Is this offensive? "Save the tatas"

[Stinky The Clown]

http://www.savethetatas.com/

I saw the above bumper sticker today. I was not in the least offended by it, but that's me. I take offense at very little, particularly at off-beat, edgy stuff like this. But that's me.

Is this offensive or not?

[Progressive_In_NC]

1. nah, it's a good group, and you'll see the stickers on cars at Churches all around Raleigh, NC

I've been to several of their events and it's really cool what they are doing.

[hedgehog]

2. No, more like it isn't funny the 783rd time you see it.

[Stinky The Clown]

46. I'm glad you've enjoyed seeing it. I was a tata saving virgin until today.

[Davis_X_Machina]

3. i dunno...

....I just wasn't used to seeing the term used without the adjective 'bodacious' appended to it.

[Dr. Strange]

4. Not as much as save 2nd base.

[Goblinmonger]

15. That's kinda funny. n/t

[EFerrari]

20. That's funny!

[Dappleganger]

69. Love those too!

Anything which gets the message out to get those mammograms done is OK w/me.

I've had it twice, Mom had it once. Several of my aunts had it too (one had several times, along with ovarian cancer).
Thank goodness it is no longer a given death sentence and women are finally taking care of themselves, but there is so more to be done!

[GoneOffShore]

102. Oh come on.. that's just cute

Sheesh.

[Dr. Strange]

105. It is kinda cute...

although a little freaky on a 16-year-old.

[shadowknows69]

112. Yes, let's try to get men to stop thinking about tits by highlighting them more

Brilliant B-)

[TheCoxwain]

5. I thought that this was some new Offshoring lobbying thing .. you know... like save the TATA

the company in India that manufactures Nano and runs call centers

[Poiuyt]

23. Save the Tata

[TheCoxwain]

27. Should be more like ...Save the person in the TATA

[madrchsod]

34. and the poor people who work for them

[bmbmd]

101. Agreed.

In this respect, I agree with Ronald Reagan. When Nancy asked him if he thought she should have a lumpectomy or a mastectomy, he said "Well, I married you-not your breast." It is nice to save a breast, but it is better to save a life.

[OmahaBlueDog]

6. I think it's funny. I imagine a school principal would find it offensive.

It draws attention to a good cause, which is all most people really care about.

[MineralMan]

7. Nah. Not offensive. Now, if it was "Save the Gazongas,"

that would be...er...uh...still not offensive.

[Ilsa]

21. I think "gazongas' are a type of tata. We need to be inclusive of ALL tatas.

[MineralMan]

33. Certainly! A hooter by any other name still inspires wonder and awe.

[annabanana]

98. They are Italian tatas, I think. . . n/t

[Juche]

8. Do they have one for testicular cancer

[cherokeeprogressive]

31. Save the 'Nads? n/t

[dysfunctional press]

38. how about cervical cancer?

:shrug:

[muriel_volestrangler]

73. How about "Worry about the Bollocks"? (nt)

[Withywindle]

82. Mind the Bollocks! DO mind the bollocks!

Always mind the bollocks?

[muriel_volestrangler]

83. Yeah, I thought about that, but

"Mind The Bollocks" sounded a bit too much like "please don't hit me accidentally in the bollocks". "Always mind the bollocks" sounds quite good, though.

[EmilyAnne]

79. Save the tea bags? nt

[Juche]

85. I prefer 'deez nuts'

[Creena]

9. Nope, not at all.

As the proud owner of ta-tas, I don't have any problem with whatever terminology used to get message out.

[Lars39]

10. Not to me, and I've had breast cancer.

I think tatas might be regional, though. :)

on edit: One of the little pep talks that kept me going was that I am more than just my breasts....so I could kinda see how a woman might take offense at her breasts being the most important part of her to save.

When they start talking about how far along the cancer is, it's amazing how quickly you can get used to the idea of losing body parts if it is going to save/prolong your life.

