As a Geek Chic Customer or Potential Future Customer, does the product name "Tentacle Grape" or the joke it's based on, offend you?
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1 61.36% (497 votes) -
2 27.04% (219 votes) -
3 7.41% (60 votes) -
4 4.2% (34 votes)
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| Votes: | 810 |
| Views: | 2749 |
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Wow. These comments disgust me. I both volunteer for organizations and have been triggered by this. Yes, it's not exclusive! Even if others triggered by this don't work for organisations to help other survivors, it does not make them any less humans and don't make the fact they've been triggered negligeable. And, yes, the world is horrible, lots of horrible things happens, but how does it allow you to make it worse, little things by little things? "The world is horrible in bigger ways, deal with it and the little ways making it worse and encouraging the horrors?" WTF.
The name, and the implication that anyone who's bothered by the name just "doesn't get it" majorly bothers me. I won't be buying from Geek Chic if this name isn't changed, and I'll be spreading the word as to my friends, family, and through the non-profit organizations I work with. Rape culture isn't just comments supporting rapists or bashing assault survivors, it's more than that. It's the implication that women can't have sexual agency, it's the expectation that women have to control their behaviour to prevent sexual assault, and it's the treatment of sexual assault as titillating in media, including animated/comic depictions. There's a great post on Shakesville talking about the effects of rape humour. http://www.shakesville.com/2011/03/feminism-101-helpful-hints-for-dudes.html
Whoa. I don't know if you're just bored or too sensitive, but even though something happened to me, an extraterrestial tentacle assault has never been on my mind. It is fictional and ridiculous, and part of some erotic culture that some people enjoy. I don't, but extraterrestial fantasy erotica is probably very harmless. I haven't seen a tentacle attack in the news in AGES. And honestly, if you feel the need to talk about your rape traumas on the comments section of a poll, or you get scared of a lip product referring to japanese erotic sci-fi then you're not getting the help you need. Get over it, the word "rape" exist, and everytime you see it (you will, plenty), just know it's not about you. Really dissapointed at Mai, who seemed so coherent on many entries of her blog, which I followed. Of all the things to stand for, this is the most frivolous and useless, probably ever. There is real sexual explotation and agression in the world, happening constantly, basically anywhere and to any group. Real, as in NOT a lipstick name. And there are things people could do to help change that, and people who raise awareness, you could just go and ask what you can do. Definitely complaining about a cosmetic online, which most rapists, abusers or sexual tourists will never read about, is far more important. I'm honestly taking some time from the Internet, this is ridiculous and a shame for feminism.
The 'joke' isn't funny, it's appalling. As are your two vile and whiny 'apologies'. This product is an offensive advancement of rape culture. I second every comment here that's called you out for your fucked up response.
@Me: It is not your place to tell others what is or is not a trigger. If you can consider the concept of tentacle rape without becoming triggered, then good for you. But do not hold others up to your own personal standards. The mere mention of sexual violence is often enough to elicit an emotional response and that is not something that should ever be dismissed or mocked. Please do not scoff at people who find this "stupid little lipstick" to be upsetting.
@Me: It is not your place to tell others what is or is not a trigger. If you can consider the concept of tentacle rape without becoming triggered, then good for you. But do not hold others up to your own personal standards. The mere mention of sexual violence is often enough to elicit an emotional response and that is not something that should ever be dismissed or mocked. Please do not scoff at people who find this "stupid little lipstick" to be upsetting.
I think this product is an offensive reproduction of rape culture. The language we use codifies our actions-http://dbzer0.com/blog/feminists-dont-think-all-men-are-rapists-rapists-do- and you're reproducing that with your product. As a survivor, every time I encounter a "tentacle rape" joke, I cringe. It's triggering. It's fucked up. I expected so much better from your company, but it looks like I won't be purchasing any of the products I was intending to now. And I want to second every response that's called you out for your fucked up response. Really, that was the nail in your coffin.
@gia Or, perhaps. We could implement teaching boys and girls in school about it. And bring it to attention. Instead of harassing everyone because they make a little joke about something fictional that could never happen. The fact that you respond in such a snarky, snappy way, to genuine rape survivors, puts you right at the level of this company you hate so much. there are many, real life things, that you as a person could do to help rape survivors. You could get up off the couch, go out and advocate for them. Go to the 'we are not dressed to be raped' events. Donate funds to these organizations, etc. Other than spend your time fighting about this /fictional/ joke. I'll agree with the latest poster. This is not a trigger. This is nothing, in the long run. There are 'tentacle grape' sodas, even. I have seen them before and passed on by without a care. There are so many more important things that can be done to help this epidemic, that this is just sad.
@gia What the heck is wrong with you? She does everything that's so wonderful and she's a hypocrite because she finds 'Tentacle Grape' amusing? Maybe you need to take a look at YOUR self. I, as a rape survivor, much prefer her to put her efforts into helping other rape survivors than getting up in arms by a. lipstick. Maybe you need to pick your battles and try genuinely helping people. Because I'll tell you something. Being alone with a man, is a trigger. Walking down the street alone, is a trigger. Being looked at, can be a trigger. But a stupid little lipstick is most certainly NOT a trigger. Especially a lipstick based on a FICTIONAL thing. A thing that can never happen. Tentacle rape? Really? That is the last damn thing I worry about when I leave the house in the morning.
In the past, the name of this product has ensured that I have not given you my business. It is a triggering and distasteful contribution to rape culture. But your two "apology" responses? Now you have ensured that I shall be telling all of my friends not to patronize your company as well. It does not matter that the name is being changed - I have no desire to support you or be associated with your products.
ok. so, as someone who actually likes tentacle porn, i thought the title was funny in the groan-and-eyeroll kind of way. i'm inclined to keep my fetishes and my politics separate. but your snarky, vicious response to being called out on the connotations of that name? that was pathetic. that was insulting. that was worth taking my money elsewhere. fuck your idea of customer service.
