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AIBU?

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Original poster

in thinking 'actually, I don't want my 4 yr old dd to see this pornographic fucking shite?

140 replies

onebatmother · 09/04/2010 21:52

Oh just what I wish my children to see when we go and buy icecreams

It was on the lowest shelf (ground-level) with the other papers. DD (4) and DS (8) were transfixed, as you would expect.

I complained, asked Newsagent Man if he agreed it was was pornographic, and whether he would like his small children to see it. Newsagent man shrugged "yes, and no. But it's a paper..."
Me: "So someone makes you put it there?"
Him: "No but."
Me: "You are responsible for where things are displayed in this shop. You put it out of sight of children. Until then, I won't buy anything from this shop. I will be spreading the word."

Really, I was very, very angry.

OP posts:
CaptainNancy · 09/04/2010 22:55

Sherby- I think its under Children Act 1989, but cannot wade through atm.
There is also The Sexual Offences Act 2003, but this refers to observing sexual acts (ie moving footage of pornography), rather than stills I believe.

pinkmagic1 · 09/04/2010 22:56

That newspaper is really just for men that want porn but are too embarrassed to buy a proper mag. Should be on the top shelf with the rest of it, not nice!

Rockbird · 09/04/2010 22:58

I'm glad someone else thinks this. I was told recently that I was BU for thinking that newspapers were more of an issue that needed tackling than lads' mags which are primarily higher up and not so widely seen as papers.. These 'papers' are underneath the cbeebies magazines in some shops, I've lost count of the number of times i've been stuck opposite some bloke leering at them on the train or bus and it makes me sick. Good on you for saying something. Porn is something that should be kept in your own bedroom or bathroom, not freely available for small children to see.

lincstash · 09/04/2010 23:04

Or conversely just dont use the shop again. Its his shop, he can arrange it how he likes. Your only comeback is to take your business elsewhere, and tell him why.

ravenAK · 09/04/2010 23:11

Actually, if it's a franchise, they get diagrams of what to put where.

You could ask for the contact details & write, but the individual shopkeeper almost certainly has some carefully worked out plan to go by (Games Workshop, Dalesman & Snailracers' Monthly up the top where the regulars know to look. Fluffy Gossip About Minor Slebs & Real-life Stories Our Staffers Made Up at eye-level, for the impulse buyer).

Go after the chains.

FlyingFig · 09/04/2010 23:11

Nope - the question was, 'actually, I don't want my 4 yr old DD to see this pornographic shite' Who fecking would?

It might be 'his' shop. He can 'arrange it' how he jolly well likes; but that doesn't mean as parents, we have to 'indulge' his preferences.

I'll tell him why if he wants me too? He can shove his 'shop-front' up his arse ;-)

GeekOfTheWeek · 09/04/2010 23:11

YANBU

I think it should be made illegal to have such images readily available to children.

GeekOfTheWeek · 09/04/2010 23:12

What is this about m&s?

Rolf · 09/04/2010 23:18

Good for you onebatmother. There was a radio interview a while ago with an MP who was trying to get lads' mags moved to the top shelf, here. Claire Curtis-Thomas is standing down as an MP, more's the pity.

princessparty · 09/04/2010 23:39

Captainnancy-does your 4 YO know what an orgasm is ? I really don't think these images would come under the definition of pornography really.You can't see any of their privates.they are demeaning to women-yes, pornography-no

GeekOfTheWeek · 09/04/2010 23:43

princessparty, would you care to explain to a teacher, relative etc why a 4 year old knows the word orgasm?

Not appropriate imo.

princessparty · 09/04/2010 23:46

So it's the use of teh word orgasm you are objecting to, rather than the picture ?

GeekOfTheWeek · 09/04/2010 23:51

It is both.

BessieBoots · 09/04/2010 23:53

Disgusting. If my 4 y.o. DS is bombarded with images like these, how will his attitude to women be?

CaptainNancy · 09/04/2010 23:58

No- of course she doesn't. The point is that she would then ask me what it was. Not to mention the "why is that lady showing her bottom to us Mama?"

foureleven · 10/04/2010 00:39

YANBU. Its not the fact that my kids would see bums and breasts etc... they see mine all the time (poor creatures) its the degrading nature of the pose that the girl is doing that saddens me.

I dont want my girls growing up thinking that is the normal behaviour of women and I dont want the boys they will be dating in future to be growing up thinking that either.

Who cares in Fern Cottons pants are on show... seriously who are the morons readin this shite?

BalsamicJam · 10/04/2010 00:51

I was in my local M&S garage shop recently and they had a copy of Nuts displayed very prominently - I was so pissed off that I stuck a copy of Top Gear over it.

Been meaning to write a letter to M&S about this for ages and am well behind any attempt to force these mags onto the top shelves. And as for the Sport and its ilk - well I'm going to turn over every copy I see.

Be great if this took off.

foureleven · 10/04/2010 10:57

Balsamicjam, love it! women everywhere (and hopefully lots of men too!) surupticiously turning over magazines everrywhere they go. Im in!

brimfull · 10/04/2010 11:10

yanbu
I remember when I first came to the uk as a 20 yr old being shocked at all the tits and ass on public display. You didn't see it in Canada when I was growing up.
I was also repulsed at my fil having page 3 posters up in his business which had an entirely female workforce who accepted it as if it was normal.

Coldhands · 10/04/2010 11:17

YANBU, well done for speaking up. I also like the idea of turning them over or putting another magazine in front.

I don't remember stuff like this when I was small, did I just not notice or is it getting worse now?

DramaInPyjamas · 10/04/2010 11:18

Our local newsagent has the hard-core porn BESIDE the Cbeebies-type magazines. Have complained, but just got laughed at.

Earthstar · 10/04/2010 11:20

YANBU and well done for cofronting the shop owner

ImSoNotTelling · 10/04/2010 11:30

I got the star moved from bottom shelf to top in our loca smiths

I hate it as well. Why can't they just put it on a different bloody shelf I mean that's a pretty innocuous request isn't it.

choosyfloosy · 10/04/2010 11:31

YANBU. That feminist friday site says that there is a voluntary code of practice that newsagents may or may not have signed up to.

The publishers pay a lot for the right kind of display site for their publications. But that doesn't mean we have to accept it.

Adair · 10/04/2010 11:41

Where I used to live, we had a porn free newsagent here. So it is possible to make a living without selling it. Wonder if he sells the Sport..?

Though it did make me to see the massive words PORN FREE NEWSAGENT along the side of the shop at child height. How many children have now said 'p-o-or-nn - what's 'porn', mum?'. I guess we have to have these conversations at some point... 'magazines that aren't very good and cost too much money, darling. The newsagent only stocks good magazines with lots of interesting things for people to read '

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