[Midlodemocrat]

11. Given who the target audience is, along with who came up with that slogan, No. Not in the least.

[aikoaiko]

12. Save the ta-tas -- Save the motorboating

[tammywammy]

39. That gif makes me laugh every time I see it.

:rofl:

[spanone]

13. i'm all for saving the ta-tas

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

14. It's offensive that they didn't even bother to check the spelling of "tetas". nt

[dusmcj]

51. uh, no, we're not speaking Spanish here, in English it's tatas. /nt

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

67. Where did that word come from then? nt

[dusmcj]

75. it's slang, and so fully adopted as English

it's not de rigeur to maintain the source language spelling.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

93. Ah but you admit that it does come from spanish... .. I'm actually kidding

but I just never understood why the e was changed to and a. I guess it's the way it sounds to english speakers. Like the way people here say "punta" instead of "puta".

[LostinVA]

76. Except it's supposed to be "tatas"

:wtf:

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

94. Huh?

:wtf: right back at ya. I was being sarcastic but tatas is a made up word. It comes from the mispronunciation of the word tetas. And yes I get it that it's slang and all.

[tularetom]

16. Not near as offensive as this

[Contrary1]

43. That's one big boob! n/t

[Ilsa]

17. As long as it doesn't say, "Save the bodacious tatas" I think it's okay.

[Phoonzang]

18. I've been seeing those all over the place...

Good to see what it actually is (though I had a pretty good idea).

[EFerrari]

19. It's an insider/outsider kind of thing. Okay for insiders. n/t

[dustbunnie]

22. I find it in bad taste to make light of cancer.

Particularly since my mom died of breast cancer. But then again, anything that might elicit a chuckle and a pulling out of the wallet is a good thing, so whatever works.

I guess "save the junk" or "save the balls" might get a laugh of me along with a few bucks.

[Lisa0825]

30. Really? It's been around a while, and you're the first person I have

encountered who takes issue with it. That includes 2 breast cancer surviviors I know and my friend who lost her mother. a lot of people who are survivors wear their shirts during the fundraising walks/runs/other events. It's a great organization.

My survivor friends joked about their battles with cancer a lot. They always said they had to laugh because it kept them going.

[Zywiec]

40. There's always one... n/t

[dustbunnie]

41. I don't take issue with it. And if it gets people to contribute, that's great!!

It just makes me sad, that's all. The last month was tough, and I just can't laugh about anything to do with it, but that's just my thing. There may be others who feel the same... don't know.

I also know that sometimes people avoid giving or being informed as they don't want to think about it, and laughter or lightheartedness is often the best way to get around that. If the word tatas gets the guys out there and contributing, excellent. I've never contributed to testicular cancer specifically, but I guess "save the junk" would catch my interest. :)

[Lisa0825]

99. Laughter is the great desensitizer.

It works for both those who know the fight intimately, and those who try not to think about it otherwise. But the same thing doesn't work for everybody.

I am sorry about your mom. I have lost both my parents to smoking related illnesses (dad 10 years ago, mom 7 - and it took years to start moving on), and while I can't think of any campaign using laughter to capitalize on their illnesses, I know I don't find it funny at all when smokers themselves joke about it or even just dismiss it. So I can sort of understand what you mean, though I think it is different since it is the advocacy group itself making the humor, as opposed to an outsider making fun.

The best news though is that I recently read that survival of breast cancer is breaking records! And that is certainly worth smiling about! :pals:

[Dappleganger]

64. Amen!

And a lot of us have had the last laugh, too. :D

[Dappleganger]

63. Well that's too bad...

I've had it twice and find it funny as hell, as does my boob sister support group. Those girls made me laugh so hard I threw up (that's a joke, in case you get stuck). :)

[Dappleganger]

65. Wish to add

that it's too bad you find it offensive, not about your mother passing away. I lost my mother last August to a stroke (although she survived one bout with BC) and know how it feels. But really, when you face it yourself it is different--you have to find something to laugh about to keep you going, and laughter is good among friends.