@Rebeccah A: Very well, you are a survivor. However, you wilfully and consciously showed support for RAPE CULTURE, and that's just one step below supporting rape itself. You may be a member of rainn, you may be giving them money, you may be doing speeches, but ultimately, you DO NOT practice what you preach, and that makes you a hypocrite. I do know whether I hould be ashamed of myself, but in the light if this new information about you being a hypocrite, I strongly suggest at looking back at your own actions and hopefully find a little of that ellusive shame. Although I suspect it's in the same non-existent place where your empathy is supposed to be.
Rebecca A - As someone who works with/supports a group like RAINN you should probably be more horrified about the fact that someone HAD TO call you out on the fact that you were being insensitive to other survivors - to the point where they felt it necessary to give you those statistics - because of your own words than the fact that they did it. Because, as a survivor, you should know better than to dismiss and discredit the way others handle their own healing or their reactions to what happened to them. But that's just a thought.
@Gia I'm not a victim. I'm a survivor. I just want to point that out to you. There is a definite difference in the terminology. I was victimized but I will never, EVER refer to myself as a victim. I am also a member of RAINN's speakers bureau and I give part of my paycheck to them every month, so I'm familiar with the statistics as they are a part of the speeches I have given to young people. But thank you for repeating them to me. I apologize for coming across as egotistical, that certainly was not my intention. Implying that I support or condone rape, however, is extremely repugnant and you should be ashamed of yourself for that. As the company has made their decision the point is now moot and I am not returning to this board.
I'm not entirely sure why you think that people who responded to an offensive name with "unprofessional" tweets needed to be called out. Yes, I realize you've apologized but let's remember two things A: you were and are in the wrong in this case which means people being "unprofessional" toward you are the ones in the right and because of that they have every right to express their hurt in "unprofessional" ways (so long as they don't threaten you with bodily harm) and B: YOU ARE THE ONLY PROFESSIONALS IN THIS CASE. It is not up to your customers to behave professionally, it is up to your company (the PROFESSIONAL make up company) to behave professionally. Perhaps you should remember that in the future. Sure, mock the annoying customers to your friends in private but in public? On your PROFESSIONAL site and PROFESSIONAL fan pages/twitter accounts? It's up to YOU to be professional, regardless of how you are treated.
Yes, hentai has a long tradition. But that doesn't mean it deserves to be continued.
While the name is tasteless and something I wouldn't buy because of its implications anyway - I agree with the original complainant here - it's your unprofessional, passive-aggressive response that's ultimately losing you my money for any product. At least on a practical level, it would've just been easier to change the name to some other pun rather than waste time with blog posts, tweets, and this poll. It's better for business to appear overly concerned with customer service, whatever your personal opinion on the actual topic, and take a very small blow to your pride than to get way too defensive and look like assholes.
@Jay and Drowsy: Here's a novel idea - every time someone makes a joke about rape and makes light of it, we collectively get on their case. People start thinking about the shit they're saying and why it's not okay. Society slowly starts taking rape seriously. The majority of rapists get prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. OOOOOOOOOOOOR we remain as apathetic as the two of you and everything remains as it is - half of the victims never speak up and almost all rapists continue to rape unchecked because rape is so funy. Ha.Ha.Ha.
http://site.geekchiccosmetics.com/ Hey guys, we have decided to change the name. Please read our most recent blog post for more information on the topic. Thanks.
@Rebecca A: Because you were a victim, I will do my best to respond to you in the most respectful manner I can. Since I am very pissed off at the moment that may still come off as sharp and terse, but I will making a serious effort to at least remain civil. Yes, it is rapists who make the choice to rape, but it is SOCIETY that often refuses to bring rapists to justice. It is society that thinks that rape is funny, or not serious, or irrelevant, and ALLOWS rapists to continue to rape. Fact: 54% of rape victims DO NOT report that they were raped. 97% (NINETY SEVEN PERCENT) of RAPISTS WILL NEVER SPEND A DAY IN JAIL. (Source: rainn dot org slash statistics) Why do you think that happens, Rebeccah? Because companies like this one make light of rape. Because the media is absolutely SATURATED with incidences where rape was treated as something funny and trivial. Because individuals on every possible level of society think rape is such a monumental joke. And even if a woman demands justice, she is not taken seriously - not to mention that more often than not she will be blamed for her own rape. Bringing justice to criminals is SOCIETY'S FUNCTION - and when everything and everyone keep convincing themselves that rape is something funny and trivial, how can it be treated as something that requires justice to begin with? This particular incident might seem to you like something very minor in the grand scheme of things - but there are literally hundreds of thousands of incidents like this and their effect STACKS UP. I congratulate you on letting go of your anger and moving on with your life, but if you cannot find it in yourself to be justifiably outraged on behalf of other rape victims, if you cannot find it in yourself to find an ounce of empathy for them, then I hope you will at least consider not standing in the way of their struggle. Because, to be honest, your support of rape culture is, to put it politely (as I promised, I WILL remain polite), egotistical and downright harmful
I just want to point out that while some people that did get raped don't mind this, others do, and they deserve respect like everyone else. Plus you are also telling people (victims and rapists) that its okay to joke about rape. I didn't think it was a big deal at first, but if someone complains about it isn't it simpler to just change the name? I mean, it is in bad taste, to be honest.
Seeing the name bothered me, but not half so much as your blog post regarding it. I don't want anything to do with a company so determined to be defensive. It isn't hard to change the name, Geek Chic, and your response to someone having a concern was significantly less than professional. That's not the kind of behavior I want to see out of a company, and you've guaranteed I won't be buying your products again.
I'm not buying any of your crap now. Both because you find rape (even fictional rape) funny and because when your customers came forward with concern about that product you pretty much spat in their face.
@Mara and K, aka the Geek Chic sockpuppet(s): Oh, PUHLEEASE. Neither of you (that is, if you're really two people - yeah, right) You're NOT expressing a different opinion, you're parroting Geek Chic's supposed excuses for their rape apologism. And as a sexual violence survivor victim, I feel perfectly justified to tell you and anyone else who dares to challenge me - rapist supporters like your company deserve all the hateful words aimed at you. As for Deborah's so-called apology (is that you, Deborah? Or is it Mara? Or K? However you wish to call yourself, doesn't matter), the only reason she deigned to come up with one was because shit hit the fan. And finally, even if by chance you're not a sockpuppet and an actual separate person - you support rape culture apologists. Excuse me if find you and the likes of you inferior to rats.
