Man files complaint to have Spencer's Gifts reclassified as an adult business

[disorderlyvision]

PORTLAND, Maine — A complaint over sex toys sold at a Maine Mall store has prompted an effort to narrow South Portland's definition of adult business.

Police say a complaint by a customer who was offended by devices sold at Spencer's Gifts led to months of talks involving police, city officials and lawyers. The man who brought the complaint urged City Hall to reclassify Spencer's as an adult business and prohibit anyone under 18 from entering the store.

A proposal would require companies that sell sex toys to warn parents with signs at the front of stores or package devices so they cannot be viewed by minors. A lawyer for Spencer's tells the Portland Press Herald that it already complies with many of the proposed regulations.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/bizarre/6444111.html

[Dreamofunity]

I remember one of my friends in middle school bought a dildo from Spencers.

[disorderlyvision]

I remember one of my friends in middle school bought a dildo from Spencers.

The one in the mall by me has lubes/massage oils and "personal massagers" maybe yours is different

[sevin]

Hmmm... I suppose it would be aggravating to drop young teens off at the mall and know they can go look at that stuff. I've bought various assorted items there (:D). But yeah, this guy has a point. I'm usually against more regulation, but it's not very consistent to keep kids out of sex shops yet let them into the back of Spencers. They should at least not allow minors in without an adult.

[Dreamofunity]

The one in the mall by me has lubes/massage oils and "personal massagers" maybe yours is different

It was probably called a "personal massager" :P

[Scofield]

But yeah, this guy has a point. I'm usually against more regulation, but it's not very consistent to keep kids out of sex shops yet let them into the back of Spencers. They should at least not allow minors in without an adult.

One size does not fit all, nor should it.

The Government should not be involved in telling the citizens who can and cannot go into a private business. Who can and cannot enter a private business is the decision of the business owner, and the individual (or individual's parents).

If the private business (Spencer's) doesn't want kids in it's stores, they should have the power to mandate that no kids enter. If the private business (Spencer's) doesn't care if kids enter, again their prerogative. If a parent doesn't want their kid entering the store, DON'T take your kid to the store. There should be no "Adult's only" stores unless the business itself wants to be "Adult's only." That is a decision that should be left to the business, not some bureaucrat in Washington; or do you not believe in property rights?

You people need to stop relying on the Government to do the parenting for you. It's pathetic.

Edit: If Spencer's is in a mall, the decision should be up to the owner for the mall complex. If Spencer's is not in a mall, it should be up to the owner of Spencer's.

[angelatc]

In all fairness, Spencer's is a big lure to kids with their shiny things displayed so prominently. I confess I didn't realize they had an adult section and took my kids in there once.

They were 6 and 2. As far as I can tell, no damage was done.

[FindLiberty]

100%

One size does not fit all, nor should it.

The Government should not be involved in telling the citizens who can and cannot go into a private business. Who can and cannot enter a private business is the decision of the business owner, and the individual (or individual's parents).

If the private business (Spencer's) doesn't want kids in it's stores, they should have the power to mandate that no kids enter. If the private business (Spencer's) doesn't care if kids enter, again their prerogative. If a parent doesn't want their kid entering the store, DON'T take your kid to the store. There should be no "Adult's only" stores unless the business itself wants to be "Adult's only." That is a decision that should be left to the business, not some bureaucrat in Washington; or do you not believe in property rights?

You people need to stop relying on the Government to do the parenting for you. It's pathetic.

Edit: If Spencer's is in a mall, the decision should be up to the owner for the mall complex. If Spencer's is not in a mall, it should be up to the owner of Spencer's.

OK by me, get YOUR OWN kids a gift card and/or help them pick out some fun stuff if you want to! It might really help kids if you talk to 'em about this issue, and personal responsibility too.

[idiom]

Don't let your kids hang out at the Mall!!

Keep them at home, on the internet, where its safe.

[tsopranos]

Can't we just skip all of these nuanced laws already and force our children to be packaged into bubbles? Is that too much to ask? :D


http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a12/ridonkulous/bubble_boy.jpg

[nate895]

The guy has a point, Spencer's is an adult business. Does that mean that we should regulate who enters an adult business? No.

[FindLiberty]

If your gonna' toss in some adult porn magazines, sex toys and a bottle of lube, please consider a translucent bubble for your "kid", instead of putting him into that transparent one!


Can't we just skip all of these nuanced laws already and force our children to be packaged into bubbles? Is that too much to ask? :D


http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a12/ridonkulous/bubble_boy.jpg

[tsopranos]

If your gonna' toss in some adult porn magazines, sex toys and a bottle of lube, please consider a translucent bubble for your "kid", instead of putting him into that transparent one!

