Spencers Gift store

[the_dimwit]

Ok, as a parent I agree that it is ultimately my responsibility to a) teach my children about things like this (at the appropriate age) and b) do what I can to keep them away from things I think are inappropriate for a given age group.

That said, a store with a stated "age restriction policy" should do their due diligence in keeping up their end of the bargain. The "shopping public" acknowledges that they may sell their wares provided they are keeping kids of a certain age and younger from seeing that section of the store. If they are failing to do so, they share at least some part of the liability. Kids are kids--they'll explore whatever they can get away with, consequences be darned.

Realistically, if I am not around, I know that my (or any) kids will seek some sort of independence. My hope is that I have done enough of a good job to instill what I (and my wife) consider to be "values" that should guide them. (I know this isn't always going to work--at least it didn't for me. I turned out all right, though.)

With the advent of today's media (television, Internet, radio, etc.), it is all but impossible to keep children from seeing and/or experiencing that which would make us uncomfortable. Beyond the traditional "sex ed" (in class or in the locker room), we have a lot of other challenges. Parents should indeed be wary, and _stay involved_ in the day-to-day events of a child's life.

--Dim

[RonLumbergh]

Ah.... I remember when the trip to Spencer's was a right of passage for any 10 year old boy at the mall. The strore will continue to demystify the consumer-product implications of silicone for many more years.

Really, in an age of limitless perversion on demand through the internet, we should long for the days when "naughtiness" was confined to a single shelf at Spencers, often behind a pathetic black curtain. Keep going strong Spencers - for many of us, the teen years simply validated what we first saw in your stoner-store back in the 80s.

[BenjaminNicholas]

Morality is a touchy subject to breach, as we all have different lines that we blur to suit our personal needs and wants. When you begin to throw around the term 'moral' and what it constitutes to the 'general public,' you're opening a can of worms that you might not be able to quite handle.

After all, it's those who proclaim to be most 'moral' that preach against homosexuality and the equal rights that we fight for on a daily basis.

As for Spencers: Others have already put it perfectly... Relax, it's just sex. Raising a healthy, well-adjusted (sexually and otherwise) kid means having to explain these sorts of things if you're going to knowingly take him/her into this store. I'm not condoning introducing them to heavy bondage or something that might scare them into a convent, but honestly, when was the last time you got frightened by a pair of really tasty edible panties?

You'll never look at Fruit Roll-Ups the same way again

If I were a parent, I'd always make sure that my own personal hang-ups didn't ever become my child's. Easier said than done, I'm sure.




BN

[Dube665]

First I'll say if parents dont want their children going to Spencers then dont allow them to go the malls they are located in. Simple as that.

As far as Spencers is concerned in my opinion it is one of the coolest stores ever. I remember having the giggles in there as a preteen back in the early 80s.

Where else can you get some of the stuff they sell there without going into the Adult Megaplex, Planet K or Flipside.
"Cooking with Marijuana" What other store has the guts to sell that book?

The store really is a throwback to the 80s when malls ruled the world.

Remember the Trails Inn Drive Inn movies on Military Dr? They showed porn at an outdoor drive in theater.
Remember when HEBs sold Hustler and other porn mags on the same shelf all other magazines.
Times have changed but Spencers hasnt. Its the Benny Hill of the gift stores. Harmless.