NO. You don't have to change it. As a rape survivor, I was raped more than once when I was just a small child. This is fictional! Tentacle monsters aren't going to rise up and literally molest people. This is so ridiculous and I absolutely one hundred percent agree with Rebecca A. Her comment deserves applause.
For the record: I was planning on picking up that N7 set. I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt despite the patronizing blog post (and that photo! You've removed it now but every time I think about it I get angry again). But your twitter feed was the proverbial last straw. So, go ahead and keep your shitty rape joke! I'm going to go ahead and give my money to people who care (or at least, pretend more convincingly to care) about their customers and who don't publicly defend offensive "jokes".
I think people need to get over themselves. In a culture where rape is used as a form of entertainment in popular books, and no one says anything about it, this is nothing. As someone who did suffer through, and survive, an actual rape, I can tell you that this is so low on the goddamn pole of things I care about I can't even fathom it. Way to fight for things that don't even matter int he long run, Tumblr people.
Rape bothers me even if it is being committed by a fictional and animated monster. I'm not going to buy anything from a company who would find it humorous.
I voted for you NOT to change the name of the product. Here's why: I will first say up front that I am a survivor of rape. I was raped at 16 years old by my boyfriend. The boy that I was completely head over heels in love with. I'm 24 now and I'm happy, successful and while I'm not currently with anyone I have actually felt comfortable dating since him. I'm not going to say that my opinion matters more than someone else's. I will say that I am the percentage of the population that the majority of the commenters are saying will be offended or hurt by your product's name. For the record: No, I'm not offended by it. Why? I would say that because I have forgiven my attacker and moved on with my life. I forgave him because forgiveness is something you give yourself. I didn't tell him that I forgave him for what he did to me. But in my heart, I let go of my anger and let go of disgust I felt and filled my heart with the happiness and good wishes of my support network which includes other survivors of sexual assault. I dislike the notion of rape culture that states that a rapist is a person who has been told by society that its okay to rape. That offends me and it offends the other women and men (I know, hard for people to believe but men also get raped and some of them even get raped by women) in my support group. I will be the first one to tell you that my ex-boyfriend did not rape me because he thought it was okay. He raped me because he was a very sick (psychologically) young man. He had a serious, serious drug problem. He attacked me because I was in the path of his destruction. A few survivors I have spoken with have told me that they feel that this notion that society condones rape actually minimizes what the survivor goes through. It's almost like shoving the survivor in the corner and saying "yeah I know, its all society's fault!" No, its not. The rapist is the one who raped me. Society wasn't egging him on. I know that afterwards I wanted HIM to be held accountable. At that point in time, I could care less about anyone else. I just wanted him to apologize to me. (He did, actually if anyone is curious.) I know this opinion is counter to the majority seen here but I felt strongly enough about this to make my feelings known. I will say that, yes rape is not funny. I certainly have never laughed about what happened to me. Though I will say "tentacle grape" made me chuckle. For the reason that Japanese Hentai is weird and ridiculously amusing. Like, 'oh my gosh, how can anyone get turned on by this?! It's ludicrous!' Tentacle porn is one of those things that to me, is so weird and disturbing it crosses over into the realm of oddly funny. Then again, I've always had a dark sense of humor and yes, I still have a sense of humor. Now, show me a REAL person being raped even in porn and yeah it makes me upset. There is certainly American Rape Porn which I find disgusting. I guess I'm more forgiving because this is ludicrous Japanese fantasy. I lived over there and I saw more disturbing things than tentacle porn. The fact that you have to come out and say that you're anti-rape is ridiculous. This is a sign that as a nation, we need to let out a collective sigh and chill out for half a second. I would expect that at the very least 99% of people are anti-rape. That's like saying you're anti-cancer or you're anti-HIV/AIDS or you're anti-kicking puppies in the face. The majority of people are anti those things. It's completely asinine to have to SAY that you are. It'd be an entirely different issue if you had named it: "She had it coming Lip Gloss" or "lawl RAPEgloss" To me, the worst thing about it is that its root beer flavored. Ick. So in closing this extremely long-winded comment. GCC, I don't care if you change the name of the product. It certainly never offended me as a rape survivor and like I said, it made me chuckle. If you want to change it because a lot of people (who themselves have said they are NOT customers to begin with) think its offensive then go for it. As with any product that you want to be proud of, its up to you guys to decide if you can live with it. It's your product, your image, your brand...etc. As with everything in life, you cannot please everyone and no matter what you do someone will be offended by something. Especially in this day and age where everyone is offended by everything. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I guess I should duck and over from the onslaught of insults coming my way.
Gee, I can't wait for your following lines of cosmetics: "Anorexic Angel" - perfume "Beaten-Up" - blush "She asked for it" - eyeshadow Really? Do you not know how disgusting these all sound? And while "Tentacle Grape" might not sound offensive to you because you haven't been raped or sexually molested before, this is a reality that many women have to deal with. Those 3 tacky examples of product names I've written there are probably similar to how it feels like for rape victims all over the world. I am wholly disappointed in your response, lack of professionalism, and blase & defensive attitude when someone calls you out on something that offends them. I have not bought your products before, was considering buying your products (anime geek here), but WILL NOT be buying because of your response to this incident.
Gee, I can't wait for your following lines of cosmetics: "Anorexic Angel" - perfume "Beaten-Up" - blush "She asked for it" - eyeshadow Really? Do you not know how disgusting these all sound? And while "Tentacle Grape" might not sound offensive to you because you haven't been raped or sexually molested before, this is a reality that many women have to deal with. Those 3 tacky examples of product names I've written there are probably similar to how it feels like for rape victims all over the world. I am wholly disappointed in your response, lack of professionalism, and blase & defensive attitude when someone calls you out on something that offends them. I have not bought your products before, was considering buying your products (anime geek here), but WILL NOT be buying because of your response to this incident.
