This is probably more suited for the Politics board, but I'll take the bait. Since when is morality the sole property of the political Right? That's an extremely arrogant position to take. "Right" and "Left" are political concepts. The problem with the "Right" is that they want to legislate their concept of morality, which is based on very narrow traditional Christian ideals. It amuses me that the political Right advocates are always spouting off about how we need less government and regulation ... except when it comes to forcing Christian ideals on everyone -- in a country founded on the concept of church separation.

No, you are wrong. People that don't fit into your narrow definition of what the "Right" is do care, about many things. To suggest that one must have Conservative politics to be morally sound is exactly the kind of crap that is dividing this country further every day.

I'm surprised at the rampant "holier than thou" attitude being displayed in this thread.

Yes, the kid's thong was a mistake. Whoever thought of that should be fired.

I don't live in the US and usually buy my wife a few of their funky little t-shirts each time I visit. She likes them. They're cute.

If you don't like the clothes, don't shop there.

But I think it's the height of hypocrisy when people who are members of an adult, porn related, website start complaining about nudity. Posters who have avatars of childrens toys engaged in sex. Posters that have avatars of Class A related drugs. Posters who visit and comment regularly on the Titty Board.

Sheesh...

What most of you guys need is not different clothes, but a mirror.

Mr Mephisto

Okay, here's the thing Mr Mephisto.

It's one thing when you if you're showing pictures of naked people on your site to sell porn. However it's a completely different thing when you're showing pictures of naked people to sell clothes. I mean that is what they are selling there right?

I didn't see one person at the abercrombie and fitch site wearing abercrombie and fitch clothing, all i saw them wear was well ... for the most part nothing. And whenever they do bullshit like that, it makes lose any respect for them.

But hey, sex sells ... i still don't think its right (when you're selling clothes, that is)

Same here and I absolutely agree. A lot of companies use sex appeal to sell their products. The difference is in the degree of sexuality portrayed. Abercrombie uses more than others. I do agree with previous posters that the kiddie thong idea was idiotic, but other than that, I don't see a problem.

Ah, another Puritan. Look, if they wanted to sell cars, they could use naked people. I mean, what are cars for but for fucking? What are clothes for but to TAKE THEM OFF? There is NO area of human interest that doesn't involve naked people. In the USA at least, they tend to be encumbered by clothes, but that's our problem.

Not only does sex sell, it's central to what keeps us alive on this planet. If you don't like it, that's too bad, but that's reality. IIRC, they've even used sex to sell coffins.

I really wish we'd gotten the criminals and Australia had gotten the Puritans... :icare:

Thats fine with me if they want to use sex to sell their shit but at least wear an artical of clothing that you are advertising. If they can find a creative way to use sex to sell their stuff it's fine but when all you see at their site is a bunch of naked people, thats just stupid.

Jesus!

Why? Granted, it'd seem more likely to help, but if they want to try to sell clothes w/o actually showing any product, who are we to tell them it doesn't work? They've gotten more awareness here doing what they're doing rather than just being Yet Another Mall Store.

They can do what they want, i'm just letting my opinion be heard. And my opinion on the whole thing is that what their doing is stupid and i have no respect for them.

