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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think a "breathing" sex robot should be illegal

464 replies

CrotchBurn · 14/01/2021 18:30

Apparently there is an AI sex robot that now has the feature of breathing (there's a video in the article in the link).

I don't really care how these ultra realistic sex dolls might help people for various reasons. I think in a world where men overwhelming treat women as unfeeling objects (yeah okay NAMALT), further blurring the lines between womens bodies and inanimate objects you can do what you want to is dangerous.

I think they should be illegal.

www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/sex-robot-breathes-incredible-ai-23275331

OP posts:
thegreedycateropillar · 15/01/2021 05:06

@Lucieintheskye

I have to admit they're definitely a little sinister. But not all stranglers are sinister!

I think it's one of those things that people like to be outraged about for 5 minutes. It's just something you don't personally agree with, don't be a karen and say it has to be illegal because you don't like it.

It's fucking sinister and scary when you are pinned up against a door being strangled. Don't be so ridiculous
mumnowformerrockstar · 15/01/2021 05:43

Very creepy looking

CrotchBurn · 15/01/2021 06:24

This reply has been deleted

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raspberryfield · 15/01/2021 06:36

@CrotchBurn why the duck are you giving airtime to this ?

Linning · 15/01/2021 07:30

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PurpleFlower1983 · 15/01/2021 07:38

I’ve just read that there are children versions of these - what an absolute fucking disgrace! Why are these companies allowed to operate? Sick.

toconclude · 15/01/2021 07:47

@cherrypie111

Wonder if posters also disagree with reborn dolls.. or is the hysteria saved for a 'breathing' lump of latex
Yes we get it. We're all ' hysterical': a deeply misogynist word that tells us exactly where you're coming from. And for the record reborn dolls are creepy as fuck.
Original poster
CrotchBurn · 15/01/2021 07:51

@raspberryfield
why the duck are you giving airtime to this

Excuse me? Why am I discussing a social issue related to women's status in the world, on a women's forum?

OP posts:
Premiumtube · 15/01/2021 08:08

Got to page 3 of this thread and still no one has even mentioned the reliability of the source of the article. The daily star!!! C'mon!! Grin (and no, not that it negates the whole following debate but still...)

PoppinTheCorn · 15/01/2021 08:15

It's just a doll whether it breaths or not.
It really isn't anything to get hysterical about.
But you know, so long as there's something to accuse all blokes of being abusive violent rapists.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 15/01/2021 08:29

@PoppinTheCorn

It's just a doll whether it breaths or not. It really isn't anything to get hysterical about. But you know, so long as there's something to accuse all blokes of being abusive violent rapists.
Yep, because that's what happening on this thread: all men are violent and all women are hysterical.

What is actually happening here is a sensible discussion on the reasons why some men use sex dolls and why those sex dolls need to have certain characteristics (breathing, young looking etc). It's interesting to see why these men would need their dolls to have these features.

I hate when women are branded "hysterical" when discussing issues when they are far from it.

Whatwouldscullydo · 15/01/2021 08:31

Well there's a link between those who abuse animals even as kids and grow up to hurt people.

Its not unreasonable to apply similar logic to men who spend hundreds of pounds on a doll so realistic it breathes just so they can shag it.

Most men aoukd just have want. There's something very sinister abiut someone who takes this step..

Linning · 15/01/2021 08:42

@Whatwouldscullydo

Well there's a link between those who abuse animals even as kids and grow up to hurt people.

Its not unreasonable to apply similar logic to men who spend hundreds of pounds on a doll so realistic it breathes just so they can shag it.

Most men aoukd just have want. There's something very sinister abiut someone who takes this step..

But why? Men have been known to spend hundreds of pounds on strippers and prostitutes, how is it more (and not less) sinister for them to buy a sex doll than go do what a lot of men do (plenty married to women on Mumsnet as seen in many MN threads) and go spend money on sex workers.

I find men who buy sex dolls way less sinister (and actually quite healthier) and dangerous than Mr everybody paying for sex work and strippers on his work trip.

Maybe them buying a sex doll is them not feeling entitled to a real women‘s body and understanding what they like sexually isn’t appropriate for them to ask real humans and is better performed on a doll, or maybe they are all rapists wanna be but I personally the truth is somewhere in between and acting like all sex dolls owners are rapists wanna be is detrimental.

Lockheart · 15/01/2021 08:44

I find it distasteful, but finding something gross isn't grounds for making it illegal.

You'd have to demonstrate they violate obscenity laws, for example. There was a ban on the import of the child dolls into the UK a couple of years ago on these grounds.

Arguing that they could lead men to violent acts on real women probably wouldn't cut it. You'd need hard evidence of a link. There are lots of everyday objects people use to hurt others. There are violent video games, as others have pointed out. Some now in virtual reality. These are just as much of a fantasy as the dolls.