I understand the joke behind the name. Having jokes in product names is fine, but for it to be a joke about rape is unacceptable. How you handled these concerns was incredibly immature and more or less said that cartoon/animated rape is not actual rape. The connotations of such a statement are disgusting, and allow rape to become a joke. The shrugging off of your customers concerns is hugely unacceptable and will ensure that I never buy any of your products.
I have never purchased from your company specifically because of this product, and I have been buying indie cosmetics for years. I've read plenty of great reviews of your products, but because of this one, have not bought anything. Just because no one has made any kinds of complaints until now doesn't mean that no one has ever found it offensive. It IS offensive, and tasteless, and so is the way you are handling the situation. People are upset/offended/hurt by this product name, and you're going to put it to a vote and talk about what's best for business reasons, instead of just doing the right thing? How disappointing. It looks like my choice not to patronize your business was the right one.
While I'm sure it was never your intent to promote rape culture, as it is with most who make casually racist, sexist, or otherwise offensive jokes, the fact that the joke is made is what promotes and perpetuates the mentality that brushes off rape as a non-issue. ANY joke about rape downplays the seriousness of the action. It doesn't matter how historic or fictional the very specific roots of the joke are, it's simply not an appropriate excuse. You wouldn't name a cotton blossom scented product something to do with slavery, would you? That's blatantly racist, of course you wouldn't. It's also incredibly inappropriate as a company to call out a customer who has come to you with a complaint, even by online alias, no matter how public their platform for complaint was. Your customers are under no obligation to engage in professional business correspondence with you, but you, as the business, ARE. You took the low road by not only disparaging her, but by defending your product naming decision instead of owning up to and apologizing for a joke that is irrefutably off-color like the collective of adult human beings I assume you are. Even if you had no intent to change the product name, a quiet, private apology and assurance of the consideration of their complaint would have been the professional thing to do. After all, if this was the first complaint in two years, why publish an article about the incident and open yourselves up to additional negative attention? TL;DR: The product name is in poor taste, you've handled the situation very badly, and I can't believe you need to make a poll on the internet to tell you these things.
gia, just because k and I have a differing opinion does not make us "sock puppets." There is no reason to be name-calling, it's not like it will make me change my opinion or make me feel bad about it. I personally am not offended by the name, but I understand some people may be, which is why I voted "No, but I don't care if the name is changed." If it offends you, just take your business elsewhere, and don't make comments such as "I hope you go under." If anything, that's unprofessional. Also, Deborah, one of the owners, apologized earlier on here, and I quote: "Hey guys. I just wanted to thank you all for your input. We are taking this issue very seriously, and considering all feedback. We've made mistakes, and we will learn from this in the future. The blog post definitely came off more flippant than we intended.. it was an attempt to bring levity to a situation in which is was not called for, and I apologize to anyone that may have been offended or hurt by it. We're an ever-evolving company that deeply cares about the opinion of our customer. There is no way to please all people, but we're taking it all in and figuring out where to go from here. Just remember - be excellent to each other. Lots of differing opinions on this subject, we welcome all views. We are listening. ~ D" People have separate opinions, and I'm sorry they don't match yours, but there are better ways to deal with it than insulting them. Also, no one ever deserves hateful words, regardless of what they did. Everyone deserves courtesy, dignity, and respect. Go ahead and insult me for this, but I will not change in my opinion.
Jokes about rape of any kind promote the idea that rape is a common place thing. Using a rape joke as a marketing strategy is just tasteless.
Wow. This is really disgusting, as is your butt hurt and passive aggressive response to this. "Tentacle rape isn't real" is not a defense against this sort of crap. If I see something racist in a movie or read it in a book, that doesn't mean it's somehow not racist because it's in fiction! What!
K and Mara, aka the Geek Chic company sockpuppets - you are quite obvious and more than a little pathetic. Professional response? A word play? ARE YOU FOR REAL, WHOEVER YOU ARE? This is getting more and more laughable by the minute. "Repugnant" is too weak a term to describe your behaviour and your company. It is quite sad, however that you haven't learned your lesson and continue with the passive aggression towards the people who criticise you. You make light of rape and you try to play the martyr when you're called out on your bullshit. As far as I am concerned, you fully deserve every mean, hateful word you get and I sincerely hope you get a lot more of said words.
Most of the people who are saying they will never support your business aren't customers or even potential customers. My two cents? Next time... let something like this pass quietly. The screamers will find something else to scream about. And really, rational people reading the initial blog would not immediately think you condoned rape just by reading the post. Most people have more brains than that and the ones who do believe it are the kind of people that get mad and offended about anything and everything. This too shall pass.
You already lost my business, but I appreciate you pretending like you care about my opinions.
