# Odd and inappropriate things on children's clothing **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 29, 2006, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-and-inappropriate-things-on-childrens-clothing/386014 "2006-12-29T18:45:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Xan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ac8455/32.png) [@Xan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-and-inappropriate-things-on-childrens-clothing/386014/1 "2006-12-29T18:45:29Z")
I’ve stumbled upon this [blog](http://melissamaples.com/2006/12/28/thursday-is-bazaar-day-no-5/) of an American living in Turkey. She goes to the Bazaar’s semi-frequently and often finds funny/inappropriate things written on clothing. One of my favorites is the “United States of Earth” shirt. I didn’t realize America owned the entire planet ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-and-inappropriate-things-on-childrens-clothing/386014/2 "2006-12-29T18:54:08Z")
Heh…“Benign Girl”. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-and-inappropriate-things-on-childrens-clothing/386014/3 "2006-12-29T19:10:27Z")
I still have a lovely t-shirt I got in Japan that says, and this is a direct quote, all errors (sic): > [@weird t-shirt](#): > > They live with specific purposes, being supported by these the bestkind of personalities are completed What’s more, it’s in a real op art kind of font, so the looks on people’s faces as they try to decipher it is truly priceless! ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-and-inappropriate-things-on-childrens-clothing/386014/4 "2006-12-29T19:34:08Z")
How creepy and strange! I wonder, who makes these clothes? It seems like someone who doesn’t speak English just takes random words and images and makes the designs for the clothes. ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-and-inappropriate-things-on-childrens-clothing/386014/5 "2006-12-29T19:42:01Z")
I thought you meant like the 12-13 year old I saw in the airport with “Juicy” across her ass. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-and-inappropriate-things-on-childrens-clothing/386014/6 "2006-12-29T19:42:42Z")
[QUOTE=nyctea scandiaca] How creepy and strange! I wonder, who makes these clothes? It seems like someone who doesn’t speak English just takes random words and images and makes the designs for the clothes. [/QUOTE] Either that, or they’re taking the words from spam messages. The example posted by **Mama Tiger** looks very spammish to me. ---
**Author:** ![sperry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@sperry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sperry)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-and-inappropriate-things-on-childrens-clothing/386014/7 "2006-12-29T19:44:08Z")
There’s a website all about Japanese mis-use of English. (see [www.engrish.com](http://www.engrish.com)) Some very funny stuff. > [@](#): > > English is used as a design element in Japanese products and advertising to give them a modern look and feel (or just to “look cool”). There is often no attempt to try to get it right, nor do the vast majority of the Japanese population (= consumers) ever attempt to read the English design element in question… ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-and-inappropriate-things-on-childrens-clothing/386014/8 "2006-12-29T20:33:56Z")
> [@](#): > > English is used as a design element in Japanese products and advertising to give them a modern look and feel (or just to “look cool”). So, basically, it’s just their culture’s equivalent of the way Americans like to get tattooed with Chinese symbols (that often turn out to be gibberish or have totally different meanings than what the tattooed person intended) ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-and-inappropriate-things-on-childrens-clothing/386014/9 "2006-12-29T20:48:09Z")
Also from Japan… some of my favorites- “Fuck you heroes!” “Pig Frog” with the cover of Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” behind it. “War is Overwork” “But Grab”… yes BUT grab. “Attack! I’m boring.” ---
**Author:** ![FaerieBeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FaerieBeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FaerieBeth)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-and-inappropriate-things-on-childrens-clothing/386014/10 "2006-12-29T21:00:56Z")
[QUOTE=sperry] There’s a website all about Japanese mis-use of English. (see [www.engrish.com](http://www.engrish.com)) Some very funny stuff. [/QUOTE] I have to find a way to get that balloondogs shirt! > [@](#): > > Balloondogs - there is this exquisite harmony That’s deep, man. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-and-inappropriate-things-on-childrens-clothing/386014/11 "2006-12-29T21:37:30Z")
Actually, my t-shirt really predates the prevalence of spam; when I got the shirt, over ten years ago now, there just wasn’t much spam emal. Maybe it gave someone ideas later down the road? But in any case, we picked up a whole bunch of great shirts. That was the best, but there was also others like: - Rich Mind Brings Up Tradition - Coffee Allowance Time: When I think of happy time, I need gentle conversation. Let’s, please. We also have a friend who teaches English in Japan, who used to have to gently take some of his students aside and explain to them just WHY they shouldn’t go around with the words they had on their clothing. Apparently they had some dillies. ---
**Author:** ![Lathe\_of\_Heaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Lathe\_of\_Heaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lathe_of_Heaven)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-and-inappropriate-things-on-childrens-clothing/386014/12 "2006-12-29T21:54:32Z")
In the interest of cosmic balance, I bring you [Hanzi Smatter](http://www.hanzismatter.com/), devoted to the misuse of Chinese and Japanese characters in Western culture (often, as the author notes, in tattoos). Most of them are just generally nonsensical, but there are some genuine lulus in there. I think my favorite is the sterling silver pendant with what was reputedly the Japanese character for “geisha”. Nope–the character they chose was more accurately translated as “prostitute”. :eek: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Martha\_Medea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@Martha\_Medea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martha_Medea)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-and-inappropriate-things-on-childrens-clothing/386014/13 "2006-12-29T22:08:01Z")
