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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Rock out with your cock out

218 replies

Feedtheworld1982 · 06/12/2023 15:56

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?

Rock out with your cock out
OP posts:
gamerchick · 07/12/2023 14:45

Love a clutchy pearl thread me Grin

hmv isn't somewhere I would take little kids anyway. Back in the day or now. If you're ignorant about the place then you're probably not now tbh.

girlfriend44 · 07/12/2023 14:45

Liamgallaghersparka · 07/12/2023 14:13

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.

Show quote history

exactly, says something about people when they want to buy this tacky and immature crap anyway.

TheKeatingFive · 07/12/2023 14:46

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

Perhaps she can have a conversation with my 5 year old who has about 6 of them and another coming for Christmas

SandyWaves · 07/12/2023 14:47

Whatthefnow · 06/12/2023 23:40

The horror!

😂

Frequency · 07/12/2023 14:49

@TheKeatingFive I assume she is operating under the assumption that someone younger than 10 wouldn't have access to social media.

TheKeatingFive · 07/12/2023 14:50

I assume she is operating under the assumption that someone younger than 10 wouldn't have access to social media.

But what's that got to do with playing with squishmallows?

2023forme · 07/12/2023 14:56

@Feedtheworld1982 YANBU. I hate all this race to the bottom stuff.

we went out for dinner once and there was a family next to us. The dad had a t shirt on with a picture of a rooster and the words “massive cock” under it (and I thought - yes, you are!) - sitting beside his 3 young DC and wife. I was cringeing inside and truly wanted to give him a shake. I truly could not be with someone who thought that was acceptable.

I’m no pearl clutcher but I do hate the way DC are exposed to more and more adult content/language/humour and those who say it’s not on are somehow pearl clutchers. It’s just not necessary for DC to be exposed to this sort of stuff.

Str8talkin · 07/12/2023 15:01

This reply has been deleted

This was started by a persistent troll.

crispcreambun · 07/12/2023 15:02

TheKeatingFive · 07/12/2023 14:43

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.

So what? Who gives a fuck if your kid happens to be into them? Doesn’t make your kid the target market. Doesn’t make that posters point that it’s marketed to teens ‘total nonsense’. Target market doesn’t necessarily include everyone who might also be interested in a product.

HMV is aimed squarely at teens and adults.

DaðiFreyrstrexarms · 07/12/2023 15:04

It was mentioned, something about adults not being the target market (forget how it was put) but we definitely are. Just because some would never buy something doesn't mean others of us wouldn't.

It's not a kids toy shop. It's a teens and adults toy, geek and music shop.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 07/12/2023 15:04

Twinkletoes127 · 07/12/2023 14:28

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

Show quote history

But if they know the slang term for genitalia is then they already know it if they see it. If they don’t know know it then it will go right over their innocent little heads.

crispcreambun · 07/12/2023 15:05

2023forme · 07/12/2023 14:56

@Feedtheworld1982 YANBU. I hate all this race to the bottom stuff.

we went out for dinner once and there was a family next to us. The dad had a t shirt on with a picture of a rooster and the words “massive cock” under it (and I thought - yes, you are!) - sitting beside his 3 young DC and wife. I was cringeing inside and truly wanted to give him a shake. I truly could not be with someone who thought that was acceptable.

I’m no pearl clutcher but I do hate the way DC are exposed to more and more adult content/language/humour and those who say it’s not on are somehow pearl clutchers. It’s just not necessary for DC to be exposed to this sort of stuff.

Edited

It’s not necessary to take kids into a shop targeting teens and adults either. We deserve to have shops that aren’t sanitised to the hilt lest young Tarquin see something untoward. It would also potentially alienate their target market—the people who actually spend money in there and keep the business afloat—if they decide to go all kid friendly.

TheKeatingFive · 07/12/2023 15:06

So what? Who gives a fuck if your kid happens to be into them? Doesn’t make your kid the target market. Doesn’t make that posters point that it’s marketed to teens ‘total nonsense’.

