AIBU to think it's wrong to have sugar lollies in the shape of a male appendage on sale in a gift shop aimed at familes, in reach of young children?

No you're not being unreasonable but I'm afraid the thread title coming straight after the one about Cressida Dick made me chuckle.

Five is about the age children become fascinated by willies and bits, I see and hear it often from my GC, there is no changing that behaviour. Moving lollies up a bit won't really help. I suppose a frank talk with the boys is in order, the sooner the better.

I have seen these at the seaside but they are usually on high shelves so maybe someone put it on the wrong shelf.. just saying

I used to have a very sweet little fridge magnet willy (or penis, we are allowed to spell out the word!) that I won at an Ann Summers party many years ago.

When my GDs got to the stage of rearranging my fridge 'decorations' it had to go - I wonder where I put it...?

merlotgran I hadn't realised that

Do you know, a lolly in the shape of a penis would not worry me at all; nor would I be bothered by a couple of little boys having a chuckle over it.

I took my GSs to a panto the other day and some of the jokes were a bit on the edge - they looked at me with a wink and a chuckle and I responded in kind.

At a recent children's party we had a packet of curly straws and when we opened it there were a few that were shaped like a penis and testicles - presumably someone in the factory was having a joke - they were the most popular straws at the party!- and everyone had a chuckle about it. A healthy approach I think.

It does seem healthy to have a talk about willies and bit and move on.

I don't see it as a problem really either, Kids love to laugh at silly things like that it's fairly innocuous it wouldn't worry me too much I think I'd laugh with them I found a stone on the beach when I was with my grandkids it was shaped just like a booby even with a darker end to it they thought it was a wonderful find and always look for my booby pebble when they come over

Perhaps as they are lollies to be eaten (obviously via ones mouth) it's not such a good idea !?

I wasn't happy when I saw them in a seaside gift shop either. It's not the shape but the fact they were lollies that offended me. In this age of the over sexualisation of children is it really appropriate to make confectionaries that are designed to be sucked in the shape of a penis?

I remember taking DCs to Woodhorn Colliery Museum in Ashington many years ago. DD2 who was about 6 at the time disappeared from view and I eventually located her staring intently at a model of a miner about to go into the pit baths. His rear view, with a towel over his shoulder, faced the public but she had discovered that if you looked round the front of him, much more interesting parts of his anatomy could be seen.

That is rather different though from penis-shaped sticks of rock which are intended to be sucked and although the British seaside has always had its bawdy tradition, perhaps a line has been crossed here.

I am not sure the sucking aspect matters that much - little lads of that age are just amused to see it at all. You can buy pasta like this anywhere. I do not see it as sexualising them - rather allowing their natural interests and humour. Little boys have always thought penises were funny and, let's face it, they are pretty comic!

Crossed posts vq.

Children sucking sugar penises. Not the same as bawdy humour or childhood sniggers.

Nobody's mentioning girls.....Would we really want to see them sucking a penis shaped lolly?

Luckygirl "I am not sure the sucking aspect matters that much - little lads of that age are just amused to see it at all. You can buy pasta like this anywhere. I do not see it as sexualising them - rather allowing their natural interests and humour. Little boys have always thought penises were funny and, let's face it, they are pretty comic!" I think little lads (and big lads) penis fascination is very entertaining. The sucking aspect only affects adult sensibilities.

Exactly, Merlotgran, it changes it from something harmless to something more sinister , I just can't imagine walk along with my 3yr DGD eating one ! Just not necessary ?

Sinister? Well, the obvious answer is - don't buy him one. They're not meant to be for children anyway.

I'm with vampirequeen on this.

Given that children as young as 8 now have their own phones and access pornography in the playground, and didn't I read recently that there were plans to teach children of 5/6 about online porn, surely encouraging children to suck lollies shaped as a penis is the thin end of the wedge?

It's one thing for little boys to be fascinated by their penises, yes, that's been the case for a long time and don't they have ejaculation competitions in the loos? But what about the girls? Girls are already intimidated in primary school by boys looking at porn and by peer pressure to be thin and wear certain clothes? And porn apparently means that young men these days have no idea what a normal sex act is? And I can just imagine some paedophile buying those lollies and using them to groom a young girl, or even boy.

Sorry, I am appalled.

My feelings too Ana "they're not meant for children anyway" hence my, well disgust TBH seeing them on sale, mixed in with other sweets in a shop that's clearly aimed at families.

Great posts vampirequeen.

ANA I think you are missing the point somewhat , obviously I personally wouldn't buy anyone one, it's the thin end of the wedge, is this the equality & freedom that woman fought so hard for, sad very sad !

PS ,Smileless2012, thanks for posting this thread & good on you for tackling the shopkeeper about it , wish there were more people like you ?

I'm not sure its appropriate, but then a lot of things nowadays seem inappropriate to me. Music videos, adverts..