What in the hell? This is what DU is supporting?

[VelmaD]

I think this needs to come out of the Lounge.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x3729536

Follow the links and see some of the offensive and sexist crap from one of the advertisers on the homepage.

[Rick Myers]

1. I looked at that today

I'm a guy and I don't think that is appropriate for DU

[Eloriel]

2. Please write the Administrators. n/t

[VelmaD]

7. Done...

and done.

[uppityperson]

11. Done

[smbolisnch]

3. I cannot believe that.

Thanks for the heads up Velma. :(

[Triana]

4. I, for one, am NOT amused...

...I visited the Mo Wampum site yesterday and that was my sentiment:

:wtf:

http://www.stangoff.com <<--- read here about how mysogenist, sexist abusive attitudes towards women helps contribute to the neocon mindset and ultimately, war and terrorism.

DU espouses this? Do we have to threaten to cease monetary contributions to have it removed? C'mon Skinner, Elad - guys. Can you explain this?

I'll ask again:

:wtf:

[Triana]

6. I've 'alerted' the admins to this thread..awaiting

an explanation.

[uppityperson]

5. I agree, not for DU. Misogynistic, not political or democratic

Mods, please do not lock or delete this as disagreeing with DU administration. This is a good topic to get out for the general population to discuss and I'd really like to hear from you about it. Is it possible to get this ad changed, at least change the picture from "I have nice boobs"? I can see why you might need to sell ad space, but could you figure out another ad, perhaps political t-shirts, or else let us know and we'll figure out how to raise the money to allow this type ad to go away? Thank you.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

8. 'THE BEST WAY TO A WOMAN'S HEART

IS THRU THE FUCKING RIBCAGE'

Obviously somebody is not monitoring sponsors close enough.

[Pepperbelly]

9. I think it's supporting DU, not the other way around. nt

[uppityperson]

14. I'll give another 5 bucks to get rid of it.

[seabeyond]

34. i'll give 50. but.......i do understand business and not censoring

advertisement. can lead to a slippy slope and you need that advertising dollar. bet it isnt easy to get advertisement on these sites

[pitohui]

16. pepperbelly may be right

nation magazine used to say that they especially made a point of not censoring advertisers that they disagreed with

it did lead to some situations

one time fox news bought the entire back cover of the nation

[A-Schwarzenegger]

18. Respectfully,

bullshit if that's the case.
If that stays up I'll never give another red penny to DU.

[seabeyond]

33. A

now you have me gigglin, especially after the last thread you started, wink

[A-Schwarzenegger]

44. My dander got up.

Wink back.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

31. I think DU could do without that kind of "support".

[alarcojon]

42. Completely Agree

and we need to ask who allowed this outfit as a sponsor. Accountability. Accountability. Accountability.

on edit: didn't see Skinner's explanation before I posted. Yes, they should have been removed earlier.

[jobycom]

10. Hey, Bitch

That's one of the shirts on that web site.

Yeah, that bothers me. Some of these could be amusing in the right context, but a political web site that is supposed to support equality of everyone doesn't seem like the right context, to me.

[Just Me]

12. Yes. That shit is offensive.

I've been through enough without that disrespectful crap.

It's repulsive.

We, the female segment of the population who NEVER get recognition as the sufferers of a long history of oppression, are still demeaned. Maybe, all ya'll who really give a damn about the best interests of humanity, will join us ladies in smearing all those knuckle-dragging, horny bastards who have destroyed the "hearts and minds" of people.

I PUKE at the presence of such human bile.

[noamnety]

13. Thank you

I followed the link a day or so ago, and was disgusted, but didn't want to make a scene about it since I'd alerted on a few things already.

I would have expected to see some of those shirts on a Rush Limbaugh site.

I am glad someone made a scene, though.

[Rude Horner]

15. Does it appear that the admins have done something...

...about it? Because I don't see the ads on the homepage anymore and I saw them there earlier.

I'll add my two cents into the pot, as far as what my opinion is of those t-shirts. I consider myself to have a really good sense of humor. I like clever humor, and I can like certain dumb humor. I also think it takes a lot to offend me. I'm a firm believer in free speech and all that. But these t-shirts cross WAY over the line of good taste, or humor. I'll be the first to stand up for this company's right to make these disgusting shirts. If they aim to offend, they're certainly doing a good job. But I think that considering the fact that this board is a gathering place for those of us who are disgusted with this administration and it's policies, torture at Abu Ghraib being one of those policies, to actually have advertising for t-shirts that make light of that policy is pretty sickening.