If you feel this strongly about them then there's nothing stopping you from campaigning to get them banned from the UK.

wellthatsunusual · 15/01/2021 08:45

@PoppinTheCorn

It's just a doll whether it breaths or not. It really isn't anything to get hysterical about. But you know, so long as there's something to accuse all blokes of being abusive violent rapists.
Yeah, no one has accused all men of anything. The majority of men don't have any interest in having a robot sex doll.
Whatwouldscullydo · 15/01/2021 08:49

I dont view it as less sinister tbh.

Just an extension of the fact that many men actually don't give a shit if the woman.is enthusiastically consenting or off her face on drugs or only having sex with them because some other guy will withhold her drugs or beat her up , or whether she's half passed out and just lying there or made out of plastic.

It shows that they view us as literaly something to shove a dick in. And that because he's paid for the privilege there's nothing wrong with it.

wellthatsunusual · 15/01/2021 08:50

For what it's worth and I know this is controversial but: for men who have physical and or mental disabilities that prevent them from engaging in sexual relationships, we could possibly look at having state funded sessions with vetted professional sex workers. It wouldnt surprise me if some countries (Scandinavia?) already do something like this.

But no one, male or female, has a right to have sex, no matter how much they want it.

PearlescentIridescent · 15/01/2021 08:54

It's a fucking grim practice. I honestly can't believe people make them. I agree with the further objectification of women. I empathise with men who will never get laid but I have a feeling it's mainly a more sinister ilk looking for a life like doll..

Makes my skin crawl

PearlescentIridescent · 15/01/2021 08:56

Yeah, no one has accused all men of anything. The majority of men don't have any interest in having a robot sex doll

Exactly!

PearlescentIridescent · 15/01/2021 09:00

@Linning Personally I find men who pay for sex and men who would pay for these dolls equally damaging. Because it's the reductive objectification of women for that bothers me.

Would women use sex dolls of men? I highly doubt it, because we are not socialised to see men as just a dick to ride.

Lockheart · 15/01/2021 09:01

[quote PearlescentIridescent]@Linning Personally I find men who pay for sex and men who would pay for these dolls equally damaging. Because it's the reductive objectification of women for that bothers me.

Would women use sex dolls of men? I highly doubt it, because we are not socialised to see men as just a dick to ride.[/quote]
Male sex dolls exist, and yes they would. Not in the same numbers, but it happens.

PearlescentIridescent · 15/01/2021 09:08

I think the not in the same numbers point is highly relevant.

Also I wonder what proportion of male sex dolls are use by men vs women. It seems a very general statement. We know men use them because we are constantly informed of these wonderful new updates Hmm

I really do feel they contribute to view of women as objects and blur the boundaries of consent further. I understand why people may liken this to saying video games are bad when there's no evidence of that being true, but the difference is games are mainstream whereas these are clearly aimed at a certain and niche type of man. The question is what type of man is that? And what effect does appeasing this rhat tyoe of man's appetites perpetuate?

We do know for example that sex offenders often escalate and start off as say peeping toms. Then when that isn't enough they move up.

I hope they are able to be banned but I doubt it.

Linning · 15/01/2021 09:14

[quote PearlescentIridescent]@Linning Personally I find men who pay for sex and men who would pay for these dolls equally damaging. Because it's the reductive objectification of women for that bothers me.

Would women use sex dolls of men? I highly doubt it, because we are not socialised to see men as just a dick to ride.[/quote]
Male sex dolls exists and most sex toys for females are dick shaped (also have you been to any tacky hen party? The ones where bridesmaids love to parade with dick accessories and a male sex dolls ?) also there are countless threads of women fantasizing over men and objectifying them right here on Mumsnet, yes men have been socially taught to sexualize and objectify women but I do think women do so too.

I thinks if sex dolls replace prostitution it’s probably better or at least if more men turn themselves towards dolls rather than sex workers. I don’t think any woman think their sex toys/vibrator is the body part of an unconscenting man (even if the sex toy is realistic and looks like the real deal) so I am not sure why we should assume men can’t differentiate the reality between a doll and a woman or that they for sure don’t dinstiguish between the two.

Lincslady53 · 15/01/2021 09:16

It is in the Daily Star which is more comic than newspaper, so it is probably made up bollocks.

LaceyBetty · 15/01/2021 09:22

[quote EarthSight]@cherrypie111

I imagine that most people (mainly women) who buy reborn dolls don't plan on having sex with them, violating them, or subjecting them to things they wouldn't do to a normal child. In that regard it's a ridiculous comparison to make.[/quote]
This. Really struggling with the reborn doll comparison. Not my cup of tea, but what's the harm? I can definitely see issues with breathing fake women for men to do what they want with them though. Not 100% sure about the escalation arguments.