It is though.

I'd say peak Pokémon is 6-8, very far from teens. Squishmallows are soft toys and clearly appealing to very young children. Interest in Marvel starts young too, from about 7/8 and on up.

It is clearly nonsense that only teens would be interested in them. Why are people talking crap?

Frequency · 07/12/2023 15:08

Marvel is for 7-8 years up?

Jesus. I thought my parenting was lax.

Ironman, aka Tony Stark, whose entire backstory was based around womanising and sleeping around is for 7-8 years upwards?

I can see that maybe Guardians of the Galaxy is a family film but the majority of Marvel movies are not suitable for small children.

CornishGem1975 · 07/12/2023 15:09

You are very wrong on Pokemon age!

TheKeatingFive · 07/12/2023 15:09

I can see that maybe Guardians of the Galaxy is a family film

There you go then 😉

TheKeatingFive · 07/12/2023 15:11

You are very wrong on Pokemon age!

Thats exactly how it's panned out in my kids school. The 9 year olds are over it. I would see no reason at all why they're not typical.

TheKeatingFive · 07/12/2023 15:14

M&S have Marvel PJs starting size 4-5

MrsJPinkman · 07/12/2023 15:14

I can remember reading mugs in Skegness when I was about 5 years old.

I asked my brother what " I love bonking " meant and replied with that it meant bonking people on the nose.

I turned out ok, well ok-ish 🤣

Frequency · 07/12/2023 15:15

Pokemon reached the height of its popularity in the late 90's/early 2000's. The type of Pokemon merchandise sold in HMV is related to the original cards and games and is sold as nostalgia to young adults who were around pre-Pokemon GO era.

They also sell Rainbow Brite merchandise. Are we going to argue that is marketed to children and not people who were young in the 80s?

crispcreambun · 07/12/2023 15:16

TheKeatingFive · 07/12/2023 15:06

So what? Who gives a fuck if your kid happens to be into them? Doesn’t make your kid the target market. Doesn’t make that posters point that it’s marketed to teens ‘total nonsense’.

It is though.

I'd say peak Pokémon is 6-8, very far from teens. Squishmallows are soft toys and clearly appealing to very young children. Interest in Marvel starts young too, from about 7/8 and on up.

It is clearly nonsense that only teens would be interested in them. Why are people talking crap?

Who said ONLY teens? Notice you conveniently left off this part of my post because it directly addresses your point:

Target market doesn’t necessarily include everyone who might also be interested in a product.

You say peak Pokemon is 6-8? lol. I’d bet the vast majority of the Pokemon market are now adults. There was a pop up pokemon stall in town the other day and ALL the customers (and there were many) were teens and adults.

Squishmallows and Marvel appealing to young kids doesn’t mean they are the target market.

Just because something appeals to young kids doesn’t mean it’s for them. Young kids might also like the taste of fruity ciders or alcopops, or brightly coloured expensive tech. Still not the target market. We shouldn’t have to make everything aimed at teens and adults drab and unappealing because kids like colours and soft things too.

TheKeatingFive · 07/12/2023 15:17

The type of Pokemon merchandise sold in HMV is related to the original cards and games and is sold as nostalgia to young adults who were around pre-Pokemon GO era.

Which does not mean it wouldn't be attractive to young children in the throws of an initial Pokémon craze

CityLass · 07/12/2023 15:17

wjpa · 06/12/2023 23:38

I don't think I would have worried about this when my kids were little. A little reception classmate was saying fuck before they could read.

Charming 🙄

hevs03 · 07/12/2023 15:18

just explain it to your child/children should you come across something like this again, they are going to come across a lot worse by the time they are leaving primary school sadly due to the easy access to porn on phone's etc. Be open minded enough to be able to explain things so they're not confused and can approach you if need be. I'm pretty sure HMV won't care what you think unfortunately.

catwithflowers · 07/12/2023 15:19

Grim. I honestly despair 😩