UPDATE (5/6/11): Sears has branched out to sell hardcore porn on its website. Go HERE for my post on this.
Sears, Roebuck, & Co., a company founded in 1893 which became America’s biggest retail store by the mid-20th century, has not been doing well in recent years.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. Not content with selling clothes, tools, and appliances, the “family store” is now hawking porn on its website.
The American Family Association has reproduced thumbnails of Sears’ porn posters. Even though the AFA has edited the images, there is little ambiguity in the posters’ prurient images and messages. These aren’t just posters of scantily-clad women. Some of them depict groups of people, lesbians and others engaged in sexual activities. Very little is left to the imagination.
Despite the AFA’s efforts to contact Sears “quietly and professionally” more than a half-dozen times, Sears’ public relations department has refused to return AFA’s calls and emails.
The AFA urges us to contact Sears to let it know what we think about their porn-for-sale. Please take a moment to email Sears’ public relations director Larry Costello.
IMHO, given the ubiquity of free porn on the Internet, Sears’ new venture likely will peter out. See you in bankruptcy court, Sears!
UPDATE (8/5/10):
You can verify AFA’s claims on Sears’ websiteHERE, HERE, and HERE. H/t Wolfebets!
UPDATE (8/6/10):
I’ve removed the pics of naked and scantily clad women proffering their butt, having lesbian sex, as well as naked men and women in a group orgy because posting them here caused no small amount of grief and contention among even our regular commenters. I now realize that my posting the pics — intended as empirical evidence of Sears’ action — became a source of temptation, what theologians call “the near occasion of sin.” Such is the evil allure and power of porn.
If you want to see the pics for yourself, go to the AFA website HERE, but recognize that you are forewarned!
~Eowyn
Sears is looking BETTER every day.
Well, it certainly does not hurt my eyes. Oh wait! I am appalled! How disgusting!
Sorry Eo.
Ron
Now down to the real question… Why in the hell are they stooping to such a low? Are they considering competing with Playboy or some of the other mags out there? Doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.
Ron
I don’t like it!
Damn… well, it sorta worked for Abercrombie & Fitch, though Sears?… this may be it for ‘em.
micro,
Sears has always been a family oriented business. I do not understand it. I see no purpose for it. Liking it doesn’t fit the question for me.
They appear to be pushing the self-destruct button—again.
Am I to understand this is just on their web-site?
Well, I just looked at 2010 posters on the Sears Web site and the only photos suggesting porno were the ones presented by the American Family Assn. I’m not saying they aren’t there but I got tired of looking at posters and in the 2010 I seen nothing risqué. Maybe they were at the end of the 30, 000 pics on display.
I would think if they were presenting porno they would put it up front where everyone could find it. I personally do not like porno so I don’t go looking for it. I know it is everywhere on the internet. If Sears is into it they have a lot of competition.
Oh sure, where were they when I was a teenager?
I just looked at the Sears website and didn’t see anything like this.
“Sears’ new venture likely will [peter] out.”
LOL – If that is the best they can do, you are probably correct.
Heck, I can find better on the net in my sleep. :-^)
Yes, men are pigs.
Oink.
-Dave
And dang it, Eowyn, couldn’t you have posted larger pics?
LOL – I mean, my 46 yo eyes just ain’t what they used to be.
Oink.
-Dave
I can’t enlarge the photos either!
Umm, you guys do know that the women in these pics are air-brushed and siliconed, right? In other words, they’re not real! What does that do to how you regard the real women in your lives?
I did go to the Sears site after getting this call to boycott. Honestly I had already heard about the porn posters on the Sears site from kids in town and thought they wer kidding. apparently kids have been getting around library and school district filters for porn by going to Sears ans viewing porn posters. All they had to do was go to the posters page and type in Porn or sex. I went to the site and did this, and voila, I saw some of the ones on this page but others too. Just now I went to the site and they did take off the the enlarged picture of the Safe Sex is Hot Sex after I and a few others specifically mentioned them, however the original thumbnail can still be found.
There are discussions for the products on this page. When I typed simply posters, this is what came up:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_10153_12605?keyword=posters&vName=&viewType=gal&viewItems=24 They have also removed quite a few complaints from the discussions. all I know is that there are far fewer comments there today than yesterday after new threads kept erupting and the moderators could not shut or lock them down fast enough. Wow
Thank you, Wolf, for confirming the porn posters are on Sears’ website, as a couple of commenters here said they couldn’t find it and implied that American Family Association fabricated the story. One would think that if the AFA did make it up, Sears would have issued a vehement denial. Did not happen. AFA reported correctly.
