Letters to the Editor

Letters posted here are associated with the following article:
It's hard out there for a Wal-Mart.
The letters thread is now closed.
  • Insert cash...

    ...into slot

  • $2.96 for novelty underwear at Wal-Mart

    A fair price.

    What is the point of this article?

  • The only acceptable message on children's underwear

    comes in a 7-pair packet: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

    Anything else written on underwear is just bizarre. And Santa? A child-centric old man who creeps into the house at night and whose gifts are dependent on my having been "nice" all year long? I don't want him on, in, under or anywhere *near* my knickers. Ew.

    The slogan itself is vaguely funny and more than vaguely mindless, but would be completely inoffensive on a t-shirt. I can't imagine whose idea it was to put it on underpants. My guess is that the underwear - like everything else at Wal-Mart - was made in a Chinese sweatshop. The people making it probably didn't even know what it said, so it could be they just have a bunch of slogans that they put on a bunch of different clothing and this one landed in unfortunate circumstances.

    I repeat: Ew.

  • "Hot Pocket"

    Now that's comedy, although I wouldn't permit it on undies worn by my child, if I had one.

  • EW!

    And I suppose that when those little girls are sexually violated by some predator they will be refused Plan B at Wal*Mart?

  • Positive Message?

    Hey, if you read it the right way maybe its an anti-materialistic message that speaks against the vicious stereotype about women and credit cards...

    And maybe the 12 year old girl who wears a pair wont end up a stripper.

  • Creepy, but the real villain is Wal-Mart

    Kids will be kids, and that means that when they get old enough they purposely try to shock and dismay the adults. I don't like those vulgar panties for kids, but then, I'm an adult.

    The real villain in this story is Wal-Mart, the oh-so family values, staunchly Republican conglomerate. They're villains not because they sell this stuff, but because of their disgusting hypocrisy. Not surprising, though: scratch a holier-than-thou wealthy Republican and you'll find a greedy hypocrite underneath, every freakin' time.

  • Much wisdom in those panties

    It speaks truths. So what is the point?

    Better that a fraudulent phrase be written on them?

    maybe one like "I'm not a tease"

  • Brightstar

    You're never going to get laid until you stop hating women. Do you think they don't notice it?

  • market morals

    It shouldn't be news to anyone who reads this blog that women under Patriarchy are sexual commodities. Read any Jane Austin novel for all the evidence you need. And though feminism has made much progress promoting the idea that women are subjects (actors with free agency), feminism hasn't replaced Patriarchy. If it had we as a nation might not be embroiled in wasteful imperial adventures and debating how much torture is acceptable. But here's the rub -- as long as "acting" is understood through Patriarchy it will remain a male gendered activity. And for every feminist who is a fair trade, vegan, low-impact horticulturalist there is a feminist (e.g. Camile Paglia) who believes in free markets, luxury consumer goods, and "shop therapy." The ideal consumer is implicitly male -- the unseen eye that consumes real or symbolic products is a man's eye -- and women who consume are enjoying a male-type power of controlling (and wasting) resources as proof of agency. This brings me to the conclusion: markets need both subjects (typed male) and objects (typed female); moreover, markets work by finding new resources to exploit for profit. It is only logical then that all objects (female) should be commodified, and what more natural and ready-to-hand commodity is there than newly pubescent girls? It's not as if no female under 18 ever got married or had babies. Juliette of Shakespeare's play was 13. Under the logic of Patriarchal capitalism as soon as women enter the symbolic world of agency (connected with the idea of adulthood) they will become sexual commodities.

  • Please, brightstar

    You DO understand that we're talking about underwear for children, right? Because if you think all pre-pubescent girls are "teases," then you are even sicker than I thought you were. And I mean "sick" sincerely - as in, get a doctor. Seriously, man. I'm not sure I can keep my breakfast down after a comment like that.

  • No...

    Brightstar thinks little girls are roaches, and that their bodies are no different than adult women's.

  • I missed the prepubescent angle.

    don't barf

  • Unless the world has shifted off its axis

    the juniors department does not carry clothes for children. "Juniors" are the smaller end of "missy" sizes, with a more youthful flair. I wore a junior size in college. If a young woman can wear "kitty not happy" on her teeshirt in the workplace, why can't she wear whatever she wants on her panties?

  • Durian

    I treat women the way I perceive them treating me.

    If they project hate towards me, I pick up on it and throw it back.

    This is why I get along much better with women from other countries.

    American women have a particularly virulent brand of man hatred in them. Oh, they will deny it to the high heavens, but a pig living their whole life in slop does not see the slop.

    As for getting laid, I do not need it. If it comes, it comes. I will not be controlled by my dick or by women.

  • Really?

    Sheesh. When feminists complain about silly stuff like this it makes it seem that they really don't have anything to complain about and are just looking for trouble. I don't really think that's true, but come on, people. Pick you targets a little more carefully. Getting all freaked out about something like this just makes you seem like silly self-parodies.

    The panting outrage reminds me of nothing so much as the right-wing fake outrage machine that kicks in whenever a Democrat suggests we're not "winning" the war or some such thing.

    And I sincerely hope Zach's cliche ridden screed is a joke. Either way, grow up.

  • Oh, and Durian

    lots of men absolutely despise women and get laid all the time.

    So what is your point?

  • The creepy part

    The creepy part seems to be all the speculation before you turn them around.

    I certainly wouldn't be buying them for my kid since they're pretty materialistic, but if somebody perverted is looking at her in her underpants what is written on them is the least of her worries.