Posted on 11/21/2006 11:43:06 AM PST by Silicon Cowboy
Tesco condemned for selling pole dancing toy by COLIN FERNANDEZ
Last updated at 23:13pm on 24th October 2006
Reader comments (51)
Mother of two Karen Gallimore was searching for Christmas gifts for her two daughters, Laura 10, and Sarah, 11, when she came across the 'toy'
Tesco has been forced to remove a pole-dancing kit from the toys and games section of its website after it was accused of "destroying children's innocence".
The Tesco Direct site advertises the kit with the words, "Unleash the sex kitten inside...simply extend the Peekaboo pole inside the tube, slip on the sexy tunes and away you go!
"Soon you'll be flaunting it to the world and earning a fortune in Peekaboo Dance Dollars".
The £49.97 kit comprises a chrome pole extendible to 8ft 6ins, a 'sexy dance garter' and a DVD demonstrating suggestive dance moves.
The kit, condemned as 'extremely dangerous' by family campaigners yesterday, was discovered by mother of two Karen Gallimore who was searching for Christmas gifts for her two daughters, Laura 10, and Sarah, 11.
Mrs Gallimore, 33, of Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, said yesterday: "I'm no prude, but any children can go on there and see it. It's just not on."
Dr Adrian Rogers, of family campaigning group Family Focus said yesterday that the kit would "destroy children's lives".
He said: "Tesco is Britain's number one chain, this is extremely dangerous. It is an open invitation to turn the youngest children on to sexual behaviour.
"This will be sold to four, five and six-year olds. This is a most dangerous toy that will contribute towards destroying children's innocence."
He added: "Children are being encouraged to dance round a pole which is interpreted in the adult world as a phallic symbol.
"It ought to be stopped, it really requires the intervention of members of Parliament. This should only be available to the most depraved people who want to corrupt their children."
Tesco today agreed to remove the product from the Toy section of the site, but said it will remain on sale as a Fitness Accessory, despite the fact that the product description invites users to "unleash the sex kitten inside".
Also on sale on the Tesco website is a strip poker game, "Peekaboo Poker" which is illustrated by a picture of a reclining woman in underwear.
The card game is is described as a game that "risks the risque and brings a whole lot of naughtiness to the table.
"Played with a unique pack of Peekaboo Boy and Girl playing cards, the aim of the game is to win as many Peekaboo chips as possible and turn them into outrageously naughty fun."
The pole dance kit is the latest item to fuel allegations that major retailers increasingly sell products which "sexualise" young children such as T-shirts with suggestive messages.
In recent years Asda was forced to remove from sale pink and black lace lingerie, including a push-up bra to girls as young as nine.
Next had to remove t-shirts on sale for girls as young as six with the slogan "so many boys, so little time."
And BHS and others came under fire for selling padded bras embellished with a "Little Miss Naughty" logo and t-shirts with a Playboy-style bunny that said "I love boys...They are stupid."
Tesco last night denied the pole dancing kit was sexually oriented and said it was clearly marked for "adult use".
A spokesman added: "Pole dancing is an increasing exercise craze. This item is for people who want to improve their fitness and have fun at the same time."
Gee.... just in time for christmas! (grrr....)
"Mommie, what's pole dancing?"
"I don't know, honey, why don't you Google it and see!"
3... 2... 1...
Pole Dancing -- as it used to be.
Perfect gift for the kids! Watch your young child strut to such hits a Van Halens's "Hot for Teacher"! Good way to teach your child the art of making money too.
What idiot came up with this?
Comes with a free web cam too, so all the perverts can see!
Prediction: Tesco will remove this demented product line extraordinarily fast.
There is no way in hell that this is real. It's funny though.
Good for those parents to alert the public.
Back in the old days, I think us kids, both boys and girls, would have loved a pole to play fireman on. That's the only use we knew for a pole. Society is getting knowledgeable about a lot of vile things these days but is getting ignorant about the moral foundation of life.
They already did. This story is a few weeks old but this morning's the first I heard of it.
My first job as a father is to keep my baby off the pole.
They don't give out grades for fathers, but if your daughter's a stripper...You F*&ked up.
The scary thing is not that one idiot thought of it, it is the fact that it was approved by a group of idiots sitting around a conference table when the idea was sold.
Just when you thought people could not possible degrade the popular culture any more...
That store and the products they sell are wrong on so many levels. And people wonder why there are so many sex crimes...jeesh.
So, if it's appropriate, then it would be appropriate to be used during the elementary school's Christmas show for the parents? Tsar chasm.
I guess somebody screwed up and put it in the kid section of the website.
Parents should not buy this for the kiddies! Obviously.
Cow Pie's
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