Oh wow…look what i just found on another page on the Sears side. Old fashioned, but it’s full frontal!
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_10153_12605?keyword=buyenlarge+nude&vName=&viewType=gal&viewItems=24&x=18&y=15
the American Family Assoc. works against this type of crap,thank God. They have stopped alot of garbage on Tv also. Such as GAY programs coming on during family time ect…. so our children don’t have to be any more exposed and susceptible to this BS than they already are. You guys who feel the need to look at this,so be it, but put it somewhere out of a family’s reach, that’s all.
Well said, Tina. Some of the males out there have their minds so befogged by lust — which they call “appreciation for beautiful women” — that they’ve lost their mental ability to understand the concern and purpose of American Family Association. It’s about shielding CHILDREN from being exposed to the cultural rot out there. There should be boundaries erected around access to porn. Let childhood retain some of its innocence. Our children today are no longer innocent. I see junior high school girls who look like world-weary hookers, who look, frankly, older than me.
Look around you, people. The cultural rot is all around you. You can’t separate the corrupt political messages from the corrupt cultural rot. It’s all a piece.
Eo,
I did imply the fabrication but if you knew me really well you would notice I love to stir things up. The truth is I did not find the porn Mr Wolf found but did not enter the site via his directions.
What I found was AFA presented the pics on Sears site and I began to wonder why they would do that. If I was dead set against porn I would probably not use porn pics to make my statement.
I thought their method in poor taste for a family organization, but I have to admit it was effective and Sears seems to be back peddling; so that’s a good thing.
By the way. I like beautiful cars too…I also put classical music right up there with the angels, something I’ve never done with a beautiful woman.
Then again, I do not believe looking at a beautiful woman is wrong or evil any more than looking at a beautiful painting.
Maybe I’m a little weird.
Ron
What can be wrong with a young Beautiful woman either clothed on naked as God made them? Without beautiful women life would have no meaning, there would be no reason to get up in the morning and go about the drudgeries of life without the rewards of hoping to be with a beautiful woman if not tonight at least in the near future. As for pornography, what is pornography? Pornography is a photo or the sight in real time of a woman that no longer cares about her looks or her dining habits and has lost that most valuable quantity in life her beauty. An old ugly woman is worth very little! They are not worth looking at, they can’t be your wing-man, they talk continuously about things that simply don’t matter and what’s worst of all- they hate the thing they can never be, beautiful women. Guess that’s why Muslims have the burqa. I am no Muslim are you? Celebrate life and beautiful women, you are only as old as the beautiful women you feel.
…and how beautiful and young are you?
So, old1, “An old ugly woman is worth very little!” And an exclamation mark at that! I wonder what Mother Teresa of Calcutta would say about your statement, having been old and wrinkly and not physically attractive by your remarkably “high” standards! Yet, when you look at Mother Teresa, you can see all of the beauty, goodness, holiness, kindness and realness in her eyes, her entire face, her entire persona. She is on her way to sainthood now and had one of the largest attendance of humankind in the world at her funeral! Hence, old1, you are full of crap. And, old1, Ron Baby and Dave, if you have no problem with “beautiful” women exposing themselves, why don’t you offer your wives to expose themselves as well? After all, you guys are all for beauty and this would simply add to all of the “beauty” in the world. I am thoroughly disgusted and disappointed with all of you. Understand this, because it is truth and it is very clear: immodesty, pornography and lust, are all grave and serious sins against the Sixth Commandment, Sins against the Triune God. Or do you guys pick and choose what commandments have value to you and choose only specific ones to follow so you can in your sordid mind, maintain the machismo in front of all of the male bloggers so that you appear “with it” insofar as your expertise with women!!
Ron Baby, old1 and Dave, you cannot compartmentalize morality. You must be consistent with your high moral standards in all realms of life. You are not machismo. For real masculine men would not want to look at random nude women who choose to exploit themselves, explot their dignity and personhood through immodest behavior.
In this same veil of hypocrisy, you don’t think that Sears should engage in the exploitation of women! The fact is that whatever Sears does in this regard, reflects upon their reputation, notwithstanding the fact that they are corrupting youth and nurturing the “machismo” garbage.
I am absolutely convinced that any and all pornography and immodest pictures of women have their origin in Satan.
And by the way, I laud Eowyn’s responses to you, especially her question to you, “…and how beautiful and young are you?”
Mother Teresa? I am no Catholic! Sounds like an illegal beaner that probably supports that Communist sleeping in our White House! This is America! Leaner, meaner, younger, richer, more toys, makes life livable. What’s with this support the underclass BS? What has this “mother” ever done for ME!?
