http://lifehacker.com/5968192/feminist-g...tag=pranks

When you're done, my opinion as I posted it to Facebook:


"FORCE isn't allowed to sell their underwear online because they'd probably get sued."

Please explain that line and assure me there's reality behind that, and not just some martyrish feelings.

Second: by the time a rapist gets down to your underwear, he's not going to give a flying FUCK what it says. This is a cutesy stunt, and it might get a few people talking, but don't pump your fists in the air over what you did, ladies. You did the equivalent of sticking a bunch of pink ribbons on the backs of cars for breast cancer. You didn't actually address any issues. By the time a man gets down to my panties with "unwrap me" written on them, rest assured, I want him to. Mostly because short of physical violence, I'm not going to let someone get that close. And no one beyond that is going to notice them, unless you happen to be one of the crass individuals who feel it's just fine to wear your underwear outside of your clothing - male or female.


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A friend made a joke about the fatties wearing track suits with things written on the ass and I said:
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I don't care what people want to wear on their clothes. If they want to put Stalin's face on their thong, go ahead. What I have a problem with is smear tactics like this, where a store gets implicated through no fault of its own. They want to make a point, but the point has nothing to do with Victoria's Secret. When has VS ever promoted rape? Why can't they sell these thongs? Why not establish a kiosk somewhere where people can actually buy them - or give them away - and allow for discussion about the topic, instead of making it out like VS somehow encourages rape. Why - because there's "unwrap me" written on it? Isn't the whole point supposed to be that it should be understood that no matter how we dress or what's written on it, consent should be given? And what exactly are they trying to do here? Why not divert their energies into something that would actually have effect: like educational programs in schools that discuss how things like drugs and alcohol affect your decision making ability, and get rid of the "abstinence only" discussions that serve no one. How about promoting the idea that sex is good and healthy, and letting people know that yes, people DO like to have sex and that it isn't shameful or a mood killer to discuss it beforehand. You know what's a mood killer? Being tied for 18 years to someone I didn't have a contraception or consent conversation with before hand. Or explaining to all my subsequent lovers that I might have an incurable STD for the rest of my life because I didn't speak up loud enough on my own behalf. Why does no one talk about the fact that putting a statement like this on panties still puts the onus on men and thus gives them still a portion of power that shouldn't ever be put in their hands? Why wait for them to ask?

These people have a message and they don't care who gets fucked in the telling. I'm not stupid enough to think it's going to hit VS hard or anything, but I do wish people would realize that when you pull stunts like this you're not actually helping your cause. You're making yourself feel better because you did something. And that's not the same as actually making a mark in a good way on the world. It's merely giving you a false sense of control - like the person who won't fly in a plane, but drives on dangerous highways all the time.
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This kind of shit chaps my ass.

They stir the pot because they feel they must, but ultimately, this is a really stupid prank/"operation".

I assure you, no one would want to "unwrap" me after wearing a thong through 5 hours of vigorous dancing and sweating.

Crass? Me? Well, okay — a bit.


Why do I suspect that FORCE made no attempts to get Victoria Secret's consensual participation in this campaign?

I haven't dug into the story, but I'd be willing to bet no one asked VS if they'd be willing to participate in anything that empowered women - we're too busy denigrating them for causing our girls to be anorexic or some shit like that.

(December 14, 2012 at 4:12 pm)thesummerqueen Wrote: I haven't dug into the story, but I'd be willing to bet no one asked VS if they'd be willing to participate in anything that empowered women - we're too busy denigrating them for causing our girls to be anorexic or some shit like that.

Didn't you know? Assuming girls will ever want girly things forces them to not eat until they stop having their periods. I'm sick of this kind of shit, honestly. I'm a "masculine" female, where my personality is concerned. I grew up doing everything my brother did because he was my brother and he's into some awesome shit. I like video games, hiking, cursing and breaking things. All that being said, sometimes it feel damn fine to be a woman in sexy underwear, tempting your partner to take you like an animal. It doesn't degrade me or make me feel less, it's another part of who I am.

But all that aside: How does sneaking underwear into an underwear store help fucking anyone? Man, I'm bitter today.

You're bitter but you're making a shit load of sense. Keep going!

It's not about being bitter, it's about seeing through the inherent bullshit, which is why I complained. I'm completely with you. I've always gotten along better with guys, which is great because after we're done doing cool shit, we go back and fuck like bunnies. No one seems to have a problem - I get to be a woman without being "weak" and they get to be men without it being something sexist.

I'm more pissed though for exactly what I said - this is continuing to put the onus on men instead of on you to protect your own goddamn self.

(December 14, 2012 at 4:23 pm)thesummerqueen Wrote: I'm more pissed though for exactly what I said - this is continuing to put the onus on men instead of on you to protect your own goddamn self.

But didn't you know all men are pedos and rapists waiting to happen? Don't worry! Your panties will save you. It's all such bullshit.

I'd like to also point out that the only way so far that I can see that VS encourages rape is the way their prices continually rape your wallet.

H&M is much cheaper.