"There is no way to please all people" Do you have a problem with customers refusing to patronize your business because you remove rape jokes from your page? As a successful small business owner, this is pure foolishness. If a segment of clientelle dislikes something, and another or the majority wouldn't really care one way or another, you change that something. This is Business 101. "We all have our own phobias, pet projects, things we 'geek out' on beyond reason, and things that piss us off." Yes, lets compare rape victims being upset by you making light of their trauma to being scared of spiders, working on a quilt, and reading GRRM. Because that's completely appropriate and not at all condescending and inappropriate. "We have been challenged on our products truly being Vegan, what grade glitter is harmful, not having foundation tones to match all skin tones, and wanting double secret probation proof that our products are gluten-free....[in] ALL the above cases, we never heard back." So...that justifies continuing prejudice? BTW, ~some of these things are not like the others.~ Gluten is an allergy that horribly affects many people, and it's ableist to expect sufferers of intolerance to jump at your beck and call. And the "match all skin tones" thing reeks of racism. I don't even want to touch that. But you need to learn how to not be disgustingly bigoted when releasing public relationtions posts, because you clearly don't know how business actually works. "rape jokes aren't funny, an assertion we support" Then the proper response would be to change the name and stop supporting rape culture. You obviously DON'T support the notion that "rape jokes aren't funny," as not only did you make one to start, but you are now DEFENDING your "right" to make rape jokes, rather than stopping. "The name of the gloss is a parody of the time-honored Japanese tradition dating back to 1814 of depicting fictional women in various stages of fictional carnal knowledge with fictional cephalopods in fictional art" Oh! So rape is total fiction and no rape survivors exist to be offended by jokes about it! It's so clear to me now. -.- "Initially, it seemed ridiculous and 'wet blanket'-y. We didn't invent hentai. It's a parody. We did extensive research and failed to find any legitimate cases of real-world tentacle rape. No schoolgirls were being victimized. It's a play on words. Tentacle rape in hentai is to 'real rape' as Bugs Bunny getting shot by Elmer Fudd is real animal cruelty. The term "... doesn’t promote an act of violence – it mainstreams a phrase that already exists in a popular adult subculture." - via cosplaydeviants" This is repulsive and you should feel horrible about yourselves. Women (and "schoolgirls") get raped every single moment of every single day, sometimes by men, sometimes by women, sometimes by objects. Dismissing "fictional" displays of their very real violations is DISGUSTING. "Mainstreaming" rape and the ~lulzy rape jokes~ attitude is what allows the vast vast VAST majority of rapists to get off without punishment--because our culture thinks rape is FUNNY, thanks to people like you. "It's entirely possible that we have lost more potential happy customers to this accidental offense." Not as many as you will, when people like myself are done publicizing your bigotry. "After voting ends, and we've read all the comments, if we feel that the name of this item is causing us to lose too much business (based on our own determination) we will change it." So you're going to dig in your heels regardless. Because that's not dismissive. "the assertion that we condone rape or belong to the "rape culture" is absolutely untrue." You are so wildly wrong here it's horrifying. "It's a small business run by those three very human beings above." Three human beings who don't give a rat's ass about the 25% of women who have been victims of sexual assault. I really DO expect better from small business owners, as I expect better from myself. I expect small business owners to respect people as individuals, because we are individuals ourselves. All you've done is fail to respect the individual who contacted you, then BLANKETLY ATTACK all the legions of women who agree with her. This entire post was disgustingly bigoted, and I'm truly horrified. As a female small business owner, please, I'm begging you: Switch to a corporation. I don't like having rape-supporters like you among our ranks.
"There is no way to please all people" Do you have a problem with customers refusing to patronize your business because you remove rape jokes from your page? Your customers are just clamoring for rape jokes? As a successful small business owner, this is pure foolishness. If a segment of clientelle dislikes something, and another or the majority wouldn't really care one way or another, you change that something. This is Business 101. "We all have our own phobias, pet projects, things we 'geek out' on beyond reason, and things that piss us off." Yes, lets compare rape victims being upset by you making light of their trauma to being scared of spiders, working on a quilt, and reading GRRM. Because that's completely appropriate and not at all condescending and inappropriate. "We have been challenged on our products truly being Vegan, what grade glitter is harmful, not having foundation tones to match all skin tones, and wanting double secret probation proof that our products are gluten-free....[in] ALL the above cases, we never heard back." So...that justifies continuing prejudice? BTW, ~some of these things are not like the others.~ Gluten is an allergy that horribly affects many people, and it's ableist to expect sufferers of intolerance to jump at your beck and call. And the "match all skin tones" thing reeks of racism. I don't even want to touch that. But you need to learn how to not be disgustingly bigoted when releasing public relationtions posts, because you clearly don't know how business actually works. "rape jokes aren't funny, an assertion we support" Then the proper response would be to change the name and stop supporting rape culture. You obviously DON'T support the notion that "rape jokes aren't funny," as not only did you make one to start, but you are now DEFENDING your "right" to make rape jokes, rather than stopping. "The name of the gloss is a parody of the time-honored Japanese tradition dating back to 1814 of depicting fictional women in various stages of fictional carnal knowledge with fictional cephalopods in fictional art" Oh! So rape is total fiction and no rape survivors exist to be offended by jokes about it! It's so clear to me now. -.- "Initially, it seemed ridiculous and 'wet blanket'-y. We didn't invent hentai. It's a parody. We did extensive research and failed to find any legitimate cases of real-world tentacle rape. No schoolgirls were being victimized. It's a play on words. Tentacle rape in hentai is to 'real rape' as Bugs Bunny getting shot by Elmer Fudd is real animal cruelty. The term "... doesn’t promote an act of violence – it mainstreams a phrase that already exists in a popular adult subculture." - via cosplaydeviants" This is repulsive and you should feel horrible about yourselves. Women (and "schoolgirls") get raped every single moment of every single day, sometimes by men, sometimes by women, sometimes by objects. Dismissing "fictional" displays of their very real violations is DISGUSTING. "Mainstreaming" rape and the ~lulzy rape jokes~ attitude is what allows the vast vast VAST majority of rapists to get off without punishment--because our culture thinks rape is FUNNY, thanks to people like you. "It's entirely possible that we have lost more potential happy customers to this accidental offense." Not as many as you will, when people like myself are done publicizing your bigotry. "After voting ends, and we've read all the comments, if we feel that the name of this item is causing us to lose too much business (based on our own determination) we will change it." So you're going to dig in your heels regardless. Because that's not dismissive. "the assertion that we condone rape or belong to the "rape culture" is absolutely untrue." You are so wildly wrong here it's horrifying. "It's a small business run by those three very human beings above." Three human beings who don't give a rat's ass about the 25% of women who have been victims of sexual assault. I really DO expect better from small business owners, as I expect better from myself. I expect small business owners to respect people as individuals, because we are individuals ourselves. All you've done is fail to respect the individual who contacted you, then BLANKETLY ATTACK all the legions of women who agree with her. This entire post was disgustingly bigoted, and I'm truly horrified. As a female small business owner, please, I'm begging you: Switch to a corporation. I don't like having rape-supporters like you among our ranks.
