to see the accusations of 'hysteria' and telling people 'not to panic'.

labazsisgoingmad · 25/10/2019 09:16

im not a prude but dont know why they need all this tat for hen nights

WorraLiberty · 25/10/2019 09:55

Btw my son is very mature for his age and as another pp has mentioned, he’d ask again and again, why is it a willy on a straw though?

"Because it's a novelty straw and some people think plastic willies are funny" Confused

I don't get why some people are determined to complicate this Confused

frostedviolets · 25/10/2019 10:04

I can’t imagine gaping vulvas to eat or drink out of would be treated with the same calm acceptance

Well seeing as a plastic vag is no different to a plastic willy I don't see why not tbh 🤷‍♀️

Massive fuss over absolutely nothing!
I cannot believe the reaction over this.

frostedviolets · 25/10/2019 10:10

Nice to see the accusations of 'hysteria' and telling people 'not to panic'

But people ARE being hysterical and panicking...

Assuming that kids that have seen willy straws need to be told about oral sex?

Stating that willy straws on display encourage rape?

Not seeing any difference between a willy straw on display and a clothed man deliberately whipping his cock out on sight of a child?

Seeing willy straws in a shop is a safeguarding red flag?

What else would you call that if not hysteria and panic?!

rattusrattus20 · 25/10/2019 10:12

sounds like a poor layout, if hardly disastrously bad.

WorraLiberty · 25/10/2019 10:56

Very well said frostedviolets.

Some people can take batshittery to a completely different level.

They're just mass produced plastic tat, in the form of a plastic willy. Some ridiculous overreactions here.

georgialondon · 25/10/2019 11:54

@MintyMabel that's a crap comparison. my son sees his actual penis every day. I can guarantee he's not traumatised by seeing it. Confused

MintyMabel · 25/10/2019 12:03

that's a crap comparison. my son sees his actual penis every day. I can guarantee he's not traumatised by seeing it

By that example, guys just shouldn't bother wearing pants or trousers anywhere.

MintyMabel · 25/10/2019 12:07

Right, because claiming a headband with a penis on is comparable to a man whipping his cock out on sight of a child

In response to your "it's just a body part" comment. If it is, you shouldn't see a problem with that.

But you seem unable to explain that double standard. You think just saying "that's different" is enough.

coolestmum · 25/10/2019 12:36

Yanbu.
There’s way more appropriate parts of the store to put crap like that. It shouldn’t be near the kids toys, that’s just common sense surely.

PookieDo · 25/10/2019 12:54

These kinds of things are erect, which is why it is quite inappropriate. Veiny erect penises no child needs to see... and wouldn’t see anywhere else? Even if you were open about bodies and sex, I am, this is just different as it’s models of a sexually aroused penis Confused

frostedviolets · 25/10/2019 13:18

These kinds of things are erect, which is why it is quite inappropriate. Veiny erect penises no child needs to see... and wouldn’t see anywhere else? Even if you were open about bodies and sex, I am, this is just different as it’s models of a sexually aroused penis

A child won't have any concept of a 'sexually aroused' penis.
To them it will literally be just a willy!

PookieDo · 25/10/2019 13:20

It doesn’t look anything like a child’s Penis

frostedviolets · 25/10/2019 13:28

Right, because claiming a headband with a penis on is comparable to a man whipping his cock out on sight of a child
In response to your "it's just a body part" comment. If it is, you shouldn't see a problem with that
But you seem unable to explain that double standard. You think just saying "that's different" is enough

There is no double standard..
There is a huge difference between a pretend plastic body part on show on a shop shelf and someone actively using a real life body part to intimidate someone.
The two are just not comparable.

There is nothing inherently 'bad' about a penis but to deliberately use it in a way to intimidate or make others uncomfortable is wrong.

Just as if a woman whipped her tits out in front of a child, not in a breast feeding context but whipped them out on sight of a child to deliberately make someone uncomfortable that would be wrong.
It doesn't make the breasts themselves inherently bad.

The penis and vagina and breasts, bum etc are all perfectly fine and normal body parts that we all have.
They cause no harm unless the person attached to them actively uses for them for that purpose.

frostedviolets · 25/10/2019 13:30

It doesn’t look anything like a child’s Penis

Most children will recognise it as a willy.
If a child doesn't know what it is because it is 'erect' and they don't recognise it as a willy then great, you have no reason to feel uncomfortable do you?
And if the child does recognise it as 'an erect, sexually aroused penis' then you have much bigger problems than the willy straw itself...

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