[dustbunnie]

71. I have to remember to use more smilies or temper my words.

:) It sounded more serious than I meant it. I personally can't laugh, but totally agree that first of all, it gets squeamish, in-denial-women to get informed or give, plus the guys love it and will stick a hand in the pocket, so what's not to like? Maybe my post header obliterated everything else I said.

And I know laughter makes a huge difference in the way people live their lives, so again, I didn't mean to make it sound so prudish/poop-headed. (I'm the last one who could be called prudish.) And I'm sorry you've lost your mother as well.

[Midlodemocrat]

91. Ha. My dachshund likes Obama as well.

:rofl:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

24. No

[southernyankeebelle]

25. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

28. What do you think it means?

[Hekate]

32. Not so long ago it was a new euphemism for me, too. Like that stupid one for...

... vagina that turned up on Grey's Anatomy.

Hekate

[Lisa0825]

29. Breast Cancer awareness/fundraising. nt

[madinmaryland]

26. I saw that Bumper sticker this morning also? Were you on I-95 South between

exits 33 & 29 this morning around 8:15?

On edit, it was a woman driving the car, so I would assume to her (at least) and me, it's not offensive.

It's for Breast Cancer.

[dysfunctional press]

35. that depends- whose tata's are we talking about?

after seeing 'the wrestler', if they're marisa tomeii's, i'm in. :woohoo:

[NeedleCast]

36. No

[KamaAina]

37. Works for me, as does the similar "Headlight Preservation Society".

:-)

[Contrary1]

42. I lost my ta*tas 10 years ago to cancer...

so if an edgy ad can save one other woman, it's alright by me.

Hooters put out a couple a few years back that caused a bit of a stir. If I can find them, I'll post.

[zazen]

44. well intended, but the pinkification of campbell's soup and cheerio's icks me out

and I've had breast cancer too. I should be happy they're helping to raise money, but the drowning in pink just trivializes everything and makes me feel like the corporate world is somehow trying to own women's experience.

When I see brown Campbell's soup cans and brown ribboned bumper stickers that say "save the colons," maybe I'll change my mind.

[leftstreet]

47. LOL

When I see brown Campbell's soup cans and brown ribboned bumper stickers that say "save the colons," maybe I'll change my mind.


I agree by the way. There's something creepy about the pinkification/corporatism of breast cancer.

[readmoreoften]

50. Completely agree.

I've always found it a little strange.

[omega minimo]

45. In today's Jackass world?

[Warren DeMontague]

57. A hundred years ago, lynchings were considered a good afternoon's entertainment in many places.

Really, I think some of this "O NOES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Twitter an' Facebook an' MTV an' techmology are making people -particularly these damn kids- uncouth, nasty bastids!" nonsense is seriously overwrought. The world is not ending, even with people talking openly about "ta tas".

"The kids" put Barack Obama into the White House. Unlike some older generations (baby boomers. cough.) "the kids", in overwhelming numbers, generally don't give a shit if people are gay, or if those gay people want to marry each other. As the Who said, The kids are all right.

I'll take Jackass world over Archie Bunker world, any day.

[omega minimo]

88. Well thank you for the scattershot histrionics over my post. Trivialize breast cancer all you like.

Don't project all your pronouncements on me. You don't know what I think.

Thanks.

[Warren DeMontague]

107. Then 'haps you should tone the inscrutability factor down a notch or two in your posts, Yoda.

Because, to me, that didn't look so much like a criticism of breast cancer trivialization so much as yet another in a series of complaints about our "Jackass Culture".

[omega minimo]

108. Check your attitude at the door

Here are those pesky perception issues again. Just perfect.

Your view of the "inscrutibility factor" does not excuse your dumping your cartload of assumptions (drug in from other threads?) on this poster. Tell me to "tone it down," howzabout you back off?

Just because you don't understand something, you don't have to attack it.

You're right about the "because to me that didn't look so much like" part and you're wrong about demanding someone "argue" the way you expect or demand.

Feh.

Need it spelt out?

The question was "Is this offensive?"

What's the point of "a criticism of breast cancer trivialization" "in today's Jackass world?"