I don't really care about the name, or if it is changed or not, but I do agree that your response has been unprofessional and immature. And THAT is why I won't be buying any of your products.
Not only is the product name disgusting, but so is how you've been handling this. I like the idea of your business, but given how you treat people who have problems with you? I will NEVER buy anything from you. If continuing to contribute to rape culture is your goal, you're doing a marvelous job so far.
Honestly, it's not even about the title of your stupid chapstick, but the way you tried to admonish a person voicing their opinion about rape culture. -things like this contribute to how people view feminism and human rights. When you punish people for being concerned about rape culture (and thus, feminism and woman's rights) that adds fuel to the view that FEMINIST CONCERNS AREN'T LEGITIMATE and PEOPLE THAT COMPLAIN ABOUT RAPE JUST WANT ATTENTION. And that undermines the work of generations of people that have worked and work hard for social rights.
I probably would have patronized your business regardless of the tasteless product name is you hadn't gotten all defensive when people called you out for it. Now I won't ever buy something from you because of the immature way you all handled this situation."Feminazis are ruining all our fun and have no sense of humor boo hoo" is a really new and inventive way of dealing with criticism! Rape culture is real and just because hentai exists doesn't make it ok.
If it really upsets you guys this much, just don't buy from the company. I don't mind the name at all, being that it's about something fictional. Geek Chic has enough of a fan-base that isn't bothered by this that it *will* go on without your business. Sorry to break it to you, you aren't the only ones buying from this company.
Someone else further down mentioned that it was creepy putting this lipstick on when it had this name, and I have to say I agree. "Nice... rape-lipstick...". If it's okay to reference rape, then why don't you make a line based on it, it's so funny, right? "Crime cover-up" - foundation "Beaten up blue" - eye shadow "Asking for it" - perfume
This kind of thing may seem trivial to some-- but anything that perpetuates rape culture deserves to be addressed and discussed. The only way to change the larger culture is to begin at the smaller level. Your company has handled this situation very poorly so far-- but it's not too late to undo some of the damage and repair relations with your customer base.
Guys, if it bothers you, just don't buy from them. They have enough of a fan-base that the company *will* go on without you. Believe it or not, you are not the only people that buy from them. I don't find it offensive in the slightest, but that's just me.
GCC is handling this VERY professionally. There's no reason to start throwing personal attacks around like "I hope you go under" and "you could always transform your business so it caters to rapists." What a disgusting thing to say and you should be ashamed of saying those things. It's one thing to be offended by the name and express that it's in poor taste in your opinion, but it's entirely different to start flinging spiteful hate like that. PS - I always read it as grape = a play on the word grope.
Same as Melissa, this is the first time I've heard of your product. So far the impression hasn't been good. I like the idea of cosmetics marketed towards geeks because there is a serious lack of products for nerds girls out on the market. But your passive-aggressive response to a legitimate concern leaves me less than pleased. Making a rape joke-- and then defending that joke instead of apologizing is participating in rape culture. Rape isn't funny. Not to me, not to the women that have to be on their guard every time they walk down a city street. Just because your joke features tentacles instead of actual dicks doesn't make it any less effective at trivializing an issue that effects millions of people around the world. While your behavior so far has not been appropriate, I'd be willing to patronize your business in the future if you could learn to act professional. One afternoon of brainstorming and you'd come up with a new product title and this would no longer be an issue.
Look, it's not a matter of pleasing all people. It's a matter of making a public spectacle out of someone's valid concern. Your reaction to this situation is -ridiculously unprofessional-. I dislike the name, but it's not actually a dealbreaker; the dealbreaker is the lack of grace with which you answered someone's serious complaint. It's good that you acknowledged that your post was flippant (though I think that's actually a gentle euphemism for what read as blatant disrespect), but, honestly? It shouldn't have come to such a post and to this poll in the -first place-.
The name of this product is offensive, regardless if you find it so or not. It trivializes rape and anything that does so will lose you my business. And I was actually thinking of buying stuff from you. Pity.
I don't think it's that big of a deal. Hentai is very popular and a lot of who you're catering to know have at least seen it. You're not endorsing rape, you're just making a pun.
This kind of thing makes this brand shout "BAD TASTE!!!!!!". Even if you changed the name I wouldn't ever buy from you guys. You already fell into the uncool brands pit. It's not only tacky but offensive. I can't express my disgust enough just EW and I'm supposed to put this product on my lips???!! Anyone who voted "No, and I will be dissappointed if the name is changed." you are the tackiest people ever and I bet you buy all your clothes at wallmart and eat with your mouths open and wear clothes way too tight for your size
I found it funny, that's even why I bought it. Sorry if anybody feels hurt, but I love your humour !!! Go on !!! I really think you can make fun of everything, but apparently not with everybody. Sad, humourless people... :(
You are utterly repugnant. Rape jokes trivialize and normalize rape - that is a fact. It doesn't matter under what circumstances the joke was made - it tells potential rapist that it's okay to rape, because it is a normal thing to rape. The fact that your company caters to women makes you even more repugnant. I sincerely hope you go under in the near future. But then again, I guess that you could always transform your business so it caters to actual rapists - you're already on the right track.
Well, this is definitely one way to get your brand name out there. This is my first encounter with Geek Chic, and the image I have gotten is your tasteless "humor" and patronizing, cowardly responses that attempt to trivialize a serious and very real problem as well as the civil, valid responses to said problem. "Unless [the name] is changed, I will not patronize your business" is the closest option to how I feel, but, quite frankly, I plan to make a point of not ever patronizing your business regardless of what further action you take. I will encourage friends, family, and acquaintances to do the same.
I've never heard of Geek Chic before, and based on this first impression, I'm glad I hadn't. Think about it for a second. Not everyone likes/gets hentai, and the product's name is making light of /rape/. That is not okay. There are a million and one better names out there. Also, the way this complaint, which was a legitimate complaint, was handled was very unprofessional and disappointing.
