Gilbert prudes raising a fuss over Victoria's Secret (Phoenix, Mesa: HOA, crime rate)

[pynkpanther]

Originally Posted by markas214

She probably blindfolded her kids when she breast fed them. She probably favors a constitutional amendment banning boobs. Too bad Victoria's Secret caved. Those who took offense were not the type who'd buy there anyway.

hahahhahaa!

actually, i found it seething with sexual overtones (isn't that what the store is about anyway?), BUT so are the teens today. i would challenge the parents to explain underwear to their children rather than making it a dirty little secret...

[cxray]

Originally Posted by sirwinston73

This is standard Arizona behavior.

Living in the Phoenix area for 7 years, I learned that it is full of crybaby activist groups that hate and oppose all business and development for no good reason other than hating business and development.

This case is no different and is typical of Arizona's "community" organizations.

I think the lot of them should move to San Francisco where they can live in communes with other commie liberal wackos and leave the rest of us alone to prosper & live normal lives.

You obviously have no clue what you are talking about. This is standard Gilbert behavior because it's a Mormon community. I question if you even live in the valley because everyone knows Gilbert is a really nice but conservative Mormon community. This is a big reason why people choose to live in Chandler or Ahwautukee instead because it's far less influenced by conservative right wing politics.

For your information, Mesa and Gilbert are conservative and not liberal by any means.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by Boatdrinks

As for hating Gilbert b/c it's too family oriented, well that's like saying you hate NYC for being too fun. Gilbert doesn't advertise itself as being a hooter-friendly city. It's a family oriented area and makes not bones about it. It'd be different if the Mayor changed the Gilbert motto to be "Gilbert - Come Visit Us Because We LOOOOOOVE Boobs!" but he didn't. People who live in Gilbert should know what they're buying into.

Being family oriented doesn't mean that it has to be a haven for puritan minded NIMBY activists who insist on denying free speech rights to PRIVATE business who are simply advertising. Now, if the images were blatantly pornographic or explicit, I could understand the concern ... but attractive ladies posing in lingerie is NOT pornographic. Victoria's Secret shouldn't have to "modify" anything because of a few outspoken nerds.

I guess what bugs me about Gilbert is it has nearly 200,000 residents, and still calls itself a "town". It's really not much more than a bedroom community ... but its population and rapid growth rate warrants more than "town" status in my opinion.

[MovinFromUT]

You couldn't be more right cxray. Victoria's Secret knew exactly where they were moving their business to, and knew exactly what they were getting themselves into. VS got exactly what they wanted...EXPOSURE (in more ways than one..!) Before a large company such as VS moves to an area, they are well informed about every aspect of that area. They knew that Gilbert was a 'family orientated" city. So I guess kudos to VS. As for me, I don't approve of the ads either. Most VS lingerie are in back rooms, hidden from the public. There's a reason for that.

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Victoria's Secret opts to tone down images (broken link)

Because of a small, vocal minority of malcontents, Victoria's Secret at the San Tan Mall in Gilbert is being forced to change the images of models pictured wearing lingerie. It's too bad these protestors are too wrapped up in their own self righteous babbling to realize that lingerie is what Victoria's Secret SELLS ... and these so called "racy images" are nothing more than ads.

According to the article, one woman exlaimed, "There it was, bigger than life. These breasts towering over me!" Oh my! Big hooters hovering over her. Whatever will she do??? Obviously a jealous woman ... or somebody with nothing better to do than to control PRIVATE business.

As usual, these prudes claim that it's all about protecting children. If they want to protect their children, targeting a Victoria's Secret billboard is not the way to do it. I'd say a large ad displaying women in their undies is pretty mild compared to all the crap on TV or the internet which kids have easy access to. Furthermore, if they're so offended by what they see, DON'T LOOK!

I like VS. It's definately NOT Frederick's of Hollywood! I don't think they are that bad. Boobs are boobs, at least they are covered up!

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by ivanabacowboy

I chuckled when I read the towering breasts comment in the newspaper yesterday. ;-) I thought you have to be kidding..... And quite personally, take these children out in public anywhere or to a swimming pool and I can assure you that in the warmer months they will see living folks walking in public who make the VS ads seem like a cartoon....

Good thing they don't live in Europe where sunning topless is the norm.