Sorry for being a good parent and believing my kid will turn out just fine with or without these misguided laws in place. I agree with the person arguing from a business owner's perspective. They should be able to make the decision, not government. I wasn't arguing from a libertine standpoint.

My kid, if old enough to go into Spencer's to begin with, would have already known about the devil's toys you name :D

[Matt Collins]

Hmmm... I suppose it would be aggravating to drop young teens off at the mall and know they can go look at that stuff. I've bought various assorted items there (:D). But yeah, this guy has a point. I'm usually against more regulation, but it's not very consistent to keep kids out of sex shops yet let them into the back of Spencers. They should at least not allow minors in without an adult.How about actually having responsibility for one's children?!?! :confused::rolleyes:
When you give up responsibility to the government, then you lose rights as well. Rights and responsibilities are inseparable.



My parents would've kicked my butt if they had known I had gone into a store like that. Of course they also didn't just drop me off at the mall and let me roam free either. As an adult I must admit I'm embarrassed to go into Spencer's (hopefully no one I know sees me go in), but they do have some cool stuff, and now that I'm adult I can appreciate the sense of humor a bit more.

[ceakins]

In all fairness, Spencer's is a big lure to kids with their shiny things displayed so prominently. I confess I didn't realize they had an adult section and took my kids in there once.

They were 6 and 2. As far as I can tell, no damage was done.

OMG I did this once too.

[sevin]

One size does not fit all, nor should it.

The Government should not be involved in telling the citizens who can and cannot go into a private business. Who can and cannot enter a private business is the decision of the business owner, and the individual (or individual's parents).

If the private business (Spencer's) doesn't want kids in it's stores, they should have the power to mandate that no kids enter. If the private business (Spencer's) doesn't care if kids enter, again their prerogative. If a parent doesn't want their kid entering the store, DON'T take your kid to the store. There should be no "Adult's only" stores unless the business itself wants to be "Adult's only." That is a decision that should be left to the business, not some bureaucrat in Washington; or do you not believe in property rights?

You people need to stop relying on the Government to do the parenting for you. It's pathetic.

Edit: If Spencer's is in a mall, the decision should be up to the owner for the mall complex. If Spencer's is not in a mall, it should be up to the owner of Spencer's.


How about actually having responsibility for one's children?!?! :confused::rolleyes:
When you give up responsibility to the government, then you lose rights as well. Rights and responsibilities are inseparable.

My parents would've kicked my butt if they had known I had gone into a store like that. Of course they also didn't just drop me off at the mall and let me roam free either. As an adult I must admit I'm embarrassed to go into Spencer's (hopefully no one I know sees me go in), but they do have some cool stuff, and now that I'm adult I can appreciate the sense of humor a bit more.

Upon further reflection, I think you guys are right. If a parent really really doesn't want their kid going into Spencers, then they shouldn't let them roam the mall unsupervised. If they're old enough to roam the mall alone, they're old enough for Spencers.

Yeah . . . screw more government intervention.

Sorry, I backslid there for a minute. :o

[kpitcher]

So little Johnny isn't supposed to go to a Spencers at the mall, but can wander into Victoria's secret or Fredericks of Hollywood and look at all the crotchless items and that's fine to this idiot?

I think the guy sueing should just avoid going to the mall and stop trying to legislate his morality.

[Brooklyn Red Leg]

Police say a complaint by a customer who was offended by devices sold at Spencer's Gifts led to months of talks involving police, city officials and lawyers. The man who brought the complaint urged City Hall to reclassify Spencer's as an adult business and prohibit anyone under 18 from entering the store.

Fucking douchebag. Again, a Teenager above the age of 13 isn't a child. They should be treated as what they are: small adults. Up until the modern era, teenagers AND children served in the Army as Drummers, Medical Auxiliaries, Runners and Ammo Carriers. And a number of them were killed in battle. This entire scenario is fucked up beyond belief.

[Matt Collins]

Yeah . . . screw more government intervention.

Sorry, I backslid there for a minute. :oIt's ok, it happens every now and then. Please at this point to complete your cleansing and join the liberty movement again, go take a shower, thoroughly cover yourself with vinegar, and get a witch doctor to exorcise those big-government feelings from your mind :p;)

[Danke]

I remember one of my friends in middle school bought a dildo from Spencers.

When I was married, I went to Spencers and bought my wife a t-shirt and dildo for her B-day.


I told her if she didn't like the t-shirt, she could go fuck herself.

[Dreamofunity]

When I was married, I went to Spencers and bought my wife a t-shirt and dildo for her B-day.


I told her if she didn't like the t-shirt, she could go fuck herself.

Hahaha

[Matt Collins]

I told her if she didn't like the t-shirt, she could go fuck herself.You are not married any longer then, eh?:rolleyes:

Besides, if you have to get your wife a toy like that, then you are not doing a very good job at your husbandry duties it would seem. :p