This is funny. I just took my lil sister "back to school" shopping. As we walked around the mall looking in all the stores, we ventured into A&F. There are two doorways into the store. My sister turns to me and says, "Oh, this is the one with the pantless girls and the topless guys." I'm puzzled by this but continue to look about the store, as I have found that their pants do fit me rather nicely and sometimes, they have cute shirts that arent's splattered with "A&F" logos, too noticably. After a while, I notice that this store is not like the others I had ventured into that day. There was not a single picture in the entire store of anyone wearing clothes. I start taking pot shots at the nudie pics and joke with my sister that I may have to use the ladies room after this store. I notice another difference, no one has come up to me to offer me "great deals!!" I look in a mirror as I walk by. My hair is a mess from pulling shirts on and off all day, I don't have a spot of make-up on, I'm wearing jeans that are 4 years old and have patches on them, and those jeans are being held up by a studded belt that has been duct taped together. The irony, I have been "scouted" on three seperate occasions to model by two modeling agencies and one scouting network. Yet, these losers, who have enough makeup on their face to paint a mural with and are getting paid about $10 less an hour, won't talk to me. I got very very upset. Grabbed my sister, said several smart ass comments as I walked toward the front of the store... and I as I exited the store I saw a girl standing there in just a man's colared shirt and panites, and boy standing there in just pants. I said something absolutely horrible to them, which embarrased my sister terribly and left feeling quite satisfied.. until I looked over.. and saw a young mother, draggin her 2 small children into the store... Those kids were about to see stuff that barely squeeks by as PG13, at the ages of (what looked like) 2 and 4. Our society is fucked up.



and all this is comming from a hard core libral.

Yes, because prudes like most of us are considered normal.

Quote:

and all this is comming from a hard core libral.

If that's as liberal as you can get, you've got something to learn.

This thread just keeps getting better. I told everyone at work about it and they got a kick out of it.

Do ya put a little spin on it? Like... we're so prude and we think sex is bad? No? Ok, just checking.

Ok I dont think there is anyone here who doesn't enjoy sex, pictures of sexy people, or innuendo. We just don't appreciate it when some rich company dangles it in front of us and says, "Buy our stuff. It will make you sexy." It's an insult to our intelligence. It has nothing to do with being prude, conservative, or hateful. Some of us can see past all the social programming and see a greedy company with no shame.

They print racist graphics on their shirts, they sell clothes to 12 year olds that would make a stripper blush, and they charge you about 800% of what it takes to turn the cheap fabric into clothes on the shelf. Yes, of course it makes money, that's the object of a business, it wouldn't be such an outrage if they were struggling to keep stores open.

Mass Media Mind Control as ARTelevision puts it. We're against being controlled. We see the bait being dangled in front of us and we refuse to take it. Fuck you, Abercrombie & Fitch. You can rake in all the dough you like from those who are blind to your disrespect for your own customer base, but you'll never get a penny from me.

Yeah, I guess that's what I wanted to say in the first place.

While I'm ranting about evil corporations, I wanna point out that Honda is the exact opposite. They make quality products, have quality service, and you get real substance for your money. They really respect their customers. Go Honda. Fight the power.

ok.. so maybe it should just say liberal.. I thought I was hard core but apparently, I'm just hard core in comparrison to the great folks of Kansas! haha

I wonder how many of you "anti A&F" posters buy Nescaffe products? Or Nike? Perhaps some of you like Nestle? Do you put petrol in your car? Where do you think that's coming from (and don't fool yourself into thinking it's Texas)?

Don't pontificate about "big evil corporations" unless you want to turn your back on the entire Western Capitalist socio-economic model. And somehow I suspect most of you won't. You're all living the happy American dream.

The amount of money you spend on paper to wipe your asses with each day, would support families in Africa or India for weeks.

This pseudo "I'm so cool and I hate big nasty companies" nonesense makes me sick.

If you believe it, then what are you doing on the internet and not at some anti-globalization, big-business rally?

And, to be honest, you're annoyed because a company dangles "sex" in your face to sell products? The irony associated with someone working for a porn site saying that, a commercial porn site, is such as not to warrant comment.

I guess I'm coming across all nasty and antagonistic, but I don't mean to be. Finally, just because I don't agree with everything you say Hal, doesn't mean I don't like this site.

At least it engenders a healthy debate!

:)

Mr Mephisto

Yes, they do. It is being disputed in court. I will find the link. They even had a child model the thong for an ad which is what sparked the court case.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/gen/may02/43941.asp

Oh well posted too soon. Should have finished reading the thread.

forgive me...

Seeing as I happen to live in Houston, near the busiest port in the eastern half of the United States, and the largest urban area dealing with petroleum refinement, I have to laugh at this. Very, very loudly. Neither supporting nor denying your claim, just chuckling, mind you.

