Posted on 01/02/2005 5:45:24 PM PST by Ellesu
The bloodied Jack the Ripper doll on the toy shelf at Vancouver's Virgin Megastore is drawing fire from women's groups. They say that in a city still coming to terms with its own serial killer, a doll depicting a man who murdered prostitutes is tasteless.
"It doesn't display much sensitivity, does it?" asked Kate Gibson, director of the WISH Drop In Centre for sex-trade workers on the Downtown Eastside.
Maggie de Vries, whose sister Sarah is one of the women missing from the streets of the eastside, said the doll suggests that violence against women is acceptable.
"When other people see that doll, they won't be thinking what I'm thinking," said de Vries, author of an award-winning book about the disappearance of her sister.
"This is a doll based on a historical character who killed prostitutes. We have such men among us. This is not something to glorify."
Jack the Ripper is the name newspapers gave to an unknown killer who terrorized London in 1888. The case was never solved.
No one was available for comment Friday at the Vancouver store or Virgin's head office in L.A.
How terrible.
Um...
Any pictures?
Somehow I think they'd find a burqa-clad Barbie "sensitive."
Prostitutes sold separately?
Sex workers, if you please.
Picture at the link, but I don't know how to post a picture.
Sorry. I lack the testosterone needed to be completely insensitive about hookers getting killed. I did my best though....
Okay, so where are the pictures of the prostitutes?
I don't think you can get THAT on ebay (yet).
It would make alot more sense if anyone had ever figured out who the killer was. Was he tall? Short? Attractive or pot-marked? Rich? Poor? A royal or a butcher?
You mean the Sex Worker.
Oh, they must have a union now.
I think they do. And so do the man whores.
You're a naughty one,
Saucy Jack!
I just did a search for "blow up dolls" on Google, but I didn't see any pictures that wouldn't get me banned.
Ok... now THATS insensitive
"[Women's groups say] a doll depicting a man who murdered prostitutes is tasteless."
OK...OK...how 'bout a Dr. Jack the Abortionist doll? Would that be sensitive to women's needs. The accessory market would be a killing - with all the different chunks, parts and odd bits.
Oh, and let's not forget the lucrative after market resale potential for Dr. Jack the embrionic tissue dealer doll complete with clinic, cold storage and client data base looking for pre-packaged baby eyes, organs and tissues.
Heck, just going on down that road is a gold mine. Picture a whole line of pre-pubescent make-up kits and nutritional supplements for girls (and their vapid mothers) from glitter eye shadow to fruit flavored lip gloss and all the rest with a dose of REAL embrionic extract goodness in every bottle. Mmmmm! The more I think about it, the more viable it seems.
Who needs cartoon monsters from the historical past? We've got all we need here and now - real role models for modern women!
I've got that picture of the U.S. Senate lying around here somewhere...
Hm. I don't see what all the hub-bub is. I've seen worse in the "Garbage Pail Kids"...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.