Letters to the Editor
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Great Idea!
This will capture the attention of millions of men and teach them to do breast self exams! Where's the doo-dad wall so we women can ogle guys' parts and learn how to do self-exams for testicular cancer?
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Photos for breast cancer
How about photos of women who have had mastectomies? That might serve as a dramatic warning.
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the website has a mild "rate my tits" feel to it
... which is too bad. i like the idea of supporting cancer research. i more like the idea of somehow exorcising puritanical values about nudity from this country. i think taking the "dirty edge" off of boobs, dicks, whateva ... would impressively benefit our extremely uptight society. i'm not suggesting no boundaries ... i am saying that the human body is both sexual and it is not. we seem to be fevered and schizophrenic with our attitudes.
it's like that simpson's episode (yes ... i know the simpson's get quoted waayyyy too much here in broadsheet) when ralph and bart get into chief wiggum's police closet of weapons and armaments. the chief finds them both, and says "ralph, what IS your fascination with my forbidden closet of mysteries?"
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It didn't look very sexy to me
These are not, by and large, sexy photos. There are pictures of mastectomies, droopy breasts, fully clothed breasts, tops with cleavage. I don't think it would so interesting, but it gets cool when you click over a picture and see the dedication. This isn't Hustler, or even Playboy. It's just women showing whatever they are comfortable showing. In all honesty, I kind of like it, although the picture I saw of a woman with a mastectomy gave me a shake.
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maybe you don't get it
>I get it, I do. They're trying to sex up breast cancer awareness, but there's just nothing sexy about cancer.
Don't be so sure you get it, Tracy. What they are trying to show as sexy are healthy breasts. Therefor, breast cancer prevention is sexy, in the same way as working out for tight abs would be.
Given that there seems to be some innate resistance in some women to checking themselves, the site also functions as a way of desensitizing prudish women to self exams. Surely if many people can upload pictures of themselves, you have no good reason to shy away from a self exam in the privacy of your home.
If you want to really prevent cancer deaths, instead of breasts you should be talking about the importance of getting screening colonoscopies. Colon cancer kills many more people than breast cancer, affects both genders, and lots of people are squeemish about having somebody stick a flexible camera up there for a look.
That said, I'm not enthusiastic about the premise of the website either. While on one hand, the site may desensitize people to the breast, by emphasizing the sexual nature it could also reinforce the basis of the prudery.
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Neat website!
I like the "booby dedications" and found some of them sad. I don't know....it seems to be a cool monument to Boobs, and also shows the variety of shapes and sizes and colors they come in.
Even some women with mastectomies posted theirs, which I can see would be powerful for them, as by posting their pictures they seem to be saying: "see my single bare breast and surgical scar; I don't care that I only have one breast left, because I am a total badass."
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I read it as
rah-rah exhibitionist fluffy feminism with a purpose of raising funds and awareness for breast cancer.
Maybe not the most effective campaign in the world, but not completely pointless, either. Give them points for trying.
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Have you ever actually SEEN Net porn, Tracy?
I have. Lots of it.
And the Booby Wall is the farthest thing removed from titillating, objectifying displays of naked female breasts.
As a straight guy, I did not find the pictures arousing - but instead was touched by the accompanying notes from survivors, daughters/relatives/friends of breast cancer victims and so on.
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Right on, girls!
Now if only we lads can create a Wall of Balls for testicular cancer awareness. (Yeah, I know most guys/people would find it funny instead of touching - but maybe we could get an endorsement from Lance to legitimize it!)
Cheers,
Lonewolfy
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Yawn.
I'm with you, Tracy. But then I'm pretty sick of the breast cancer "awareness" industry. Is there anyone left who isn't aware? And how exactly does me buying Cheerios in a pink box help anyone, except Nestle?
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What is this breast cancer you speak of?
Never heard of it? Yes we need to pump out that awareness thing of this new and strange illness.
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I'm with Tracy
I can't imagine posting a picture of my testicles or prostate would make me feel like I was helping the fight against either kind of cancer. I also don't understand the fund raising part, "Donate ten bucks and have a picture of your tits put on the internet!" What?
I think the site would be better off focusing on the "All breasts are different, all breasts are beautiful," body image issue with a supplemental message about breast cancer, otherwise it just seems awkward.
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As usual....
The progressive types are to arrogant to see the truth that a lot of women are too shy or ashamed of their bodies and would never touch or look at their breasts, let alone whatever is going on down under. I think it could do some real good, if it gets one demure lady to touch her breasts.
Don't forget - Gasp - Some women think you pee out of your vagina!
I think the important role of breasts in human developement should demand that they become more main stream and less sexualized.
Get a grip people they are just boobies!
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The Ball Wall
They can pretend flashing breasts is noble instead of just more participation in the pornification of womankind, but it's "Girls Gone Cancery!"
To see this a bit more clearly, try to imagine men sending in shots of their sacks to promote testicular cancer awareness. Charming, isn't it?
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Booby Wall
I have to agree with Tracy and do not blame her for not uploading her breasts to that site. It is really an exercise in exhibitionism for women with healthy breasts and titillation for guys and lesbian or bi girls who visit the site. The emphasis on TLC or women doing or getting breast exams is not quite strong enough. Why not include videos of women doing self breast exams or doctors performing breast exams? Videos that would no doubt result in lives being saved. That would drive home the message or supposed message of the site better. Even You Tube has those type of videos (including vaginal and penile exams) and you know they are against nudity or pornography. God bless all breast cancer survivors and those families who have lost members to this dreadful disease.