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by SMG

Okay, I am weighing in. First off, the mall is located in Gilbert. It is frequented by Gilbert, Higley, Mesa, Chandler and many other residents. I am not going to agree with a blanket statement that only Gilbert shoppers raised this ruckus. Just because the mall is in Gilbert(on the fringes) does not mean that neighboring shoppers were not involved in these complaints.
Second, I have lived in Tempe, Chandler, Ahwatukee, Glendale and all over the Valley over the last 30 years. Gilbert is a wonderful place to live. Too clean? That is not a bad problem to have. Too family friendly. Iwas a single guy living there and recently married. There is lots for a single person to do in Gilbert. Morman friendly? Big deal, maybe it is. That kind of thing does not bother me and probably does not bother many as alot of people move to Gilbert every year.
No matter where the community is, somebody is going to throw stones and have an issue. But the issues that you have with Gilbert are some of the things people like. I am surprised you did not complain that the schools were too good...

GREAT POINTS! YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!

[cxray]

Originally Posted by MovinFromUT

You couldn't be more right cxray. Victoria's Secret knew exactly where they were moving their business to, and knew exactly what they were getting themselves into. VS got exactly what they wanted...EXPOSURE (in more ways than one..!) Before a large company such as VS moves to an area, they are well informed about every aspect of that area. They knew that Gilbert was a 'family orientated" city. So I guess kudos to VS. As for me, I don't approve of the ads either. Most VS lingerie are in back rooms, hidden from the public. There's a reason for that.

I agree as well. Gilbert is a conservative Mormon community. Im not Mormon but if I'm opening a lingere store in Gilbert, I would have to tailor it to the politics of the local community. That's just business. They don't serve beef in the McDonalds in Bombay. Likewise, Gilbert isn't going to be cool with a Victoria's Secret ad with a giant size poster with a girl having her breasts hanging out; what does anyone expect? Yeah, I think they are being prudes but that's their relgious beliefs and we should respect that. However, Gilbert isn't representative of the entire valley. If you don't like the conservative element of Gilbert, you don't have to live there. Tempe, Chandler, Ahwautukee and Phoenix are pretty liberal. If you are conservative, Gilbert, Mesa, and Glendale have plenty to offer. And in terms of being single in Gilbert, yeah I'm sure it's great if you don't drink alcohol, go clubbing or party in any manner. If someone thinks Gilbert has a lot to offer a single person, I'm sure they also think Salt Lake City is a great party town.

And there are some positive aspects to the Mormon cleanliness of Gilbert. I love to shop in their Target and Wal-Mart off the 202. They are clean and you don't see gang members, thugs and trashy people shopping there; they are not overcrowded and people shop with respect. I know a lot of people from Chandler and Ahwautukee who will drive out of their way to shop in Gilbert because their stores are clean. That being said, I don't have to live there and I'm sure they don't miss a liberal person like myself living there either.

I just think it's funny when people complain about Gilibert's policies. What do you expect, it's a Mormon town. Get used to it! It's not going to be Scottsdale. If you are new to the valley and you are liberal, I highly discourage you from living in Gilbert. It is a right-wing Mormon community. If someone tells you otherwise, they are either misinformed or dishonest.

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by cxray

I agree as well. Gilbert is a conservative Mormon community. Im not Mormon but if I'm opening a lingere store in Gilbert, I would have to tailor it to the politics of the local community. That's just business. They don't serve beef in the McDonalds in Bombay. Likewise, Gilbert isn't going to be cool with a Victoria's Secret ad with a giant size poster with a girl having her breasts hanging out; what does anyone expect? Yeah, I think they are being prudes but that's their relgious beliefs and we should respect that. However, Gilbert isn't representative of the entire valley. If you don't like the conservative element of Gilbert, you don't have to live there. Tempe, Chandler, Ahwautukee and Phoenix are pretty liberal. If you are conservative, Gilbert, Mesa, and Glendale have plenty to offer. And in terms of being single in Gilbert, yeah I'm sure it's great if you don't drink alcohol, go clubbing or party in any manner. If someone thinks Gilbert has a lot to offer a single person, I'm sure they also think Salt Lake City is a great party town.

And there are some positive aspects to the Mormon cleanliness of Gilbert. I love to shop in their Target and Wal-Mart off the 202. They are clean and you don't see gang members, thugs and trashy people shopping there; they are not overcrowded and people shop with respect. I know a lot of people from Chandler and Ahwautukee who will drive out of their way to shop in Gilbert because their stores are clean. That being said, I don't have to live there and I'm sure they don't miss a liberal person like myself living there either.

I just think it's funny when people complain about Gilibert's policies. What do you expect, it's a Mormon town. Get used to it! It's not going to be Scottsdale. If you are new to the valley and you are liberal, I highly discourage you from living in Gilbert. It is a right-wing Mormon community. If someone tells you otherwise, they are either misinformed or dishonest.

Gilbert is a Mormon community? I never knew that, I always thought it was just a wholesome town....

[lostinpgh]

Goodness, yes. Gilbert was a Mormon community almost exclusively until the boom hit 10 years ago.