Local conservative radio blogger Tom Fredriksen of Old Glory Radio gave the Journal a ring today to inform us of the filth being hocked in the hallways of the Bayshore Mall in Eureka. In particular, he noticed a shirt in front of Spencer’s facing out towards passersby that read — close your eyes if you’re squeamish — “Overworked and Underfucked.”
Fredrkisen says that the shirt, which is a size small and which he subsequently purchased as evidence (see his picture of the offending garment here) is designed for a ten year old girl. He believes that it’s proof positive of “the sexualization of our children by businesses…..for profit,” according to his website.
You can listen to his program on the subject here. And a here’s a video of Fredriksen venting on YouTube via Old Glory Radio.
Spencer’s, if you didn’t already know, isn’t a Hallmark store. Other shirts in their inventory include this one (a perfect gift according to the store for someone suffering through her third trimester) as well as this set of goblets for him and her.
On the store’s plastic bags there’s a warning for the faint-of-heart: “Always Irreverent,” it says. A little too much so, I guess, for Fredriksen. Then again, he bought the shirt.
Update: Check out this timely article at Salon.com about marketing grown-up sexuality to kids.
This article appears in Nobody’s Fault.
Spencer’s… the only place in the county selling rubber chickens (near as I can figure).
It’s curious he described the store as a place that sells lava lamps. While true, the back half of the store is filled with mature material. The point of Spencer’s seems to be to sell edgy material to folks in the 14 to 22-year-old range.
I’d like to see independent verification of the claim that the shirt fits a 10-year-old.
That said, the store should voluntarily have the good sense to keep the edgiest material in the back half of the store, not the display window. It’s really poor judgment.
maybe the guy has a thing for 10 year olds…….his imagination was running wild!!
if he is mad at the profits being made, why did he BUY a shirt? that sure showed them!! i dont believe the story about buying the shirt for “evidence” either.
people who are uptight about sex (like tom) tend to be the sexual sickos in our society. they do it behind the scenes, and would deny it until caught.
Tom Fredriksen must not drive much. Most of us have become inured to offensive slogans, which are displayed next to cloying tributes to deceased loved ones, on the back windows of vehicles.
My all-time favorite:
“My other car
is a piece of shit too.”
I saw the T-shirt he was holding and absolutely disagree with Fredriksen that it was designed for 10 year olds. It would fit any number of adult women I know who are not afraid to wear tight T-shirts.
Fredriksen’s obsession about 10 to 12 year olds says a lot about him and frankly it’s disturbing.
That said, Spencer Gifts could exercise a bit more tact by not displaying such a shirt outside the store, if that is indeed where Fredriksen found it.
Wow, someone finally stands up for kids in this community and the NCJ readers attact the messenger. Big surprise there. Maybe when you get out of college and have kids yourself you will take your community and what goes on in it more seriously. Good job tom and thank you NCJ for bringing to light the situation. I am a PTA member and you can believe other moms will be hearing about this. The size of the shirt doesn’t matter, the fact it was on display and available to them and they refused to pull it after a complaint is the issue.
I agree, good work Tom!! Someone needs to protect our kids from predator promoting
irresponsible stores like Spencer gifts.
If it was on display in the window case, then that was pretty stupid on the part of the store. The sizing was probably small, which, in these days, often means tiny and stretchy so as to be tight when worn.
Speaking of offensive car decals (#3), there’s the driver of this white pick-up truck in McKinleyville–obviously a parent as he is seen picking up his child at the elementary school–who has a couple of those lovely decals of fornicating devils, as well as a big “SHOW ME SOME TITTIES” across the back window. Giving his son some good values there.
my values include loving titties. so what?
So, okay, you see no problem with those decals sitting in the parking lot at an elementary school populated with pre-adolescent girls and boys? Maybe he wants the little girls to show him some.
lets ban bumperstickers!!!! that will solve everything!!!
It’s a MEN’S shirt! I don’t know any women who would want to wear it! I love Spencer’s, it’s hilarious and believe it or not, child friendly (in the front anyway!) Tom went WAY overboard with his ranting. I agree with Theo about buying the shirt, that teaches the company nothing. How about just not shopping there?!
Why don’t people understand that maybe it was a customer (just like you and I and Tom) who took the shirt and put it the way it was on purpose to be funny? What does that have to do with the management/employees?
If you don’t like something, then look away!
HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR PEOPLE!
I’m surprised that no one has mentioned Victoria’s Secret in the mall. Sex, profanity and violence are hot button issues — separate issues — but they are unified by one principle… the transformation of public spaces into adult spaces.
You parents, you just walk on the opposite side of the mall, or don’t visit the mall at all. What’s the harm?
And pretty soon, we’re numb to it and then we’re buying our little girls Bratz dolls and laughing when our 3-year-old cringes during ‘R’ movies. And then pundits lament the rise in pre-teen sex and criminal behavior and blame the parents. No doubt, parents are to blame, but it’s increasingly difficult for us in an unrelenting world that doesn’t give a damn about pushing children into adulthood at earlier and earlier ages.
At least the shirt didn’t say the poor, victimized 10-year-old tart was OVERfucked.
The shirt is a size small. Doesn’t say anything about small, childrens. Also that picture of the shirt, is that shortly before he urinated on it? Clean your shoes next time mr. clean guy.
yo AJ, women used to get married at thirteen because they would only live to about 25. How are we pushing children into adulthood earlier. seems we coddle them to 18 then tell them they have to be 21 to partake of alcohol.
Can you tell me what about Victoria’s Secret promulgates sex? Maybe underwear is a sex thing for you especially in fun colors but really, they’re just underwear and manikins.
unanonymous Says:
May. 26, 2008 at 3:07 pm
The shirt is a size small. Doesn’t say anything about small, childrens. Also that picture of the shirt, is that shortly before he urinated on it? Clean your shoes next time mr. clean guy.
Those are the shoes of someone who works for a living.
$4.99, means that the shirts aren’t big sellers anyway. But let’s say that shirt was a small shirt, the same size, and said something racist, would you all be fine with that? What’s more offensive to you people anyway, a 10 year old wearing a G-string, or a 10 year old with a rifle?
anon.r.mousy,
free speech is designed to protect offensive speech. the fact that you dream of 10 year olds in g-strings is SICK!!