PS 57 6’2″ 250lbs of stone, and you got my photo! Bring on them Sear’s babes!
“This is America! Leaner, meaner, younger, richer, more toys, makes life livable.”
That’s the motto of the Church of Satan, not of our Founding Fathers. No wonder your e-address begins with oldmagicman666….
If you think those “Sears’ babes” will find a 250-lb obese old man attractive, you’re delusional. May God have mercy on your soul.
old1, you are an idiot! You don’t have to be Catholic to appreciate Mother Teresa. In fact, non-Catholics from all over the world, of every race, creed, political affiliation and nationality all appreciate the REAL BEAUTY of Mother Teresa. I am very proud to be a devout Catholic and your prejudice and unkindness towards me in this regard merely reflects your dim-witted and warped persona, Mr. “666!”
There is absolutely nothing, nothing that I said, which would remotely suggest that I support Obama. I have vigorously fought against this man, his policies, his regime, his czars and all of his evil policies, and I shall continue to fight!
You are further sick because of your description of what it means to you to be an American. Your thought processes and conclusions clearly reflect your shallowness. You are anything but manly and macho sir! You ARE a Stone. Knock, Knock – who’s there?
As to your physical description, you make me ill! The only man I am interested in seeing is my wonderful and handsome devout Catholic husband for which Our Lord has blessed me through the Sacrament of Matrimony. You must also be a narcissist to assume that the “Sears’ babes” would want anything to do with you – poor man!
And by the way, old1, people used to call me, “Your Honor.” I am retired and younger than you, and I am no “stone!”
God help you!
Condemning ourselves by lust of the eye, is exactly what Satan wants. It saddens me to think that these girls are daughters of men who had the chance to lead them to Christ Jesus, but failed. If in fact Sears is doing this, their Judgement will be severe, as will our’s for sexual immorality and lust of the flesh. Another sign of the times, For It is Written: When these things come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption draweth nigh. It is as if the Truth openly warns His Elect by saying: When the evils of this world mount up, when dread of the judgment is shown even by the trembling powers, lift up your heads, that is, be joyful in your hearts, because the world, of which you are not friends, is drawing to its end; the redemption you have been seeking is coming close.
This is why I don’t discuss religion or religious beliefs.
Joan assumes that I support porn because beautiful women can be desirable. My first wife was a most beautiful woman but I did not marry her for her beauty. I married her because I loved her. Her beauty was a simple bonus.
Pornography is an expression by people both male and female who think a whole lot less of themselves than they should–and like Joan, I believe it comes right out of the pit, but the beauty in this world comes from God and I suppose there are men who think the beauty of a woman once faded away in the flesh makes them less desirable. I might have some pity on them. We all get old and wrinkled and when we no longer have that physical beauty that God gave us, there might be some truth to the less desirable, but what we do have is an inner wisdom and an inner beauty that excels the physical.
No, I do not agree with Old1, but as a man I can see where he comes from. I would never ordain to correct him for his limited vision, but in contrast, thinking that any man who enjoys the beauty of a woman is doing some evil is childish and immature.
Are men pigs? That seems to be the conclusion. However, I for one believe God made us all desirable so we would propagate the specie. I remember my Catholic teachings quite well and I remember my traditionalist parents. I do not say bad things about them but I believe their teachings were naive and unrealistic.
I much prefer debates be on the intellectual level rather than the emotional one. I know I get a little too emotional at times but when religion becomes an argument then conversations become burdensome.
Ron
Ron,
You really need to stop letting your emotions run amuck, resulting in your misreading & misunderstanding others. No where did Joan ever equate porn with a man appreciating feminine beauty. She was responding to Old1 justifying porn by saying he’s merely appreciating “young beautiful women.” Old1′s attitude is one of depersonalizing and objectifying all women: “young beautiful” women are objects of his lust; “old ugly” women are useless. So, women are objects, devoid of human dignity.
As for religion, you don’t get to dictate what topics get discussed on this blog. If you find those conversations “burdensome,” just absent yourself from them, instead of lecturing to the rest of us how loathsome and “burdensome” they are to you. Thank you.
Ron baby, you said, “This is why I don’t discuss religion or religious beliefs.” You have missed the point again. It was old1 who brought up his disregard for Catholics and in a very mean way! I did not even use the term, “Catholics.” I used the example of the beauty of Mother Teresa to refute and literally abolish old1′s assertion about many women, that “an old, ugly woman is worth very little.” What a Satanic comment indeed and in fact! And for your information, once again, we cannot compartmentalize our religious beliefs as to what is happening in our daily lives and in the world, and in this specific blog, the issue is standing againsst sin, against the exploitation of women and their nude bodies to make a sale of personal property, to make a buck!
