This bit of marketing reminds me of a graphic artist friend who in the mid eighties was asked to create some art work for a soon to open organisation that was to supply all kinds of kit for the disabled, when he questioned the suitability of their chosen trading name, "The Aids Centre" Oh we never thought about that. Doh.Woolworths has withdrawn bedroom furniture for young girls bearing the sexually charged name Lolita after a campaign waged by a mothers’ online chat room.The Lolita Midsleeper Combi, a whitewashed wooden bed with pull-out desk and cupboard intended for girls aged about 6, was on sale on the Woolworths website for £395.
A mother who was browsing the site for a new bed for her daughter was so shocked at the brand name that she posted a message on the Raisingkids. co.uk website asking other parents whether they felt the same. “Am I being particularly sensitive, or does anyone else out there think it’s bad taste for Woolies to have a kiddy bed range named ‘Lolita’?.”
A tirade of messages followed from mothers equally horrified that a young girl’s bed should be sold under such a name. Several said that they would complain to the store chain.more
It may sound amazing but I didn't link the name Lolita to anything depraved, simply because I'd never heard of the book or movie until today.
ReplyDeleteI think the poster on mothers' online chat room needs to examine exactly what their problem is. Prior to the report today, the name Lolita (to me) was simply a name. Someone obviously reads different material to me.
I wonder how many people out there have stopped naming their children Jack because of Jack the Ripper?
For goodness sake, I'm sure we could all find something in a name - do we really have to make everything an issue?
Yes it does sound rather amazing Charlotte but there you go and as to depravity it all depends on your philosophy, let us say socially unacceptable.
ReplyDeleteWhereas Jack may still be a commonplace choice of name I can't think many mothers would have chosen Myra in the last thirty years, but as you say I would have hardly expected a moral crusade over the naming of a bed.
Some children do 'ave 'em, mothers that is.