Residents of Oregon town say shape of traffic posts is offensive (OF COURSE there's a picture)

KOMO-TV (Seattle) ^ | July 6, 2007 | Melica Johnson

[Stoat]

Residents of Oregon town say shape of traffic posts is offensive

Story Published: Jul 6, 2007 at 8:20 AM PDT

Story Updated: Jul 6, 2007 at 9:06 AM PDT

By Melica Johnson and KATU Web Staff
 

KEIZER, Ore. - The City of Keizer is taking heat for installing a group of cement posts designed to protect pedestrians from cars, but which some say is a phallic symbol.

A total of 52 of the posts were installed at a busy intersection in Keizer and they are getting a lot of second glances.

A number of residents have complained to the city that the posts resemble male genitalia.

"I can't disagree with that," said City Manager Chris Eppley.  "They certainly did not turn out the way we anticipated."

According to Eppley, the posts were ordered from a catalog and looked much different on paper.

"They're a standard style," Eppley said.  "I think in the right context they look fine.  They just happened not to (look fine) here."

The city is looking into retrofitting the posts with metal collars and chains that run between them, which they hope will change the look.  If not, they said the posts will have to go.

"If that fix doesn't work and I still think they look inappropriate, we'll have wasted $20,000 and we'll have to do something different," Eppley said.

Of course, the city could always keep them up and use them for sex education, at least according to one woman we spoke to. "My son said he wanted to hang a sign on it that says 'always use protection,'" she said.

[Clara Lou]

Now, I do see a resemblance in that pic. Anyone lodged a complaint with Mother Nature?

[RockinRight]

[muawiyah]

Those posts are "linga" ~ or representations of Shiva's Member.

It's a violation of church/state relationships.

Where is the ACLU when we really need them eh?!

I want to see one of their old harpies who handle the nutball anti-Christian cases get out there and do screeches at these things.

[quark]

“Is that a Washington Monument, or are you just glad to see me?”

[Revolting cat!]

Here's a postcard from Thailand:

Dear Mom, Wish you were here...

[Clara Lou]

OK— that’s what I thought you were talking about. I don’t get the resemblance. But then, this is not the kind of thing I sit and think about, either. Whatever.

[muawiyah]

The Washington Monument is SUPPOSED TO BE a masculine symbol showing the power and majesty of the United States government.

The guys who designed it would be very upset to find out you don't think so.

[Clara Lou]

laughing and laughing and laughing...

[reagan_fanatic]

What probably did it in was the accompanying decorative sculptures which were quickly removed...

[Recovering Hermit]

[NathanR]

You mean like this?

There are 1008 linga there in the picture

[BykrBayb]

I’m offended too. The extractor groove is on the wrong end.

[Michael.SF.]

Well, in San Francisco, they know what a real phallus symbol looks like:

[KC-10A BOOMER]

Looks like a cartridge to me, but what do I know?

[martin_fierro]

Sometimes a post is just a post.

Except this post.

[gidget7]

Something like this would have been referred to as a “get your mind out of the gutter” moment not long ago.

[RockinRight]

FYI that is NOT me in that pic...

[meyer]

They’re shaped like that for safety reasons, not because they resemble giant peters. Rounded edges are much less dangerous when one runs (or walks) into one of these things. They have the similar structures out in front of the TVA complex in Chattanooga to prevent vehicles from driving up the sidewalk in front of the building.

[meyer]

And they think that collaring and chaining these "symbols' will stop the debate.

I think that chaining them together will certainly make them less safe. The first time someone trips over the chain, there will be a huge gathering of greedy trial lawyers.

[CalvaryJohn]

I was hoping someone would post that. It’s actually in Arches National Park. The first time I saw it I thought I would die laughing.