Learning how your company has handled this complaint, and the simple fact that you are using rape culture to promote a product with your company, strongly encourages me to discontinue purchasing your products - and to also discourage anyone I know for ever buying them as well. It is your unprofessional response to a valid complaint by a customer that is off-putting. It is your desire to make rape a joke, when it is the farthest thing from it. I'm certain I don't need to list all the other inappropriate things that are part of 'history' and 'culture' that are no longer perpetuated because they demean us as a society, marginalize each other, and harm those they mock. It belittles the suffering that victims go through when you support rape culture with products like this.
I am unable to vote, for some strange interwebz reason, but i vote #2, i like the name, i would be sad if it changed. But i dig your brand, and i dig hentai (O.o) so whatevs, im still going to buy from you no matter how this situation turns out.
Wow you guys have just lost a customer here. Calling someone with a legitimate claim about rape culture a 'crusader' with a wet blanket? Now you DO have a crusader on your hands, and I will be making sure that no one of my acquaintance ever purchases from you.
Yes it is offensive. Are you kidding? And no, I won't buy anything from you anymore. Please grow up.
Hey guys. I just wanted to thank you all for your input. We are taking this issue very seriously, and considering all feedback. We've made mistakes, and we will learn from this in the future. The blog post definitely came off more flippant than we intended.. it was an attempt to bring levity to a situation in which is was not called for, and I apologize to anyone that may have been offended or hurt by it. We're an ever-evolving company that deeply cares about the opinion of our customer. There is no way to please all people, but we're taking it all in and figuring out where to go from here. Just remember - be excellent to each other. Lots of differing opinions on this subject, we welcome all views. We are listening. ~ D
I understand that you don't condone rape, but there's a difference between "condoning rape" (dumb phrase in and of itself, if you have to specify that you don't condone rape you might want to reassess why someone would ever assume you DO condone it) and being part of rape culture. A lot of good people participate in rape culture every day without realizing it. Making a joke of rape, making cartoons of rape, that's all rape culture, and you're not only participating in it but trying to justify it. I agree with other comments that your response and the way you called out the complaint and named the individual's blog was extremely unprofessional. This is the first I've heard of your brand, and while the fact that you had that product name initially wouldn't have turned me off from purchasing, your response to this legitimate complaint has.
As a veritable plethora of people have already informed you, your tasteless "joke" is not funny and it does enforce rape culture, even if you don't want to admit or recognize it. Normalizing rape and trivializing it is why my rapist doesn't think he's a rapist. It's all just a joke, right?
I happened to catch your argument on Twitter, and I think it's extremely unprofessional the way your company has handled this complaint. Aside from being a tasteless joke that makes light of rape (even if it's fictional; "tentacle rape" is an internet joke because of the mindset that real rape is a joke), you stated on your blog post, "[I]f we feel that the name of this item is causing us to lose too much business (based on our own determination) we will change it." For a company who represents themselves as a friendly small business who cares for its customers, the way you've dismissed this argument as just a big inconvenience is indefensible. This is just like every other jerk on the internet who gets called out for joking about sexual assault; their entire perspective is basically, "Are you kidding me? Who cares!" This is what you're saying, with the sinister addition of, "If it hurts business, we'll change it (and if not, we'll keep crankin out lulz!)." In a society where few rarely do, please consider taking the high road.
When you make a rape joke, no matter how "light or funny" you think it is, you are contributing to rape culture. It's the same as saying "I'm not a racist but..." or "I'm not sexist but...". The context is still racist and/or sexist in those situations. If you want to include your target audience into your practices, stop abusing them with something that happens every few minutes to them.
Why is it so hard to understand that rape isn't a "joke"? You're normalizing rape with this product name, and the fact that this product is sitting in stores now shows what sort of people run your company. Disgusting.
For the record, I think it's important for your company to know that this was my introduction to your brand. I had never heard of Geek Chic prior to this, and you've made a very poor first impression on this potential customer. Well, ex-potential customer. It's very disheartening to see the concerns of a potential customer handled in such a cavalier fashion. The name itself didn't even bother me that much; your handling of the situation is what is truly upsetting.
"It's the suppression of the word that gives it the power, the violence, the viciousness." -Lenny Bruce
Rape jokes are never funny - no matter how "historical" they are. I'm also disappointed in the immature way your company has handled this. I've been a fan (and customer) of Geek Chic for a couple years now, but I can do without the unprofessional defense of a rape jokes and shop elsewhere.
Rape is not a joke; rape is the violent stripping away of bodily and sexual autonomy through assault. Hundreds of thousands of people in the United States alone are victims of rape in any given year. In no way, shape, or form is a pun that trivializes rape "funny." It is disgusting, and your company's excuses are even more disgusting.
Of all the things to get 'yer undies in a bundle about. I think the name is funny and was never offended by it. Don't give in to this peer pressure. Seems we have a crusader without a cause.
I'm actually not bothered by the supposed "rape culture" aspect so much as the fact that that is a gross image to have in my head, and certainly not something I want to think about when applying a product to my lips.
Rape isn't funny to a lot of people, and by perpetuating a joke about rape - no matter how far removed you think it is from people who might have been directly affected by that specific scenario - you ARE by definition contributing to rape culture. When called on it, rather than being mature and considering it privately or communicating with the person who brought it to your attention, you made a passive aggressive public post about it was pretty snotty and called out the person by name. So no, I probably won't be purchasing your products if that's the way you handle legitimate customer complaints.
I would not and will not continue to patronize a company, no matter how much I've enjoyed it in the past, that is so tastless and when called out, unwilling to apologize for genuinely hurting somebody. You, your poll, and your little defense; you're acting like children. You have lost my business for good, which is no less than you deserve for the way you've acted. You should be ashamed of yourselves.
