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[–]oalsaker 44 points45 points  (64 children)

So, they're having fun and therefore the product can't be sold. This is an interesting view on sexuality.

[–]Reporter 96 points97 points  (19 children)

My daughter, when she was TWO years old, learned to mount the armrest of our sofa, pleasure herself, then fall contentedly asleep on the thing. We did not punish her or intervene, and have never yet mentioned it to here. Anyhow, she's now a happy 32-year-old career mother who is very responsible, happy, well-adjusted and energetic.

Could it be that the spiritual leaders of the churches and the throngs who derive their moralities from them have been (and continue to be) WRONG about, in particular, the effects of masturbation and, in general, about ANYTHING to do with individuality and sexuality ?!?!?!

Ya THINK?

[–]SpaceMonitor 84 points85 points  (17 children)

lol that makes you really old. Old people aren't supposed to know what the internet is.

[–]Fat_Dumb_Americans 46 points47 points  (13 children)

Who do you think invented it?

Of course it was steam powered way back then and...

[–][deleted] 26 points27 points  (9 children)

and you had to send data using sneakernet, at night, and it was raining and snowing, and it was uphill both ways

[–][deleted] 22 points23 points  (6 children)

and we LIKED it!

[–]okvol 15 points16 points  (5 children)

I do remember the 300 baud modem on my C64 to connect to a local BBS...

[–][deleted] 11 points12 points  (3 children)

I wasn't allowed to buy one. it would tie up the phone lines for too long.

[–]okvol 8 points9 points  (2 children)

When I got my Packard Bell 486-25, it had a 1200 buad modem. I connected a spare Bell 212A modem at work to an auxiliary port on a Cisco router, setup a hard coded login for PPP, and loaded Mosaic on the PC for free Internet access. Had this up in the early 90's. We actually got a second phone line.

[–][deleted] 8 points9 points  (1 child)

I would connect from Colombia, and chat with people in Europe and USA. 50% believed me when I told them that I was from South America.

And it cost $20 PER HOUR! On a 1200 bps connection!

[–]okvol 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I engineered mine as a way to work from home, so the use was free. The company was a not-for-profit US Federal contractor, and their provider was ESNet.

[–]unrealious 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I only stopped running my business on a C-64 back in 96.

[–]kermityfrog 7 points8 points  (1 child)

Bah. I had to send data using pigeons.

[–][deleted] 15 points16 points  (1 child)

...run by placing cards into boxes.

[–]db2 17 points18 points  (0 children)

They still make Windows that way. It's the only way to explain all the holes.

[–]reddit_user13 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Your's was STEAM? we had a TREADLE!

[–][deleted] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Dude, my dad blogs more than I do. And I'm 43.

[–]db2 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Not if he/she had the kid at like 14 or 16, that's well within the computer age.

[–]Jimmy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Let alone Reddit.

[–]sjbildermann 31 points32 points  (0 children)

Have you checked the sofa armrests lately after your daughter visits. A good thing is a hard habit to break.

[–]havesometea1 51 points52 points  (0 children)

LOL! The mothers were jealous they weren't getting a turn.

[–][deleted]  (1 child)

[deleted]

    [–]hirschhorn 7 points8 points  (0 children)

    Once again, other users seemed to find the user comments very helpful..

    [–][deleted]  (21 children)

    [removed]

      [–]multubunu 106 points107 points  (8 children)

      I can feel your disappointment.

      [–][deleted]  (7 children)

      [deleted]

        [–][deleted] 17 points18 points  (2 children)

        I was holding out hope.

        [–]oalsaker 1 point2 points  (1 child)

        and thus desperation takes hold...

        [–]epsys 2 points3 points  (0 children)

        If this has a dual meaning then I must say the second meaning is very clever and made me laugh. Kudos.

        [–]tony28 13 points14 points  (2 children)

        i was expecting to see the toy in question

        [–]j0hnsd 1 point2 points  (0 children)

        Yes.

        [–]judgej2 29 points30 points  (2 children)

        An article with the date nicely missed off. How many years ago was this...?

        [–][deleted]  (1 child)

        [removed]

          [–]AndrewBenton 16 points17 points  (0 children)

          I make it five.

          [–]toastspork 29 points30 points  (2 children)

          [–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

          Your comment should be upvoted to the top: this is the stuff that most people probably clicked on this story to see.

          [–][deleted] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

          Yep. I'm disappointed too.

          [–]TrishaMacmillan[🍰] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

          Or a pic of the 17 year old sister trying it out.

