Marks and Spencer support new 'Hooters' in Bristol

[JessinAvalon]

Dear all
This is my first post on here so I hope I am doing this right!

I live in Bristol and, last week, 'Hooters' was granted a licence to open in the city centre. The site is virtually opposite 3 apartment blocks, the lower floors of which are social housing and children are living in them.

What's most disappointing is that Marks and Spencer are leasing the site to 'Hooters'. They have been e-mailed by many concerned people to ask if they will reconsider leasing the building but they have just replied saying it is a "commercial decision" (as if that makes it ok!). In Sheffield, a 'Hooters' didn't even make it to application stage because the developer (Ask Pizza) realised that it would be better not to be associated with a company like 'Hooters'.

Marks and Spencer don't seem that concerned, however. Although they have signed up to the "Let Girls Be Girls" Mumsnet campaign they are not concerned about a company which sells merchandise including babygros which say "Future Hooters Girl" and "Does my butt look big in this?"

I have written to Marks and Spencer telling them that I won't be shopping in their stores again. If you feel strongly about this, please e-mail:

[email protected].

'Hooters' tries to sell itself as a family friendly restaurant but it is anything but. The Hooters in Nottingham attracts mainly stag parties and football fans. Hooters Girls take part in bikini contests and iced wet t-shirt competitions (the t-shirts are put in the freezers before the girls wear them). 'Hooters' has links to Playboy magazine....I could go on.....

I think Marks and Spencer should be shamed for facilitating this company's expansion into Bristol. They are selling women and girls down the river by leasing to this company and all just to make a "quick buck".

Thanks everyone.

Atlas....got to be an exploited troll.

I have emailed the chairman.

I haven't re-read the whole thread to catch up, but has anyone contacted the Jeremy Vine show on Radio2 ? They would love this... !

bloody hell. Why does everyone on here call troll when someone disagrees with the orthodoxy. I'm not a troll. Just someone with a differnt opinion. That shouldn't be offensive to anyone.

Sorry Atlas I made an assumption that noone could be that stupid, apparently you can.

Because usually new (or name changed posters) who start on a message board only posting on threads they disagree with usually are trolls?

Atlas is a man.
Don't you reckon?

It's a well known fact that the majority of clothes and food shopping is done by women, so women's reaction is rather more important than men's in this case....

Atlas - you didn't come on and explain why you disagreed with us. You came on and called it 'Nunsnet' and I said 'I love boob'.

If you want to contribute to the discussion, then please do, but I agree that it's trolling just to come on and say you disagree and chuck a name or two around, unless you genuinely don't have any arguments to back up your opinion.

Atlas, you've got it wrong. You're the one with the mundane orthodox opinion. That's why you've got so much backing by society.
Geddit?

And Atlas I don't think the Hooters philosophy does encompass your 'vive la knocker' sentiment, with its singular content. Do you think they would give a job to a woman who had only one breast? Something tells me that she would somehow be found mysteriously unsuitable for ferrying burgers around and flogging t-shirts.

H

This is very annoying:

www.hooters.to/nottingham/subgallery.php?type=7&gallery=66

Can you imagine if they had male waiters in sexy outfits turn up at young girls' sporting events and hug the girls? Everyone would complain.

OMG....Why oh why would you take your children to that?

I worry about that too, Lenin. Two sons, with no sisters, and so many odd and unacceptable models of what femaleness is, coming from all directions.

I think it's safe to post these again:

www.hootersbristol.com

and

www.hootersbristol.co.uk

children eat free on Sundays, Posie
I can't tell what's going through the girls' minds. Aren't they embarassed having to act all sexy for seven year olds for the minimum wage, or are those motherly hugs, do you think? But if they're motherly hugs why the need for revealing clothes?

You all take yourselves far too seriously. It's breasts not porn. And theres nothing wrong with a bit of gentle joshing. 'Vive la knocker' - that's joshing not mysogyny. If you have to resort to making derogatory assumptions about me just because I disagree with you in not thinking breast are offensive - then your argument can't be that strong. The world thrives on diversity. If they were setting up a brothel I would be supporting you, but they aren't. It's breasts - and not even bare ones at that - just young ones. If that's your beef, then fine, but be open about it. Young women have a right - like it or not - to make money from their beauty if they like that kind of attention. Its not up to any other woman to tell them they can't do that in a free society. Just don't go there if you don't like it. End of.

Is Xenia still around by the way?

Atlastrips - if it was as simple as that the waitresses wouldn't have to sign a disclaimer saying they didn't mind being sexually harassed.

Suppose you were the CEO of Hooters, would you still make them do that? Do you think it is acceptable?

If it's a free society why is it that the majority of minimum-wage workers are women (usually doing jobs the men won't touch) and the majority of CEOs are men?

It's not making money from beauty, it's the same money you would make from serving food without the added frisson of navigating sexual comments, ogling and groping at work. It's minimum wage, Atlas.

By the way, what was your response to the many posters who have been to Hooters, and still think it's a sleazy shithole?

And how is suggesting that you are a man derogatory? Is there something wrong with being a man?

Atlas, I don't get your point. Why would young children want to go to a restaurant to see the beauty of a female breast? What sort of particular 'kind of attention' would a child give to a young woman with beautiful breasts?

I don't really understand the 'knocker' comment. Some jokes are misogynistic and some aren't. So joshing vs. misogyny isn't an either/or situation. I don't know if your joke is really misogynistic; it is just a bit anachronistic. I haven't heard anyone call a breast a knocker since 1975 films. Are you typing from a retirement home?

It is not making money from beauty is is allowing a multi-national organisation to make millions from paying minimum wage to young good looking women who have to sign away hard fought for legal rights upon employment.

Does anyone know if it is actually legally enforceable to do sing a disclaimer saying it is OK to be sexually harassed at work? I think it could possibly be challenged in court.