I very much enjoy my wonderful geek chic eyeshadows and foundations. Since I don't really wear anything except chapstick I don't shop in the Lippies section much and I did not pick up on the joke prior to this post. Now that I notice it I do think the play on words is a little insensitive. I would not call Geek Chic Cosmetics as intending to participate in rape culture but the idea behind rape culture is that our insensitivity to it trivializes it and makes it acceptable. Women who falsly accuse make it acceptable. Not speaking about the unacceptable nature of rape makes it acceptable. Making jokes about an uncomfortable topic makes it acceptable. Not to individuals but as a culture. As a culture we ignore victims and support their attackers. In this culture victims see themselves as at fault. So, I applaud you for having the conversation. I think a name change is necessary in an effort to not allow any trivialization of sexual assault. I have a friend who was a Peace Corps volunteer in South Africa. He told me that rape was commonly used humor device in school skits there. Rape and HIV are huge debilitations to the rural populations there. And it is a joke. I would suggest changing the name not as a make-everyone-happy move but to say outloud that rape is not a joke. I can't say that I won't every buy from GCC again if the name isn't changed but I can say that I probably won't shop there as much because now that I know the joke is there it makes me uncomfortable. Hentai has always made me uncomfortable. And there are other geek themed places to shop that don't make me uncomfortable. You all are so very creative that I can't imagine a new name would be hard to work into your shop.
"We don't condone rape, but we do think it's funny." That's basically what you're saying, so you might want to think about that. I honestly don't understand what's so hard about this, it's literally a joke about rape. There's no other way to interpret that. Ok, no one noticed for a while, now people are noticing, so yeah, that's what's happening. What do you gain from your ridiculously defensive position here?
The name, your argument, and your dismissive attitude towards legitimate concerns are really gross. Let's be real, you don't give a shit and it's awfully telling through this "vote" and your post on your site.
I think the argument is terrible. It's not funny, and it's not cute.
sorry, but this is a shitty argument and a shitty name. think about this: you're defending a lip gloss product named after rape. it's in the title, it's the joke of the name. is this really the hill you want to die on? your passive-aggressive slam at the women who brought this to your attention just heaps the embarrassment factor on. how hard is it to say, sorry yep, a name change is nbd, even if it's from going forward instead of retroactively. jeez
sorry, but this is a shitty argument and a shitty name. think about this: you're defending a lip gloss product named after rape. it's in the title, it's the joke of the name. is this really the hill you want to die on? your passive-aggressive slam at the women who brought this to your attention just heaps the embarrassment factor on. how hard is it to say, sorry yep, a name change is nbd, even if it's from going forward instead of retroactively. jeez
I'm sorry but even for someone who was molested at a young age like msself, or women who have been victims of rape are just being silly crying 'woe is ne'er over a VERY common Japanese cultural identity/memento that's been around since before you were born, see objective A: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tentacle_erotica Argument settled, if it doesn't interest you for whichever conjured excuse you can mentally ejaculate too, don't buy it. But please, don't bite the messenger, Geek Chic is a lovely company with a whimsical style. It might be best you took your business to a more conservative vendor if a little culture shock is too much for you.
I get that you guys don't condone rape and that you were just making a joke, but please try to understand that to some people rape can never be a joke. The idea that it can be, and the perpetuation of such jokes isn't just in poor taste but actually contributes to a rape culture where sexual assault is trivialized and those who would speak out against it, silenced. Your blog post is also insultingly flippant about the issue. Do you really think rape survivors don't react when they see cartoon depictions of abuse? Does the existence of rape in some hentai remove your responsibility for your own actions? I urge you to rethink this one. As a geek I got the reference, but as a woman and as an abuse survivor your 'joke' left me feeling uncomfortable, trivialized, and isolated.
For some reason I can't vote on my phone but I give my support to the future of this product.
It's not "Tentacle Gporn" or "Tentacle Grelations", it's "Tentacle /Grape/". It's a pun on the word rape. It's using rape as a cutesy name for a cosmetic. It's right there in the name! How is this not a rape joke? Saying it's a cultural thing (either as part of Japanese culture or otaku culture) isn't much of an excuse, either. Something being cultural != never being offensive or worth changing. Finally, take a gander at this -- http://dbzer0.com/blog/feminists-dont-think-all-men-are-rapists-rapists-do
I always loved that name; I find it both clever and relevant to the business and the product. More importantly, I find it highly relevant to me as a geek girl and purchaser of your wares, where getting the reference is a big part of the fun of shopping your site and weighs substantially on my decision to purchase an item. I really feel that this skirmish is a case of boy cries wolf (or wanna be feminist yells rape) to get some attention. If she really is getting that offened over the name of one product, then she's missing out on some fantastic cosmetics. It's a shame she didn't look into the history of the tentacle rape sub-genre before publishing her tirade, she might have realized that a lot of it is consensual and almost always ends in earth-shattering orgasm, implying that kinky tentacle intercourse was a subconscious desire of the willing victim. At any rate, this is a motif with a rich history in art and film that should be celebrated. Please keep the product as-is. Perhaps the disgruntled can focus their energies on a more worthwhile cause (Japanese censorship comes to mind). Oh, and while searching through the reblogs/retweets/regurgitate of the original blog post, I came across a comment that poo-poohed putting this to a user vote, which felt awkward. I'm really pleased that, for better or worse, I get a voice in this debate, so thanks for that. :)
http://i.imgur.com/500JM.gif
Honestly, though I laughed when I first saw the product name in your store, I was a bit taken aback too, particularly by the description. While I wasn't offended, I did question the taste level, and I can certainly see how it might have crossed the line for others. I enjoy the lovingly snarky humor that informs a lot of the product names and descriptions in the store, but this particular joke is just a bit too flippant about its subject matter for me to really feel good about. It definitely wouldn't stop me from buying from you guys, though.
As someone keenly sensitive about the subject of assault and consent, I think the joke breaches the 'tacky' line, but going so far as to shout 'rape culture!' strikes me as waving a red flag at the wrong bull. It's a rather tasteless joke, yes, but it's not something I would use to decide my patronage of a business upon, *especially* given the context (geek culture, otaku culture, anime, etc).
It won't let me vote but I would vote for No, and I will be dissappointed if the name is changed. I don't mind the name. It would be a shame if it got changed. When I see that name I don't think of rape.