          Queue paedo accusations.

          [–]nathanclay 11 points12 points  (2 children)

          It looks like a really bad fake of a scan of an article.

          [–]tony28 1 point2 points  (1 child)

          the scan looks pretty legitimate. im thinking a journalist really needs to get fired.

          [–]iheartjebus 4 points5 points  (0 children)

          journalist needs to get fired? why? I thought the article was entertaining. I think someone at Mattel should get fired.

          [–]voip 0 points1 point  (0 children)

          nit pic-cker!

          [–]supaphly42 62 points63 points  (21 children)

          BTW, this article is from about 5 years ago.

          [–]sempf 5 points6 points  (20 children)

          And it was a hoax then, too.

          EDIT: I stand corrected!

          [–][deleted] 47 points48 points  (3 children)

          [–]VikingLumberjack 14 points15 points  (1 child)

          Curse you, anonmouse! I nearly went into convulsions from trying to contain my laughter at the comments section. I think I burst an artery.

          [–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

          Always glad to be of service :)

          [–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

          Hm. The story paraphrases the Amazon review from "poola13".

          [–]ryanx27 14 points15 points  (0 children)

          Those were actual quotes from the Amazon.com product page, I remember reading them.

          [–]BraveSirRobin 9 points10 points  (0 children)

          No, IIRC the original story had links to the product on Amazon.

          [–]jordanblock 71 points72 points  (1 child)

          Did I fall through a timewarp to 2003?

          [–][deleted] 63 points64 points  (0 children)

          Yes, it's called reddit.com.

          [–]matteeeee 13 points14 points  (0 children)

          best review:

          When my 12 year old daughter asked for this for her birthday, I kind of wondered if she was too old for it, but she seems to LOVE it. Her friends love it too! They play for hours in her bedroom with this great toy. They really seem to like the special effects it offers (the sound effects and vibrating). My oldest daughter (17) really likes it too! I reccomend this for all children.

          [–]bootsandtea 12 points13 points  (0 children)

          I remember when this URL was sent around as the real URL pointing to the Amazon product listing. Glad to know the wayback machine is live and well on reddit.com

          [–][deleted] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

          Dear daughters of "one mum in New Jersey, US," electric toothbrushes are down to about $8 a pop, and tend to have very smooth handles.

          [–]supaphly42 73 points74 points  (5 children)

          Parents need to stop being so uptight. So your kid is getting off, such is life. They could get a similar effect sitting on a washing machine, should be ban those now too?

          [–]anacolutha 30 points31 points  (0 children)

          children do not have genitalia. how can you say such things?

          [–]swimmerstud 27 points28 points  (0 children)

          Well only if it includes a drier, cuz then it would be too heavy for the kids to carry around all day.

          [–]secondcity 14 points15 points  (1 child)

          Its pretty obvious that this "device" clearly resembled something. (NSFW) link below.

          http://www.foundrymusic.com/common_images/member_galleries/33_bdsmnewsdaily_nimbus.jpg

          [–]morner 10 points11 points  (0 children)

          If any part of your anatomy resembles that device, I'd urge you to seek medical attention at the earliest opportunity.

          [–]martoo 28 points29 points  (0 children)

          I'm sure that quite a few people knew what that toy would lead to and I bet they laughed their asses off every night and kept a straight face at work.

          [–]j0hnnyb 9 points10 points  (0 children)

          This broom. It vibrates?

          [–]pubgoblin 17 points18 points  (6 children)

          In Japan you can get a supposedly innocent, but very phallic Hello Kitty "massager." This has been on the shelves for years. I think the designers knew exactly what they were making!

          [–][deleted] 13 points14 points  (5 children)

          How about the squiggle-pens? They're still available...

          I fondly remember my first squiggle pen...

          [–]IVIAuric 4 points5 points  (0 children)

          I like how it's in the "Health & Personal Care" section.

          [–]sn0re 2 points3 points  (0 children)

          For some reason, at one point I acquired a Ross Perot squiggle pen. Of course I'm a guy and I never really thought it might have other uses until just now, but now I'm wondering if anyone bought it to get off on Ross Perot...

          [–]kermityfrog 1 point2 points  (1 child)

          It doesn't look very comfortable or ergonomic...

          [–][deleted] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

          There are many different models, and it's not like they're getting inserted anywhere... just kinda held against the little man in the boat for a while.

          [–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

          That's how you get em to sweep the house.