You can put your Twitter and whatever else where the sun don't shine, Dodo.


Didn't even quote me right.

[Warren DeMontague]

109. Okay, then.... DON'T tone down the inscrutability factor. Your call.

If, say, you wanted someone other than yourself to occasionally understand what you're on about half the time... ...nah, forget it.

Keep knocking yourself out. The rest of us will just continue to scratch our heads. :wtf:

[Rebubula]

48. Better question...

....why do you feel a need to ask OTHER people if something is offensive? Can you not work that out for yourself? I am not trying to be a dick, but I have seen many posts where people ask the same question about other things that they have seen.

Offensive is relative. Back in the early 90's I worked at TGI Friday's in Greenbelt, MD. As you probably know, Fridays requires a certain number of buttons - or Flair. I wore a lot of ProChoice buttons including an 'Abort Operation Rescue'.

One day, I was told that someone got offended by that. I was offended that they were offended.


Save the Tatas is a good organization. I have attended a couple of their fund raisers - usually at some local pub.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

53. Sometimes, you have to ask around here

You'd be surprised what offends folks.

Had the OP openly expressed that they were offended by this, I bet the thread could have taken a turn.

[Stinky The Clown]

54. You may not be trying to be a dick .......

..... but you're succeeding.

If you read the OP it says quite clearly that I am not offended by it.

Did you read that?

Dick.

[Bigmack]

49. I have never referred to breasts...

as anything but breasts (spoken in a reverential tone).

I don't like using "pet" names for something so beautiful.

Now, my Johnson... no problem. Lotsa names.

[Stinky The Clown]

55. Your Johnson?

Hey ... no big deal.

:)

[Warren DeMontague]

58. And Zen ve shtomp on it.

Give us ze money!

[Stinky The Clown]

66. That cat looks pissed

[Warren DeMontague]

70. I think it's a marmot. nt

[Fleshdancer]

52. I'm not offended. n/t

[ismnotwasm]

56. Just silliness

Cancer is fucked up, having it or knowing someone or caring for some one with it. I think someone was just trying a little levity in the face of a pretty grim topic.

Of course, saving breasts aren't the issue. Saving lives is.

One of the reconstructive surgies post-mastectomy that we do, called a DIEP, is a very interesting and successful way of restoring breasts. It has it's dangers, but so do implants. I've seen all kinds of complications from infections to the need for leech therapy. I figured if my breasts went because of cancer that was it, I'd do without. I still feel that way but lately, I've seen fantastic results from DIEP's, haven't seen a failed one in over a year.

Saving or restoring, one's breasts is a personal decision. I guess saving one's life is as well.

[JuniperLea]

59. Naw... but those dangly man balls on trucks...

That offends me. But that's a whole 'nuther flame war:)

:rofl:

I'm sorry, but Goddess gave us pretty, round, soft, firm tatas, and yoos guys got those dangly sacks of rocks. Eh.

[walldude]

68. Well, women got all the best parts but

also got all the problems that go with them. Can you imagine if men suffered from PMS or had to deal with a period every month? Yikes! :hide:


Oh and I think the bumpersticker is fine. Yes it's a juvenile sense of humor but it's about a very important issue and if it takes a TA-Ta bumper sticker to raise awareness then so be it.

[JuniperLea]

74. PMS and testosterone...

Could be a deadly combo!

:rofl:

[Individualist]

60. Offensive, no; juvenile, yes.

[Name removed]

62. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Dappleganger]

61. I have one on my MC tank!

It's a fucking brilliant campaign, and as a two-time BC boob sister I love it. :D

[Taverner]

72. Yes it is. How dare you mock a breast?

Mocking breasts must mean you hate women and want them all dead. I'll bet you listen to Andrew Dice Clay. In fact, I'd be willing to bet you are actually a Republican Troll.

Seriously though - if a woman has a problem with that, to hell with her. I'd rather save lives than make friends.

[Berry Cool]

77. Then I guess you want me in hell.

I'm plenty offended.

