Rock out with your cock out

[Feedtheworld1982]

I need some perspective on this. I was in HMV today, and amongst the merchandise, most of which is firmly aimed at children were a selection of mugs saying “fresh out of fucks” and “rock out with your cock out”. These were very much at children’s eye level and I gently pointed this out to a member of staff who just said “ok?”.

I messaged HMV and asked them to consider the positioning of the products in store and they responded saying they believe it’s displayed in a responsible fashion.

I feel like I’m completely out of touch. If I had DS (under 10) with me I would have been very cross to have him reading that among the Minecraft merch. AIBU to think they could have been put out somewhere else in store?

No I don't think this would make me very cross.

'It is up to parents to decide whether it is appropriate to take younger children into places marketed to older teens and young adults.

I'd kids into places like HMV and independent comic book stores or "goth" shops but I wouldn't expect them not to see adult-geared products while they were in there. And I certainly wouldn't complain about it.'

This would be my take too.

The point is small children shouldn’t be walking around HMV by themselves. It isn’t a toy store last time I checked. If you don’t have time to watch your small child and explain any non-child concepts (whilst shopping), like mugs with rude lines from films - shop elsewhere. It’s not a childcare setting or a library or a crèche - it’s a shop that sells films - lots of them aimed at adults.

Parents who don’t expect to parent and instead have the world moderated around them - to suit their ideals - gives me deeply uncomfortable vibes.

Parents can explain as much as they want as frequently as they want but sometimes there is no reasoning with a child, especially a younger one. I lost count of how many times I went down the intelligent reasoning route with my DD before finally saying no and removing her from the cause of the inevitable meltdown. I'm now doing the same with my DGD.

Shielding children from harm, be it to their teeth or obesity or safeguarding from a bad adult is also part of parenting. I succeeded with my DD, but my DM failed to protect me, and this experience may be why I'm so adamant about it.

What's the problem with putting it on a higher shelf? Surely this is common sense to start with?

I'd like to be able to take my DGD into a shop without thinking twice about what she might see.

Childhood is so short for kids these days.

It’s all very well saying parents need to parent but if these items are mixed with the items aimed at young DC then there isn’t much a parent can do but ask the store to move them to a more appropriate area. None of us are saying these items shouldn’t be in the store just not mixed with items aimed for younger children, especially if they are near the tills as you can’t avoid them

OK you don't see the value in boundaries and age-appropriate content. I do. It's a big part of safeguarding children. I don't think there's much more to say.

The OP commented on positioning of the objects not for the store to be 'sterilised'.
It's not hard to put something on a higher shelf. Particularly a mug which is more likely to be broken when it's lower down.

Why should she get a grip? I'm all for quirky things like this but wouldnt have wanted my reception aged children seeing it. I grew up in a different era and didn't even hear the word 'fuck' until I was 11.

YANBU at all. They should move those higher. Kids don't need to see that.

I accept there is poor parenting (and that’s a very sad thing), but it’s hardly a movie/film retailers job to fill in for errant parents. HMV is a suitable shop for teenagers, not primary school children, I know that from my many previous visits (so I don’t need to scout the mug selections to know that). It remains a parents responsibility to vet stores or places they feel are a good fit for a child - who is young enough to the chaperoned and likely won’t understand such adult messaging. I think a small dose of common sense is required here. Otherwise are we saying merchandise should be age certificated - like films?

But none of the things on the shelf in the pic are kids' toys. They are for teenagers.

HMV is marketed to teenagers and young adults.

Unless HMV has changed dramatically since I was last in one none of the displays will have been aimed at children. They're mostly horror and sci-fi displays and the shops are all dimly lit and play music that teenagers enjoy. Their target audience is very clearly teens and above.

If you want to take your 10yo into a shop to browse DVDs or games there are plenty of shops marketed to children eg Game, WH Smiths, and Symths.

Teenagers only have HMV and independent stores. Leave them be and either parent your child or shop at one of the dozens of shops marketed towards families and children.