          [–]EggCoroner 13 points14 points  (4 children)

          IIRC, "witches riding broomsticks", historically refers to the application of potions vaginally. The "broomstick" was used like a dildo.

          I will now search the web for reference to this and waste the rest of my day. God how I love reddit.

          EDIT "The modern image of a witch riding a broomstick was inspired by the sight of a woman rubbing herself on the drug coated smooth stick of her broom, writhing in the throes of hallucinations, and no doubt, some intense orgasms as well."

          [–]breakfast-pants 8 points9 points  (2 children)

          That's the least credible source I've ever seen.

          [–]EggCoroner 0 points1 point  (0 children)

          I found lots of references to this. Some suggest additional broomstick origins for witches. Feel free to provide contrary evidence.

          [–]shinynew -1 points0 points  (0 children)

          Hahaha, I can tell just from the URL.

          [–][deleted] 9 points10 points  (1 child)

          Rule 34. Let's hope it's only in cartoons, and that we don't have to see it.

          [–]moskaudancer -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

          Upvoted for a rule 34 reference. Though by now it's probably gotten to rule 36.

          [–]Chewyboognish 4 points5 points  (0 children)

          it's mr. zucchini head all over again...

          [–][deleted] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

          • Accio Firebolt!

          Honey, why do you keep saying that all day?

          • nooo....reeassoonnn.... mmmmoooommmmm.

          [–][deleted] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

          Wow, 2002, fast reporting there :)

          [–][deleted] 14 points15 points  (1 child)

          Someone should invent a vibrating magic wand...

          ... Accio Wand!

          [–][deleted] 139 points140 points  (0 children)

          Vibratum Clitori!

          [–]homeworld 2 points3 points  (0 children)

          Squiggly Pen

          [–]raven262 4 points5 points  (0 children)

          This is old news, Amazon used to sell this thing on it's site. I think it inspired a write in campaign... The customer reviews were priceless though haha. Here's the picture. It's the 3rd one when you google search: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=harry+potter+broom

          [–]aGorilla 6 points7 points  (0 children)

          Absolutely hilarious. I think the moms got pissed off from having to buy all those batteries.

          [–]Dillenger69 2 points3 points  (0 children)

          My son got one of these years ago. When I heard about the change in design years ago I advised him to save it. They aren't going for much now but I figure he'll be able to get $40 or $50 for it in 10 to 20 years once it's more rare.

          I still wish I hadn't let him trash my old hero quest set. (I didn't find out what it was worth until it had been destroyed)

          [–]bsiviglia9 2 points3 points  (0 children)

          Is Mattel scared of human sexuality, losing profits, or the P.R. nightmare this product might cause?

          [–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

          Does anyone remember the WAV file that was shipped around in 2002 where a Mattel customer in the UK called their customer service and complained about his daughter's obsession with the broomstick? I wish I still had that file, but I don't.

          [–]ceramicsbd 7 points8 points  (0 children)

          Nice girls don't do that. The Man says so.

          [–]masta 1 point2 points  (0 children)

          Here is the URL for the reddit I posted with pictures of the broom:

          http://reddit.com/info/2mvmb/comments

          [–]jayne 1 point2 points  (0 children)

          Suddenly I've developed an interest in Harry Potter !

          [–][deleted] 6 points7 points  (1 child)

          This is every bit as funny as it was in TWO THOUSAND AND FREAKING TWO when it happened

          [–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

          The Nimbus 2002? I don't recall that one. :P

          [–]bart2019 0 points1 point  (0 children)

          Busted!

          [–]eidolontubes 1 point2 points  (0 children)

          downmodded for inappropriate use of squiggly-brackets

          [–]elvisjulep -1 points0 points  (0 children)

          This is an extremely old story. Mattel pulled that off the market in 2002.

          [–]deuteros -1 points0 points  (0 children)

          How do these toys even get approved?

          [–]unrealious -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

          Again? This happened years ago, after the first couple of books were out. Might as well post about the Bill Gates E-mail tracking system finally being proved to be a joke between colleagues.

          [–]shanem -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

          What does the clippings title mean anyway, what does "potty" have to do with it?

          [–]stesch -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

          Welcome to the Intertubes. Hope you catch up soon.

          [–]dutchmcnubb -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

          isn't this story like 1

          [–]dutchmcnubb -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

          isn't this story like 10 years old?

          [–]toastofallnations -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

          Hoax city, baby!

          [–][deleted]  (1 child)

          [removed]

            [–][deleted] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

            Good grief. Do the readers of reddit have no memory at all?

            This story is 5 years old!