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September 15, 2008

That's Why They Call Them Adult "Toys"

The hoopla over an adult toy store opening in notoriously kid-obsessed Park Slope has died down, but a tipster sent in this photo of a kid enjoying the selection at Toys in Babeland (yes, apparently that is some sort of, um, toy in his hand). Perhaps something to fuel the debate in the current presidential race about sex education?

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Comments

Eek. At least he couldn't see what mommy was buying!

Posted by: Whoops Johnny at September 15, 2008 3:39 PM

I was in Seattle a couple weeks ago (home of the original Babeland) and mentioned to the person there that they just opened one up in my neighborhood...

The guy was like...YOU LIVE IN PARK SLOPE?!!!

He said that everyone has been talking about the place and how well it's doing. They were very excited to meet someone who knew of the store and lived here...

Posted by: 11217 at September 15, 2008 3:45 PM

Hopefully it wasn't in the used section...

Posted by: jrd550 at September 15, 2008 4:41 PM

more bothersome of the photo is the fact that the loser parents are letting their kid run around the store and onto the clean white window display. control your kids!

Posted by: goldie at September 15, 2008 4:48 PM

This kid should be playing at The Moxie Spot, not learning about the G Spot!

Posted by: Biff Champion at September 15, 2008 5:07 PM

Typical park slope brat

Posted by: A Guest at September 15, 2008 5:07 PM

why did his parents bring him there in the first place, and why aren't they keeping a closer eye on him????
the store isn't inappropriate, parents bringing little kids there is as well as not keeping their little monsters on a tight leash if they must drag them along.

Posted by: puppycup at September 15, 2008 8:32 PM

This photo was staged you dingbats

Posted by: Ahh beer at September 15, 2008 8:36 PM

unless you staged it, you just don't know that with absolute certainty.

Posted by: puppycup at September 15, 2008 8:39 PM

The children!!! The children!! OMG the children!! Rubbish...

Posted by: Ali Baba at September 15, 2008 9:15 PM

Tickle me Elmo

Posted by: IMBY at September 15, 2008 10:29 PM

Yeah that's Park Slope alright. Parents letting their kids run around smacking other customers and displays with a big blue dildo. I really think people need to start controlling their kids a little better. If you are going to let them have one of those then let them sit and play quietly with it.

Posted by: woodendesigner at September 16, 2008 12:47 AM

Actually, that kid is most likely the owner's kid - he looks exactly like that and is that age. If he's the owner's kid, then I think he should be able to run around a little - just like I did at my mom's office as a child.

Also, I know Babeland's stock pretty well and I've never seen any sex toy that looks like what that kid is holding. First of all, sex toys are rarely blue; nor do they have thin bodies and "flashlight" like heads like that - you'd have to keep the batteries and motor in the same space.

Lastly, who cares? Kids that young won't remember anyway. Exposing kids to positive sexuality can't be more harmful than the occasional encounter with a sex toy.

Posted by: akadallas at September 16, 2008 7:49 AM

The photo wasn't staged, my friends and I took it. It was a full 4 minutes before the mom came and grabbed her kid, smiling somewhat sheepishly, but not looking apologetic or too embarrassed at all. The kid looked about 4 years old, old enough to remember I'd say.

Posted by: blahblah at September 16, 2008 9:45 AM

I live right down the street from this store and the thing that I always notice is how EVERYONE passing by cranes their head to look inside.

Posted by: infinitejester at September 16, 2008 9:45 AM

The ef is up with this moral outrage? Any of you really think this kid will be damaged in some way because he held a dildo for a few minutes? If this is how "progressive" new yorkers are reacting, no wonder the country's in the toilet. A little less obsession with sex and a little more with what actually matters, please!

Posted by: heck_of_a_job_brownie at September 16, 2008 10:49 AM

wow, easy there heckofajobbrownie. i didnt sense much moral outrage here about the kid being in the store or holding a toy. maybe a little concern. there's more anger possibly at brats running around uncontrolled.

country in the toilet? really? wow, you havent traveled much (or read a paper, or turned on tv...)

Posted by: goldie at September 16, 2008 10:57 AM

Actually, you're right, goldie. I meant to say "country's priorities are in the toilet." Whether the country is in the toilet or not is contingent primarily upon who you ask and what their political/idiological inclinations are.

Re-reading the comments, I have to agree, I may have over-reacted. Though the whole beating down on Park Slope is really getting old and annoying. I guess I'm just a little pissed off this morning in general - must up my medication.

Posted by: heck_of_a_job_brownie at September 16, 2008 11:59 AM

100% agree PS gets an unfair beatdown by ppl who probably who dont actually hang out there enough (i live there). and if they do hang there and complain, why are they effing hanging there?!!!

(now i need chamomile tea)

Posted by: goldie at September 16, 2008 1:40 PM

I am an employee of Babeland Brooklyn, was working when this picture was taken, and can confirm that this is in fact the child of Babeland's owner.

Regardless of the fact that this kid has a legitimate reason to be in the store, the claim that exposure to anything sexual will inherently harm a child is ridiculous- we should be focusing on sexual education rather than moral outrage.

Posted by: mimilacious at September 16, 2008 1:46 PM

mimilacious, from what posts above are you sensing "moral outrage"? I would guess, with the exception of puppycup's post, all the other comments, including mine, were made in jest. Please 'splain.

Posted by: Biff Champion at September 16, 2008 1:50 PM

That's what our kids need--more sex ed, less moral outrage. It is bracing to see that we're finally getting the little ones the value-neutral learning they need at an appropriate age, before their young minds can be twisted by concepts like privacy, dignity, chastity, and commitment. Give 'em all a banana and a condom and let the cartoons begin!

Posted by: Brenda from Flatbush at September 16, 2008 2:20 PM

biff champ, I was just covering all my bases to prevent puppycups of the future. No worries about moral outrage yet...

Posted by: mimilacious at September 16, 2008 5:16 PM

Ok, now I really feel bad for starting the whole moral outrage thing. Bad Brownie, bad.

Posted by: heck_of_a_job_brownie at September 17, 2008 7:50 AM

Who buys adult toys in a shop anymore? I only buy online from a place like http://www.adulttoysboutique.com/

Posted by: agidominguez at August 25, 2009 8:18 PM