planetdan

Tuesday, August 30, 2005 :::

Inadvertently Offensive

I don't know why I feel bad about laughing at this Target.com listing. There's nothing really inherently offensive about it, and it's obviously just a poor choice of wording, but my PC alarm is sounding off nonetheless. I wish Mirriam-Webster or someone equally definitive would just write a reference book about what is or isn't offensive. Get it all sorted out once and for all.

{Target has since re-described this item as "classic".)

::: posted by dan at 11:15 PM :: [ link ] :: (20) comments

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20 previous comments:

that's unfourtunately funny.

By

alivicwil, at 2:12 AM

Lol!you know how I love to use the lol response whenever ROTF!(that too)...oh...why not...:)
Ialbtsi...that is the new one...it means I am laughing even though it seems inappropiate...that one is gaining popularity you know.

By

Stacy, at 8:23 AM

What not just call it Kid's Desk (black)? I mean, can you go on target.com and search for purple toaster, orange lamp, green table?

I totally think someone did that on purpose.

By

Angela, at 8:34 AM

I can't imagine it was on purpose. I work with content management systems all the time. There was probably an input field to enter the color and another separate input field to enter the product name and a really lax QA department. Or at least that's what I hope.

So what does LALBTSI stand for, Stacy? I'm confused.

By

dan, at 9:39 AM

It made me laugh too. Unfortunate choice of words, indeed!

By

duane, at 9:48 AM

I know someone else who could use a better QA department too.

"Hey Dan, you got a broom? I want to fill your cracks."

By

Kristina, at 10:37 AM

The gay couple on Six Feet Under should TOTALLY buy those.

There are certain benefits to having black kids ...

By

Jake, at 11:41 AM

The really amusing thing about target, is that on women's clothes/shoes(and maybe other stuff now) they steer away from the word black entirely and instead describe most items as "ebony".

It's just strange after the 10th listing.

By

katie, at 11:53 AM

This is as bad as some real life newspaper headlines:

"Prostitutes Appeal to Pope",
"Kids Make Nutritious Snacks",
"Drunk Gets Nine Months in Violin Case",
"Is There a Ring of Debris around Uranus?"

People are stupid, that is why i love em.

By

Anonymous, at 12:53 PM

The funny thing isn't really the title of the desk (although it does make me laugh) it's that Dan is probably, once again, looking for a cheap computer desk to put in room and this is the one he clicked on. Plus look at the other items you looked at. Gross. What is up with you and 80's furniture? Have I taught you nothing in terms of furniture and interior design? Ugh, why do I even bother?

By

brent, at 4:35 PM

love it!

By

Aliecat, at 4:48 PM

I'm laughing and I'm not ashamed. That is marvelous marketing.

By

Elle Marie, at 5:05 PM

For the record, Brent, I didn't discover this. I found it posted on a discussion board the other day and I wondered if I should feel guilty for laughing so hard.

By

dan, at 5:19 PM

I guess I should wait to post until at least 9:00am I am groggy,my sense of humor is odd and I can't even execute the stupid joke in the first place in the early AM hours *LETISI* laughing even though it seems inappropriate *letisi* I am not even remotely sure where I got lalbtsi.Are you still confused or do you think I am sort of funny now?

By

Stacy, at 5:55 PM

Somewhere out there is an out-of-work ad writer getting drunk in a seedy bar.

By

Elle, at 6:46 PM

our favorite (of a similar, unfortuate veil) here at work is at the IKEA store...they have a computer desk called the jerker.

no i'm not kidding.
http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10101&storeId=12&langId=-1&productId=25905

By

rhubygirl, at 11:09 AM

I don't believe you. You totally want it.

By

brent, at 1:48 PM

On a side note I have that desk and it was only $30.

By

Carlee, at 6:10 PM

I want to see the white kid's desk now

By

Anonymous, at 2:33 AM

test

By

dan, at 9:44 PM

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