Frankie says

[Gob]

The state government is urging Queensland clothing stores not to sell a t-shirt depicting a woman bound and gagged, with the slogan ‘‘Relax, it’s just sex’’.

Minister for Women Karen Struthers today called on retailers to immediately remove the item, saying it suggested "sexual assaults on women are acceptable’’.

“The shirts, which show a woman blood-soaked, bound and gagged, are extremely disturbing,’’ she said. "I understand that people are free to express themselves as they chose, but these images cross the line in my view.’’

The confronting image is printed on the front and back of the predominantly black t-shirts.

The t-shirts are the product of US pornographic magazine Hustler, created by controversial publisher Larry Flynt, and have been sold in stores in Toowoomba and Brisbane.

‘‘I’m concerned it’s happening in other stores in the state,’’ Ms Struthers said. “No one should be making a profit out of promoting violence against women. These images send the wrong message that violence against women is acceptable.’’

Ms Struthers said it was imperative that all members of the community condemned violence against women.

“If we all act as one in supporting victims and declaring our intolerance for domestic and family violence, we can put a stop to it,’’ she said.

There were were 5500 sexual offences reported in Queensland last year, while 23,000 applications were made for domestic violence protection orders across the state.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensl ... rom=smh_ft

Should the state government ban offensive t-shirts?

[SisterMaryFellatio]

Each to their own...IMHO One a bloke it would be in bad taste to wear it. On a female it shows a sense of humour and mebbe not so many morals!!

[loCAtek]

'Blood-soaked' ...ummm, yea that's violence not sex.

Hustler magazine has never had the best value judgments, not when they've tried to make lite of child molestation with their regular cartoon strip 'Chester the Molester', written by a real sex offender.

[The Hen]

The 'blood-soaked' bit is the step too far.

However, your article was the first I had heard of it being blood soaked. I think that is actually factually incorrect (but there is nothing on-line to support me on that.)

[tyro]

Some blood to be sure.


Stupid by any measure

[Big RR]

Maybe flecked with blood. I don't think it even rises to the level of blood spattered, let alone soaked.

[loCAtek]

Okay, now in your mind, change the bound figure into a man...





It's not just sex any more is it*?

In itself, the T-shirt is no more offensive than some horror movie posters, which often also portray a bloody 'damsel in distress'. So while I can't see a reason to ban the T-shirt, the whole culture of violent sex on women does concern me.





*from what I know of B & D, rarely do they intention to draw blood. It's all supposed to be 'play', without harm.

[Big RR]

Okay, now in your mind, change the bound figure into a man...





It's not just sex any more is it*?

Why not? Didn't you see Pulp Fiction?

FWIW, the photo/writing looks more like in your face satire to me than any kind of glorification of violence against women, more poking fun at people who equate violence with sex. Flint was often a jerk, but I think he had that sort of a sense of humor.

[loCAtek]

Sure, and I knew some folks who were into, B & D clubs, which is why I mentioned they(men and women) are not trying to hurt each other. The addition of blood to the image, strongly suggests the figure(a woman) is being hurt, to the point of injury.

Maybe the picture is playing on the misconception that B & D is painful and bloody(it's not), I still don't find that humorous. People who are into 'Shock-comedy', are the ones who concern me.

[Andrew D]

Okay, now in your mind, change the bound figure into a man...





It's not just sex any more is it*?

If it's just sex when the bound figure is a woman, then it's just sex when the bound figure is a man. If it's not just sex when the bound figure is a woman, then it's not just sex when the boundf figure is a man. Simple enough for most people ....

[tyro]

It’s offensive by any standard.

[Lord Jim]

Not my cup of tea, but in looking at it, it's highly stylized and "arty" looking rather than what I would call "graphic".

[Andrew D]

It’s offensive by any standard.

There is no such thing as "offensive by any standard".

[SisterMaryFellatio]

Now I have actually seen it...I don't mind it....Its art IMHO, i have always had a "fetish" if you like for sexual based art. And i like it....from someone who used to frequent S&M clubs i have seen a lot of bondage and S&M that drew blood and it was all consensual. Non consensual i would have had no part of.

Just MHO.

[tyro]

There is no such thing as "offensive by any standard".

There are a lot of clichés for which you could say that, and yet (by definition of a cliché), are in common use.

[Lord Jim]

SMF, you'd love this:

http://folsomstreetfair.org/fair-info.php

Too late for this year...

Maybe you can make your travel plans for next fall...

In 2011 the world's largest leather event, the Folsom Street Fair®, will take place on Sunday, September 25, 2011 from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. We hope to see the fairgrounds filled with people in their most outrageous leather/rubber/fetish attire enjoying the worlds largest and best loved Leather fair.

[loCAtek]

The Exotic Erotic Ball would have been tonight, but I heard it was canceled at the last minute due to lack of funds this year.

Flaccid ticket sales doom Exotic Erotic Ball

[SisterMaryFellatio]

SMF, you'd love this:

http://folsomstreetfair.org/fair-info.php

Too late for this year...

Maybe you can make your travel plans for next fall...

In 2011 the world's largest leather event, the Folsom Street Fair®, will take place on Sunday, September 25, 2011 from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. We hope to see the fairgrounds filled with people in their most outrageous leather/rubber/fetish attire enjoying the worlds largest and best loved Leather fair.

Oh i would have loved that....men dressed in the old Bdsm stuff dosn't do it for however I have to say the rubber highway patrol costume is a whole diff game!!

[Gob]

"You're terrible Mary". (quote)