[VelmaD]

17. They have locked the Lounge thread on this topic...

*sigh*

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Skinner]

20. We have removed the advertisement.

When we accepted the ad on Sunday night, it was a picture of Bush with the words "disobey". I looked briefly at their site and saw other liberal shirts and accepted the ad. It wasn't until Monday morning that we realized they had some shirts that were not appropriate. We discussed it and decided that since they did carry some shirts with liberal themes, we figured we would keep the ad and let all of you decide whether to purchase from them. Our feeling was that we should not be held responsible for every item that a store sells, in the same way that we should not be responsible for every book available through our Amazon.com link.

They have changed the advertisement a number of times without consulting us. This evening, as many of you are aware, they changed their ad to something that was completely inappropriate for our website. As soon as we became aware that a totally inappropriate t-shirt was showing on our website, we immediately removed the advertisement. It will not be coming back, and we will be returning their money tomorrow.

We apologize for this lapse of judgment. In retrospect, it is clear that we should have removed the advertisement as soon as we were aware of the nature of some of their merchandise.

Skinner
DU Admin

[uppityperson]

21. Thank you Skinner for being for removing it.

I appreciate your thoughtfulness. Give them hell.

[jobycom]

22. I knew we could count on you. Thanks for the explanation. nt

[VelmaD]

Thank you...I appreciate the explanation

We're cool.

Might be worth it to warn some of the other liberal sites so they don't get flim-flammed by these people too in the future.

[katinmn]

23. Thanks. I knew that was the case.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

24. The old bait & switch .... Thanks.

[GOPisEvil]

25. I figured it was something like that.

Thank you for your explanation.

[Eloriel]

26. Thanks from me as well, Skinner

I appreciate what I perceive to be DU's increasingly positive support for equality and respect for women. You know that's a subject near and dear to my heart. I didn't visit the site -- the descriptions were quite vivid enough -- but I appreciate your principled stand and plan to make a small donation (alas, it has to be) to celebrate DU's decision on this.

[Spider Jerusalem]

27. Thanks for the quick action.

Glad to see that the concerns of memners were addressed so quickly.

:thumbsup:

[hfojvt]

29. sorta reminded me of the little firestorm

caused by a Fox news ad on the last page of "The Nation". My feeling then was that if they wanna try to sell Bibles to atheists or beer to teetotalers, then take their money. It is not going to be effective advertising.
Unlike "The Nation" this site does include the admonition "please support our advertisers." So that does not fit in this case.

[cry baby]

30. thanks! nt

[Straight Shooter]

32. I saw the ad and was scratching my head in wonder.

It was offensive, true. Thanks for removing.

Ya think Free Republic would be interested? :7

[Scout]

36. thank you Skinner ! n/t

[nicknameless]

39. Thanks, Skinner!

You've restored some much-needed faith after the week we've just been through.
:thumbsup:

[Triana]

40. Thanks, Skinner!

I didn't think this was someting DU would knowingly condone.

[cynatnite]

41. Thanks, Skinner n/t

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

45. I recommend you NOT return their money UNLESS you don't have

a clause in your contract that covers it. This was deliberate. If they want their money back AFTER they deliberately changed the banner to their ad, let them sue you for it.

[faithnotgreed]

47. thank you skinner. i saw the disobey shirt and was glad to see that

but it went very downhill after following the link

thank you so much for this wonderful reasoned response

my overdue donation is forthcoming

[peacetalksforall]

28. I think it cancels out the message, content, and power of the words

written on DU (most of them) and cancels out the urge to laugh out loud at the superior wit of those who write here (many of them).

[Redstone]

35. Gee, now I wonder how many Freepers and other scumbags

will be trying to claim that they were the ones who baited & switched the DU admins--whether they were involved or not--as if that's some kind of heroic political action.

Like they were so proud of sneaking into the bar where the Boston gathering was, leaving their pissant little "posters," then running away before any DUers showed up.

My guess is there will be at least three claiming to have been behind it...though maybe not, after they read this.

Redstone

[seabeyond]

38. they are funny arent they redstone. like 10 yr old boys

i didnt think it was particularly funny when i was young, now as a "grown up" it really is bizarre behavior

[Redstone]

43. They're sometimes amusing to watch, but it gets boring

after a short while.

But you're right, the resemblance to nine-year-old boys in most of their behavior is uncanny.

Redstone

[bloom]

37. I'm glad to hear that it's gone.

And I'm glad to hear the outrage.



And the people who supported that crap can go to hell.

[faithnotgreed]

46. that is absolutely repulsive

i did look at that recently and couldnt believe what i was seeing

thank you to everyone who is pissed

how is any of it funny
i am overdue for donating and cant think of a better reason