The world's gone mad. Just heard on R5 that Parenting UK has demanded Woolworths remove a bed from their website/catalogue because it's called Lolita.

[2sugars]

It's not on the bed, or anywhere, that's just what you type in when you order it.

Mad, or am I being insensitive?

Ha Fio- I so am an average customer, this si just my MN persona .

having seen they pulled the bed now then they go up in my estimation- I didnt relaise that.

OMG you are all mad - its a name - I didnt have a clue why would a 3 year old! Dont tell them what its called - the world is so full of PC people - lets get back to playing outside and having cots painted in bright colours - I never died from it did any one you know. And as for giving pedo's something to think about - they can call any bed they like "Lolita" not just the one from woolies

OK stop am off on one again !

I'm amazed that at no point during the processes of deciding on a new range, naming it, putting it onto websites/leaflets/promo materials etc did anyone realise what they were doing and that it wasn't appropriate.

You would have thought that somewhere within the organisation someone would be aware of the history of the name Lolita.

it must have been a deliberate publicity stunt

think how often martin amis refers to lolita in his books, it's part of our collective consciousness

so fair play to woolworths or whoever is behind it

Snowleopard, in Spain Lola and Lolita are commonplace, because it is the familiar name for Dolores. I can assure that Nabokov's book has been widely read and the film was very popular too in that country. NOBODY thinks using that name is distasteful and nobody gets hot flushes when a little girl is called like that. Nobody thinks immediately of Nabokov's book. As I said, -and you said- once the name ceases to be "exotic" (and it starts being like in Spain, where is commonplace), people will stop attaching to it the only cultural reference they have of it (Nabokov's book). It is a shame that for some people Lolita is just Nabokov's characters. Go to Spain, and meet a few lolas and lolitas and you will be cured.

What does the bed look like? Does it wear pop socks? Is there a slightly drunk, desperate and sad bedside cabinet to go with?

OK it's just a name and a 3yo wouldn't be affected by it. So is it OK to call a child's bedroom furniture "my first shagpad" or "little slapper"? Hey, why not, it's just a name!

ILWST

If you google Lolita you will get a good indication of the implication of its current use.

Fio.

sorry x-posted there, was going off on one unrelated to the baby names thing. I do agree with you sweeneytodd about that and I do think it will eventually lose its connotations here too - but I still find it revoltingly inappropriate for a bed.

Bettyspaguetty "the history of the name lolita"??? FYI Lola derives from "Maria Dolores" another name for the Virgin Mary.

That is the history of the name, and it is what people should know. Nabokov's use of it is a mere anecdote. He could have used another "exotic" name for the anglosaxon world, and have it cursed like this one.

Not it's not the same Fio, I'm just pointing out that just because it's only the bed's name and that wouldn't mean anything to girl who owned it, doesn't make any name OK. And I think this one is not OK.

Still reeling at pole-dancing kit.

A name takes on the persona of those who publicise it most.

Dh wanted Khyam for this baby (campers will know why- ) but it was vetoed as Omar Khyam is a convicetd terrorist. The name fanny is hugely traditional- but would you use it? I wouldn't! It only takes a book, song or the name of a baby on Eastenders to dramtically change the associations the name has.

clasic example- Damian (Omen) woudn't use it, and most people will remember the only fools and horses sketch?

Agree with Peachy. There are not a lot of babies called Adolf are there? It may have had a noble history, but some names can make you go "no no no!" with good reason.

Just CAN NOT believe that senior managament staff in a big company like Woolworth can be so ignorant.

Naming little girls' bed "Lolita" totally innapropriate

anyone else think it might have been a publicity seeking ploy?

I know the implications for some norty, but I don't think of them when I hear that name, maybe because I have seen it its original, normal context very frequently, and I know a few 60-70 year olds lolas and lolitas. Nabokov would have chosen a different name if he had seen this:
es.youtube.com/watch?v=WlSpGyIRKYU or this
es.youtube.com/watch?v=MoEHG_mQWFQ&feature=related
ha ha ha

If it's true vacua it's even sicker...
But thinking about a level of cynicism in today's business world i wouldn't be suprised actually

If I was in Spain I would not hesitate to use Lola (which would have been also Lolita, cos if you are little you are automatically called -ita. Sod Nabokov and the sexually-correct names people. I refuse to have my choice of names dictated by people's minds associations.

It is inappropriate and a good move to remove it and show that this sort of thing isn't acceptable.They are kids not playboy bunnies

Agree with aaahchewy on the publicity.

Inlovewithsweeneytood- in a way you are backing my point? because you ahev spent time in Sapin where the name is common, you ahve positive associations with it. But most of us on MN are in the UK, and the name just isn't used much here- so that's not so much a part of the collective consciousness is it?

If it were a name popular here- I dont know, say katie (chosen one I would ahve used for mine so nobody posts 'why ahve you chosedn my dd's anme etc and gets offended- its a genetric choice is all) but was known as being relayed to apedophillia in Spain, would the Spainish be keen to adopt it I wonder? I dount it!

I agree with Sweeney, it would be great to reclaim what is actually a very beautiful name.....but starting the process off by naming a childs bed 'Lolita' was possibly not the brightest idea.