Worried about my 18 year old son buying joke shirts from Afflecks Palace

[ForSparklyFatball]

Hi everyone, I’m after some advice because I’m really not sure if I’m overreacting or not. My son is 18 and has started going into Manchester at weekends with his university mates. They’ve been spending time in Afflecks Palace, which I know is full of alternative stalls, but he came back yesterday with a couple of t-shirts from the shop on the top floor that does the t-shirt printing.
One of them says “Don’t bully me, I’ll cum” and the other was along similar lines with crude sexual humour. He thought they were hilarious and just a bit of edgy fun, but I’m honestly concerned. At 18 he’s an adult, yet these kinds of slogans seem to normalise really objectifying and inappropriate attitudes, especially towards women and sex. I’ve tried speaking to him about it calmly, explaining why it bothers me, but he just laughed it off and said it’s only a joke.
Has anyone else come across these sorts of shirts in Afflecks or had their own son or daughter bring something similar home? Am I making too much of it, or is this worth having a firmer conversation about? Any thoughts on how to approach it without it escalating would be really helpful. Thanks.

Demeaning people that earn less than you is OK though?

Well you told me you probably earn more than me.
This may or may not be true, we have no idea regarding each others finances, person or family. All we know is we both have sons about yhe same age and mine proudly wears his Cunt hat to every festival he goes to now and I paid for it.
Your DS has 2 t-shirts you find offensive.
I like AP. You hate AP - and that is okay.
Rest assured I wouldn't make the offer if it was to leave me out of pocket.

It's the least I can offer. For the way it could play out, has endless possibilities.......

1. You get thrown out of a window while wearing a free t shirt
2. You get laughed at
3. Another MNers from the post come to watch *

4.You get ignored

1. You get offered a free t-shirt to go away

6.The lass prints me t-shirt with you, in your twat hat for your son

1. They ask if you need an ambulance they think you are crazy as the shop next door sells the same t-shirt!
2. The cats get you on the way out

9.The cats get you on the way in 10.You ruin Saturday and don't show up 11. You enjoy the hot chocolate we can buy for ourselves 12. I have hot chocolate in the Cunt and enjoy it 😋

12 Is happening. I don't kmow about the rest.

I do understand OP and a conversation with him not to wear them around you is not an unreasonable request. Unfortunately he may decline this, and he may rebel and up the behaviour - I did! This is why while not encouraging my daughters style, I have not discourage it, she has no shock value so it seems. Her dad is losing it 🤣

If you can try to ignore it and bit your tongue. It won't be easy.

• Disclaimer if other MNers do show you will need to buy your own hot chocolate.

The take home is that OP just isn't very nice.

Or witty.

Your son has the right to wear what he wants.

You have the right to be offended. But I strongly suggest you keep your offense to yourself; taking any actions like destroying his shirts or causing a scene at the shop are likely to both damage your relationship with your son & possibly make him double down with the shirts.

I'd recommend leaving it - many of us wore edgy/offensive shirts as younger people and it doesn't mean we were doomed to be sexist or racist or anything.

FFS I was 15! Get a grip and don’t be so damned rude!

Clearly the different ways in which Saturday could go.
If you read the post you would actually realise I sympathise with you slightly

Then you go again you are calling names Why?
Im not calling you names.

Right. Evidently a troll. Am
reporting.

Neither did you then if your son is wearing similar shirts.

I blame his father for that.

Oooooooo…… well this has taken a rather nasty turn.

LTB

LTB then if you're so determined not to be surrounded by these awful awful men. They can live together in peace and quiet without you being toxic and you can live quietly not being triggered.

And eat a massive salad.

He wouldn't know what to do with himself without me.

Probably enjoy not being nagged and criticised.

Anyone else want to go this place now?? I want to relive my misspent youth & gloat about how I’m way more fun as a mum than what I thought!

you daft woman
Your mother didn't do a good enough job

And you think your son is the sexist one?

I’m going tomorrow to get a t-shirt that says “My son is a fool and my husband is spineless and all I got was this lousy t-shirt”.

I found the Instagram of the shop OP is ranting about and while some aren't my taste there's some amazing shirts on there!

OP is clearly a troll so stop feeding it.

You are a woman and you are a mother. Nothing sexist about that.

I'm not particularly precious and don't mind the occasional bit of offensive humour on a TV show or an in-person joke, but if my son (a similar age) wore those, I'd tell him straight that I thought they were gross, sexist, that I was disappointed he wanted to wear them, and that no one (especially his mother) wants to see him in a shirt talking about how he'll cum. It's not funny or clever, it's just grotty, and advertises to everyone that you're an immature edgelord.

(Thank god, he'd be just as likely to find it tasteless and sexist.) I'm surprised at all the edgy cool girls on here who apparently think 'teehee, cum!' is the height of humour and a good way to represent yourself to the world.

ETA: Reading beyond the first page, it seems the thread has evolved quite a bit 👀 But my opinion stands.