Poor countries like the Dominican Republic (where I live) and Haiti (where I’ve worked) receive a lot of donated used clothing from the US which are given to poor people or sold in local markets. As a result, you see lots of strange choices, like young men wearing ‘World’s No 1 grandma’ t shirts, or small boys wearing ‘I love boys’ t-shirts. In the same vein, I saw a young woman with ‘we’re here, we’re queer’ on her t-shirt the other day. It could have been deliberate, but somehow I doubt it. The current junior hooker look for little girls gives rise to all sorts of inappropriate slogans - all those toddler and pre-teen t-shirts with slogans like ‘porn star’, ‘hot’ and ‘sexy thing’ give me the creeps. ‘I love boys’ too, for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![Peaceblossom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@Peaceblossom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peaceblossom)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-and-inappropriate-things-on-childrens-clothing/386014/14 "2006-12-30T00:38:07Z")
My older sister has a T-shirt which reads: “Lucky Happy Girl. I will change together with a season and will go.” Mine simply says “Bright Charm. Flutter around” with a butterfly on the front. On the back, of course, it says “Terminal” Both were bought in Japan. ---
**Author:** ![melissamaples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@melissamaples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melissamaples)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-and-inappropriate-things-on-childrens-clothing/386014/15 "2006-12-30T08:31:07Z")
Hey Xan, thanks for the link-- if you guys like the Turklish, there’s more where that came from [here](http://melissamaples.com/index.php?tag=turklish). I do a bazaar post every Thursday come rain or shine. ---
**Author:** ![blinkingblinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-and-inappropriate-things-on-childrens-clothing/386014/16 "2006-12-30T08:54:22Z")
8-year old boy in Japan said "alcoholic’ ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-and-inappropriate-things-on-childrens-clothing/386014/17 "2006-12-30T11:33:00Z")
[QUOTE=brownie55] I thought you meant like the 12-13 year old I saw in the airport with “Juicy” across her ass. [/QUOTE] Actually, that one isn’t all that new (although I don’t know when you saw it). When I was just starting middle school (think 1975ish), there was a girl in our class who moved into our school for a while, then moved out again within the same year. She was probably 12-13, her family was obviously welfare-poor, and I don’t know if very many people even talked to her while she was there (I know, not cool of us, but I was in the throes of puberty and thus unavoidably shy around girls; I won’t defend anyone else). She frequently wore a t-shirt that said “JUICY” in very juicy dripping letters. The shirt fit, so “JUICY” as a caption on 12-13 year old girls’ clothes has been around for decades, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-and-inappropriate-things-on-childrens-clothing/386014/18 "2006-12-30T15:27:24Z")
I saw a 13-year-old girl in Japan with a shirt that said “white baddy powder.” She looked about as far from a cokehead as one can look, obviously. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-and-inappropriate-things-on-childrens-clothing/386014/19 "2006-12-30T15:39:51Z")
From my wife’s travel journal when we were in China: > [@mrs jjimm](#): > > A sign on the back of a toilet door to indicate that toilet roll shouldn’t be flushed (their plumbing can’t cope with it): "Forbid throwing the useless things to the stool pot.” > > A sign on another toilet door: “Please erode in time after using the toilet.” (After one particular toilet, I almost did.) > > Signs on the way out of every shop/restaurant: “Welcome to see you again.” > > From a magazine article on the benefits of living in a village over a city: “Living in big city it seem everything get a touch of big. Supermarket is too big that can bring you at a loss.” > … > [On an article in an “English” language magazine] All I could glean from this is that Luo Bo Nong is some kind of Chinese plant and it has a tendency to grow pretty, er… recklessly. I may be wrong of course - see if you can enlighten me any further: > > “Cloud mountain farm have plant recklessly the good natural condition of Luo Bu the mu sand of twenty thousands Rang earth, organic quality in 3% more than, earth layer deep, rich, drain good, precipitation and sunshine suit recklessly Luo Bu grow up growth, technical strength solid, have plant recklessly the rich experience of Luo Bu the mu of twenty thousands is pollution-free food, contain plenty of vitamins, is natural health care food, market prospect broad, may still export.” > > Quite. > > The best however, I have saved for last. Those of you easily offended may not like the language in the next one, but I hope you will still appreciate the humour. > Seen on a little old Chinese lady walking down the street, a T-shirt with the words “Fuck You” on the front, and on the back, the killer finish “You Fucking Fuck”. I am sure that little old lady had no idea what she was wearing - but a small part of me likes to think she did. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-and-inappropriate-things-on-childrens-clothing/386014/20 "2006-12-30T15:57:16Z")
Lots of my students wear shirts with baffling messages. From my own shopping experiences, I can tell that they’re usually made in China. I like to write down the funniest signs but I don’t have my notebook on me at the moment, sadly. Not clothing, but here’s an example of what I’m talking about: one of my kids has a notebook with a picture of a collie sitting in the snow. The caption reads: “Too snowy for…everything” Okay! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-and-inappropriate-things-on-childrens-clothing/386014.md?page=2)