# Is this for real? May be somewhat offensive **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 30, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-real-may-be-somewhat-offensive/216114 "2003-11-30T21:16:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-real-may-be-somewhat-offensive/216114/1 "2003-11-30T21:16:13Z")
[http://www.erotech-industries.com/index.html](http://www.erotech-industries.com/index.html) If it is, then I find it fascinating that the first use we could think of for such technology was to make these…things… ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-real-may-be-somewhat-offensive/216114/2 "2003-11-30T21:19:54Z")
:eek: Be afraid. Be very afraid. ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-real-may-be-somewhat-offensive/216114/3 "2003-11-30T21:28:53Z")
A hoax, for a start look at their partners: > [@](#): > > For the past 25 years, scientists and researchers at the Loenbeck SkinStitute have been developing breakthrough methods in the area of artificial skin substitutes. We at EroTech are proud to feature DuraFleshTM on our LoveLumpTM line of products > [@](#): > > Civilization has struggled with the ethical and nutritional questions surrounding our eating habits for centuries. Now, at the advent of a new biological age, DaVinci’s FleshtablesTM is able to offer exciting alternatives to the traditional “carnivore or herbivore” dietary model. One taste and you’ll agree: “DaVinci’s FleshtablesTM taste just like real meat…because they are!” ---
**Author:** ![lauramarlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a5b964/32.png) [@lauramarlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lauramarlane)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-real-may-be-somewhat-offensive/216114/4 "2003-11-30T21:29:26Z")
QUOTE]We learn that there is a time and place for the exchange of physical affection, one that is shrouded in secrecy and shame. [/QUOTE] Oh yeah, and I’m sure that anyone who purchased a LoveLump would be completely free of any need for secrecy or any sense of shame. And all for only $6,000.00! Dating is cheaper. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-real-may-be-somewhat-offensive/216114/5 "2003-11-30T21:35:30Z")
“May be somewhat offensive?” Gee, thanks. Lucky I’m not at work. For those who might not be clicking on such things, the link is to some monstrosity of a sex toy hoax thing that involves a combination of naughty bits that is thoroughly… odd. And disturbing. Of course, now _more_ folks will probably click on the link. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-real-may-be-somewhat-offensive/216114/6 "2003-11-30T21:36:33Z")
It’s a hoax. The legit news media would be all over this one. ---
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-real-may-be-somewhat-offensive/216114/7 "2003-11-30T21:47:46Z")
Thanks for clearing it up. I was thinking, Is the artificial “growing” of organic tissue at such a scale a near possiblity with today’s technology? I read in some sci-fi books a while back about how eventually meat can simply be grown in vats, possibly more efficiently and with less enviromental impact than farming animals. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-real-may-be-somewhat-offensive/216114/8 "2003-11-30T22:00:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kawaiitentaclebeast \* > \*\*Thanks for clearing it up. I was thinking, Is the artificial “growing” of organic tissue at such a scale a near possiblity with today’s technology? … \*\* No. We are at the point where we can grow living replacements for some organs…many people saw the transgenic mouse with the human ear on its back a few years back: [http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/briefs/9510/10-26/mouse-ear.jpg](http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/briefs/9510/10-26/mouse-ear.jpg) This was not a functional ear though, just skin grown over an artificial mold to give the shape of an ear. A thing like that in the link, with primitive organ systems that could actually live for a matter of years, is still a long way away (decades) IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Indefatigable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9d8465/32.png) [@Indefatigable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indefatigable)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-real-may-be-somewhat-offensive/216114/9 "2003-11-30T22:05:24Z")
It’s very definitely a joke. A friend of mine thought it looked like some sort of obscene footwear. The site also includes a reference to the idea of growing meat in vats… see the Partners page where it mentions Fleshtables. Personally, I think this is one of the best joke sites I’ve ever read. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-real-may-be-somewhat-offensive/216114/10 "2003-11-30T22:16:15Z")
I agree it’s damn good joke site. I’m going to send a link to my friends. Of course, if they were able to make artiticial organs, they’d probably start with hearts and livers and such. But I could see a day when they could make a sex “lump”. ---
**Author:** ![Indefatigable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9d8465/32.png) [@Indefatigable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indefatigable)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-real-may-be-somewhat-offensive/216114/11 "2003-11-30T22:24:36Z")
Aside from the ear mentioned earlier, I believe a similar thing has been done with lamb bladders-- they grew the tissue in a mold to make it the right shape, and they did it in the lab as opposed to on a mouse or something. They transplanted it into a lamb and it worked just fine. I can’t find an article online, but apparently this was described in the 14 November 1997 issue of Scientific American. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-real-may-be-somewhat-offensive/216114/12 "2003-12-01T03:35:48Z")
That one is a hoax of a living thing. OTOH, [url=http://www.realdoll.com/]this one is a real non-living thing. WARNING: nudity if you click. Artificial nudity, but pretty close. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-real-may-be-somewhat-offensive/216114/13 "2003-12-01T07:29:14Z")
I’m still scratching my head trying to figure out how you’re supposed to _use_ the dang thing. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-real-may-be-somewhat-offensive/216114/14 "2003-12-01T08:02:19Z")
Their technobabble was pretty good until they mentioned the “hydrothodic sac” processing dioxins. Dioxins. One of the most lethal carcinogens there is. And very difficult to break down. Unless… the LoveLump is **supposed to** to be a biohazzard cleaning organism! That’s it! Imagine you local marsh land, which was once a chemical dump, just brimming with thousands of LoveLumps bobbing around purifying the water! ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-for-real-may-be-somewhat-offensive/216114/15 "2003-12-01T12:18:06Z")
Okay. Even I find that lump somewhat disturbing.