They’re not aimed at young children. They might appeal to kids as well but it’s retro/nostalgia merch aimed at teens and adults. I was in HMV the other day and saw these mugs. Some of the merch around them wouldn’t even be familiar to young kids.

If you take your kids into a shop for teens and adults, expect them to see things not suitable for young children. Tbh they’ve probably seen/heard these words elsewhere anyway. All my school friends had older siblings that weren’t exactly self-censoring and that filtered through. I don’t think I actually said any ‘bad’ words until my mid/late teens, but seeing/hearing bad language is part of growing into the world around you.

Glad it’s not just me. It’s like none of these posters have visited HMV before. It’s not the Disney store, it’s an unsuitable shopping venue for small kids, it’s a shop intended for teens and adults.

YOU set the boundaries- so go ahead and set them outside of HMV. It’s really that simple. HMV isn’t a primary school kid shopping destination, sorry to have to break this to you 😳

You are very out of touch, an almost 10 year old should know the difference between male and female genitals

I have just walked past my local store. The windows are maybe 30 feet wide and hidden at the back of one is a poster that says ‘new music’ with what looks like six album covers. One window is almost entirely filled with items that would bring a child in - squishmallows, Pokémon’s and little figures - maybe Marvel characters. The other window has toys and record players and speakers. It almost doesn’t look like a music shop - well done to them for diversifying and having a really good range of stock. I have shopped in hmv for decades and would hate to see it go.

I appreciate that some teens and adults like this stuff but the window display is probably the most child friendly one in my shopping centre. I bring dd2 in here sometimes and I’ll swerve her away from some of the sexualised anime images and let her look at the huge display of Kenji cuddly toys she likes. Luckily she’s now a teen so I can explain these words but we used to come in when she was reception / year 1 and I would have hated her to start talking about fucks and cocks.

Parents seem to be struggling with the vulgarity of the word ‘cock’ whilst not really engaging with the notion that only a very poor parent would think HMV was a place a small child should go shopping. I find the parents to be vulgar for taking a kid they are responsible for - to a shop for teenagers and adults.

When I was a kid I would have been highly amused but hidden it because I knew that my parents wouldn't approve. When I was 9 my friend showed me a joke mug with a willy that was uncovered as the drink level went down. It was her brother's. I don't think I'd ever wanted anything as much as that mug! But I can see how for much younger kids (say 5) seeing stuff like the OP saw might be problematical.

squishmallows, Pokémon’s and little figures - maybe Marvel characters. The other window has toys and record players and speakers. It almost doesn’t look like a music shop - well done to them for diversifying and having a really good range of stock. I have shopped in hmv for decades and would hate to see it go

Again, all of these things are marketed to teenagers, not young children.

HMV has a very similar target audience as this website.

https://www.emp.co.uk/?wt_mc=sea.google.brand.emp_uk_branding.70926396.2942250996.emp.aud-467825008286:kwd-84981691.e.c.&forceThisShop=1&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA98WrBhAYEiwA2WvhOuts5E4Wx_k3vw_yfoMqBbZUoHnxcCAkFDVFBF1fGXPrywPMlceqNhoCGNcQAvD_BwE

Its been going on for ages, I remember when Woolies used to display all the scantily clad images of women on the front of mens mags at eye level to seen by all.

They couldnt care less well done for telling them.
Who wants to buy that tacky crap anyway. Hope nobody does.

whilst not really engaging with the notion that only a very poor parent would think HMV was a place a small child should go shopping

Why on earth not? HMV sells music, gaming stuff, dvds, merch - what's would make anyone a 'poor parent' for bringing children in there?

Again, all of these things are marketed to teenagers, not young children.

Total nonsense, my 9 year old is into literally everything on that list. In fact he's probably growing out of Pokémon now.

I've just asked DD about squishmallows and she confirmed they are definitely not kids' toys. They were marketed on social media for teenagers and "goths", according to DD. Their appeal is that each "creature" has its own back story and social group, which is probably too complex for a younger child to follow, especially as they are "viral" rather than having their own cartoon or movie.

She wouldn't expect a 10yo to even know what a squishmallow was.