I came down on you because of THE VERY COMMENTS YOU MADE! For example, you said, “Well, it certainly does not hurt my eyes. Oh, wait, I’m appalled. How disgusting.” Your comment was meant to be sarcastic and snide, with the goal of affirming these pictures which were the subject of the blog, so that you would look “worldly” and “with it.” You also said, “Then again, I do not believe looking at a beautiful woman is wrong or evil, anymore than looking at a beautiful painting.” Hence, you have communicated, contrary to your most recent comment, that there is nothing wrong with looking at nude, improperly exposed women. Ron baby, you can’t have it both ways-grey is the devil’s favorite color!
And Ron baby, you also said, “Joan assumes that I support pornography because beautiful women can be desirable.” I have assumed nothing here, nor did I ever make this conclusion, and how you arrived at this statement is puzzling and baffling given the comments that you did make which you have completely disregarded. I addressed the sin of pornography. As I was taught at the National Judicial College, keep on point and don’t let others commit material fallacies which goal is to veer people away from the real issues. You also said, “I love to stir up things.” I suppose that comment means that we should not take you seriously, given the fact that we will never know what you truly believe because you love to churn and chide. Our Lord communicated that he did not like “lukewarm,” vomiting such neutrality out of His presence.
Finally, you indicated you much prefer debates to be on the intellectual level rather than the emotional one. Frankly, anyone who really knows how to debate, how to win debates in furtherance of the truth, knows that you cannot separate your intellect from your spirituality and that if you really believe in what you are saying, you will be passionate, yet poised and focused. We use our intellect, will, spirituality and emotions to communicate-they are not separate factors, as they all work together to communicate truth. I am passionate about communicating the truth when necessary in a world where there is a dictatorship of relativism, using my intellect, my spirituality, my emotions and everything that I am.
Ron, I am relieved that you remember your Catholic teachings, which teachings are neither naive or unrealistic. These teachings are Truth, addressing reality with the authority, love and force of Our Lord. I will share with you the last thing that my father said to me on the last day that I saw him some twenty years ago, “Be true to your Catholic Faith-it has been good to you and you are nothing without it as it is your greatest gift.” Without it, I would have no reality.
Well, Joan after all those marvelous conclusions, I have very little to say and that should suit you. You do however assume from your statement that I am in with the porno freaks when you say, (Ron Baby, old1 and Dave, you cannot compartmentalize morality. You must be consistent with your high moral standards in all realms of life. You are not machismo. For real masculine men would not want to look at random nude women who choose to exploit themselves, explot their dignity and personhood through immodest behavior.)
You also have the propensity to think because someone jokes about a thing that they are not serious. It really does not matter.
You give me crap for the things I say but you’re the one who put the porno on your site and then condemned it.
I do not debate religious views for the very reason you are condemning me because you use the gospel of Jesus to condemn anyone who believes differently than you. (Our Lord communicated that he did not like “lukewarm,” vomiting such neutrality out of His presence.)
I would prefer to let this go and do as Eo, suggests…Go my way before I say something that won’t help anyone. However, like you I will leave you with something —Do you call yourself a Christian or a Catholic. I am a Christian and Jesus is my savior. Who do you believe in if you think your church will save you?
You should try being less of a Catholic and more of a Christian….Good by
You’re right about one thing, Ron, and I’ve corrected it.
I’ve removed all the pics of nude women, naked lesbians, and group orgy from my post. I had meant them as supporting empirical evidence for my post, which is how I was trained as a social scientist, but I now realize they actually were the “nearest occasions to sin.” The confirmation is the amount of grief and contention those pics caused.
Peace,
Eowyn
Ron baby, I only confronted you as to the actual statements you made. You condemn y0urself with your own statements. And, what specifically do you mean when you say to me, “You should try to be less of a Catholic and more of a Christian.”
Here you go you inferior Christian cabbages. I hope you choke to death on it!!!
We reports threats to the Feds and local agencies. Your email and IP address will be included.
To: chronozon37@yahoo.com, over there in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Your e-mail and IP addresses have been reported to LE for making a death threat.
LOL – Always nice to hear from Satan’s bitch here at FotM.
Molested any children today?
You are one seriously sick, twisted bastard.
Up yours.
Sideways.
With a twist, even.
-Dave
If you think that the pictures aren’t really there, that AFA is just making it up…. here’s how to know they aren’t. Go to sears.com and search playboy magazine. It’s there. Trust me. This is what I did to figure it out.