"Save the ta-tas" reduces the crusade against an ugly disease to a joke about saving a sexualized female body part.

It's no longer about saving human beings because they are people with lives; it's about saving a body part that people think of as sexy, BECAUSE its inherent worth is in the fact that people think of it as sexy. To hell, indeed, with the woman it happens to be attached to; what's important is saving the Almighty Ta-Ta.

Of course, that's not all that's wrong with it; those Mother's Day promotions aimed at breast cancer "awareness" (as if we're not all plenty aware of it already) are just as bad. Those are about saving the Almighty Feeder and Nourisher of Mankind more than about saving the woman.

You can say they're not, but they are. Because what all this stuff is about is about dressing up an ugly disease in pink ribbons and roses and, yes, sexy talk in order to better accommodate its reality in our lives. To make it less scary and, actually, more acceptable--when we should be making it LESS acceptable. Referring to the affected body parts as "ta-tas" only makes a joke out of what should be serious business...making a joke out of a killer.

Think about it. Do we have bumper stickers promoting awareness for colon or anal cancer that say "Save the Assholes"? Or penile-awareness boxer shorts that say "Sometimes Even a Dick Is Worth Saving"?

Why do we think it's OK to make breast cancer sweet, pretty, funny, cute, lovable...even sexy? On the principle that so long as it raises awareness and brings in money to "fight" the disease (when's the last time you actually paid attention to where your dollars to "fight" breast cancer go?), it's OK?

I don't care what anyone else thinks. I'm sick of the pink ribbons and the pink jewelry and the pink shoes and pink purses and pink T-shirts and all the pink tchotchkes. I'm sick of the jokes about the mega-importance of saving ta-tas and bazooms and tits. I just want to see the disease eradicated from the face of the earth. I would gladly trade all the cutesy trinkets and clothing and commemorative crap to see it vanish, period. And I frankly don't care if that makes fundraising less "fun" for people. While it's nice if fundraising is "fun," "fun" is not the issue.

It's possible to have so much "fun" fighting a disease--buying stuff and marching and friendmaking and all that business--that the reason and purpose for what one is doing becomes lost. I think that has happened with breast cancer. It's no longer about getting rid of a disease; it's about walks and runs and personal achievement and sisterhood and batting with pink bats "for all our Moms" and playing hockey with pink sticks "for all our Moms" and buying cool high-fashion pink stuff to make you feel as if you have "done your bit for the cause." It is no longer about the women who are suffering and dying. It's just a fun party with a pink theme, and it never ends. I want it to end.

There are plenty of other things to party and laugh about. I don't want to party and laugh about cancer.

[Taverner]

84. If you party and laugh about cancer, and it raises awareness and reduces the numbers...

Are you still against it?

Honestly - whatever works. If we mock death (as I do EVERY F'N DAY) then it has no power over us. Period.

[Berry Cool]

113. Actually, yes, I AM still against it.

Because "raising awareness" alone doesn't reduce the numbers.

No matter how much a dying person mocks death, that person will still die--so how can death have no power over that person?

And how would you feel about people mocking what might be YOUR death? Shouldn't you be the person who decides whether to mock it first?

[dustbunnie]

86. If your sig other or other loved one was dying and desperately needed surgery -

wouldn't you lie, steal, dance a jig on a street corner, do anything to get the money for it?

That's no different than organized fundraisers making use of whatever gets those contributions. I understand your feelings btw... but you know it isn't just BC people who make use of these techniques. Animal fundraisers give away stuffed animals, other causes give out baseball caps and t-shirts. Fundraisers have different levels, like Gold or Platinum donor, or they hold contests. The reason is because people like to get when they give. It makes them feel good to be top-of-the list Platinum, or to get whatever freebie for their ten bucks. People love to be part of a team where everyone feels like they're working toward a common goal, and also because others see them doing good works. It's just the way it is, and most fundraisers will tell you that the prospect of getting a t-shirt or other gimmicky thing can increase donor pull by 50%. It's hard to eschew that in favor of taking the high road.