Maybe I am wierd, or too liberal, but I don't see a problem with it. The only picture that I think is overtly sexual is the girl kissing the guy. I do agree, that using blatant sex to sell something (and not showing the product) isn't a very straightforward technique, and even though I wouldn't ever shop there, it doesn't bother me. These aren't obviously underage people. They look young, but I doubt they are under 18.

Actually, I can probably say with confidence the people in the pictures are at least 18. A&F often times uses their employees to be their models, and you can't work at A&F unless you are 18 (at least, thats how it is in every store around here.)

I'm not some mom-and-pop-store-loving-hippie. I eat count chocola for breakfast, wear adidas shoes, frequently adorn myself in clothes from AE, Hollister (which is owned by A&F), and when I have the money and want to look nice: Express. The difference between all those stores and A&F, is that their marketing strategy isn't "rated PG-13 yet still available to be view by small children that look into the store."

Hell. That site is hysterical. Thanks for the hot pr0n link.

College students go to class in their pajamas because they are too lazy to get up and get dressed after a night of partying. It has nothing to do with what they can afford.

I really do not understand the uproar here. Who cares how they market? Look at Bud light withthe two girls oil wrestling (or whatever it was). Look at every ad for perfume or colgne in a magazine. What is the big deal? This, of all places, is the last place I ever thought I would see sucha big deal made about A&F. If you don't like it, dont buy it. So what? Who cares?

/rant on

The biggest problem in society is parents blaming companies, such as A&F, on what it is doing to kids and what our "society" is turning in to. People need to start taking responsibility for their own actions and how they raise their kids rather than blaming it on outside forces that they want to make scapegoats.

/rant off

If you dont like them, dont buy them. And for all of those bitching about their logo being everywhere, I hope you aren't buying Nike shoes or Levi jeans, or anything else that has a label on them. Otherwise you would be a hypocrite.

Fair enough, i won't.

Although, i would like to point out that A & F can't even find a creative way to use sex to sell their clothing. I mean all they do is show pictures of naked people on their site. And I know, I know, it seems to be working so they might as well keep on doing it but i'll just repeat myself again and say i don't respect the way they advertise.

And i have to agree with halx when he says it's an insult to our intelligence because not all of us fall for that kind of advertising that seems to say, 'Buy our stuff. It will make you sexy.'

amen.

Exactly, parents need to be aware that this shit is out there and not take thier kids into these stores.. but thats kinda hard when the A&F is located right next to Gymboree.. what are parents suppose to do.. cover their kids eyes while they walk past the nudie pics?

I know I would be pretty annoyed to pull up the site and have those images pop up - I have two young boys at home, and I'm careful about what they are exposed to - they don't even watch the evening news! So, here I am shopping for clothes, and I click on this RETAIL site, and see the titless woder making out with two guys. No thank you. Always thought ANF was pretentious, now I will definitely never shop there.

They are just naked people, sheesh.

They will go the way of Jordache, Miller's Outpost and Esprit in good time, despite their (by American standards) outlandish marketing. The date-raping, binge-alcoholic frat punks and vain sorority skanks who prayed to the A&F gods at the university I went to will move onto something else, and something equally calculated and test-marketed will take its place. As the world turns.

I wonder how its patrons feel about being an open book to that corporation--completely figured out, malleable, and trained. Here's a doggy biscuit, bitch, now buy that pair of low-rise jeans and tell all your friends where you got them. Or simply let the label speak for itself.

Parents are a difficult variable to change. The media in which children are being raised on is more easily changed than suburbia, the ghetto, or those who have been championed by the democrats. Placing blame on them whilst pointing the finger and your attention is iresponsable if you intend to have any affect on *any*thing as any results by comparison to the other problems are negligable at best as the other problems will grow in proportion because to most they will still be considered a good thing.

Thus concludes a half assed rant (using my full ass yields a multiple paragraph essay quality monstrosity) whose basic point is 'society is broken'.