Why do you think giving anonymously is one of the most cherished mitzvahs? Because it's the hardest to accomplish.

[Berry Cool]

115. I'd do what I could, but I wouldn't make fun of that person's experience.

I know well what fundraisers do. That's not the point. The point is, I think things have gotten to the point that breast cancer fundraising has become more like a celebration of the disease than a fight against it.

[tnlefty]

106. To hell with her, eh? Nice...

When I first saw one of those stickers, approx. 2 yrs. ago even here in the south, I stared, snickered a little, but I had to explain it to my sons who I'd taught to use correct terminology for body parts and it was a little uncomfortable to say the least. YMMV, but to hell with us?

Really nice and classy to boot.

[Gormy Cuss]

78. I saw one of those the other day and I 'd say no because of the context.

It's a clever but puerile use of humor to promote fund raising for a good cause.
"Save the Tits" on the other hand would over the line because of that term is more vulgar.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

80. I actually laughed out loud when i saw it.

[Dorian Gray]

81. I don't think so

[seabeyond]

87. no. intent and purpose. it means something. n/t

[Stump]

89. Titties.

Sorry, just felt like typing that. And no, I'm not offended at all. It brings humor to a serious issue.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

90. Don't try to wear one of those shirts at a high school or have such a sticker on your car

Its considered offensive there.

Beyond that, its more context sensitive. On a drunk frat boy it might be considered offensive by some, on a grand mother or breast cancer survivor, it would be considered humorous and witty

[mrs_p]

92. not offended

i kinda like it...

[MrSlayer]

95. No. It's a cause many can get behind.

My mom is a breast cancer survivor.

[annabanana]

96. I honestly did not know that my TaTas were in any danger...

I'd better keep a closer watch on the girls.. Who knows what they get up to when I'm not paying attention!

[TroglodyteScholar]

97. Who doesn't like ta-tas? n/t

[RadicalTexan]

100. To me, personally, yes

http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/10/31/patriarchys-chosen-invalids/

Great post, discussion about this particular sticker in comments.

[Berry Cool]

118. Thank you!!! I love this!!!!

My fucking problem is what these things represent: that breast cancer has been turned into a cult of Uberfemininity. My fucking problem is the popular belief that the greater the obsequiousness with which the breast cancerettes comply with the infantilizing femininity mandate, the prettier they’ll feel, and the less likely they’ll be to drop dead at any moment. My fucking problem is our cultural narrative’s reification of those women, who for some reason didn’t die, as some kind of holy coalescence of the Virgin Mary, Joan d’Arc, and a fuzzy-wuzzy teddy bear.

Took the words right out of my mouth!

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

120. Wow, they're pissed

[GoneOffShore]

103. Nope - not a bit -

[BlooInBloo]

104. I don't find anything offensive about tatas, so no.

[Lucian]

110. You're kidding, right?

[Stinky The Clown]

111. No, I wasn't kidding ......

....... see, here's the thing. There is almost nothing that offends me, personally. I can usually judge what might be offensive to others. I can also judge what might be offensive to whiners.

Every now and again, I'm not sure. I never saw this one before. I was unable to determine if it would be seen as I see it or if it would offend people. I had concluded it would only affect whiners - which I generally can't care too much about - but chose to check in and ask.

Is that a problem for you?

[shadowknows69]

114. I guess that would be a subjective thing for each person

Frankly, I've heard many women describe their own body parts and ours as rudely and graphically as any man could muster. We really aren't different species.

[Berry Cool]

116. Then let that be their choice.

Personally, I say let the woman decide. But when you use "Save the ta-tas" as a breast cancer slogan, you're essentially labeling all women who have or have ever had or will ever have breast cancer as possessing "ta-tas"--whether they personally like it or not.

Me? I find both the slogan AND the pink ribbon offensive.

[shadowknows69]

117. It's simply a marketing strategy, I agree a pretty shocking one.

But in the big picture if it made even one more uninterested man or woman stop and think about and hopefully donate to the cause, then it might be a good thing, no?

[lame54]

119. I can't think of a better cause