No, Darwin’s Finch - as a cursory examination of the cites here would have demonstrated.
No one would question it, if the symbol were the swastika.
but the number ‘88’ hadn’t been a symbol in the past and has apparently been adopted by these neo nazis now as ‘their’ symbol.
That’s funny…the only connotation of 88 that I’ve ever been aware of is 2[sup]3[/sup]x11.
Wait…2 x 2 x 2 x 11. B is the 2nd letter, K is the 11th… BBBK… Backstreet Boys Blow Kangaroos? nah…Backstreet Boys/Burger King!! The connection was foretold!
Hold on, 3 2’s, and an 11. that must mean 3[sup]2[/sup] x 11… HORROR 9/11 !!!
Or wait a minute, K is the 11th letter. 3 K 2: KKK[sup]2[/sup]!!! OMIGOD!!! We need to do away with these damn arabic numerals. OH NO!! Arabic! Arab muslim fundamentalists attacked on 9/11!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUGH!!!
Wow, that number 88 really is evil.
come on, people, get real! You can play these stupid games all f-ing day long. And none of them mean any more than the ones I just did.
And if ‘18’ is Hitler reborn, then we’d better do something about that voting age.
Joe - yes, anyone can play games. However, for example, the Cripes have gang symbols. Would you object if Taget refused to sell clothing with those symbols prominently displayed? would you consider it a game?
The neo nazis’ themselves have apparently used this as their symbol. Much like the elephant for the GOP and the donkey for the Dems. What Target is doing is not allowing their store to be used as a way for this group as an outlet for their symbol.
not the ‘number 88’ in any context. The number 88 used as a symbol on a clothing line.
Do you seriously not see the difference between that and what you posted?
Ok, ok, you’ve convinced me. Starting now, I have adopted the number 37 as my personal symbol. Anybody who uses it is promoting me and my ideology.
wring, a number is a number. Numbers existed long before neo-nazis did (and even before the original nazis did), and the number 88 is no exception. Crips gang symbols are hand signs and stylized symbols that were not previously in common usage (or even existence). UNLIKE the number 88.
Unless you count blue sweatshirts and handkerchiefs, which, I should add, Target still sells.
So, just because it’s used one way it can never become a symbol?
Odd, because the swastika had prior use, but now is universally seen as a symbol of Hitler and the Nazis.
And, of course, since numbers are merely numbers, you would find it odd that mainstream stores would be unlikely to carry clothing with the number “69” emblazoned.
Note that the clothing line uses “eight eight” (same format as the skinheads and neo-nazis use) and not “eighty eight” as the spelling. And look at the stuff for cripes sakes!
At first I thought it was ultra PC busybodies with too much time on their hands. Now I think it’s a case of “if it walks like a duck…”
I would be interested to find out who designed this stuff.
If Target were selling 666 with some dancing demon like figures in the back, you would say “it’s just a number, lighten up people!”? Would an upside-down crucifix be ok? After all, they are JUST lines that intersect.
Sometimes a cigar is not just a cigar.
Between these shirts (with eight eight spelled out and skulls that you see associated with neo-nazi) and Umbro selling shoes named Zyklon, I wonder who’s in charge of some of these companies or at the very least design and marketing departments.
That’s strange. I thought it was pretty well known what “88” means. Maybe I travel in strange circles, but when I hear 88 I think of heil Hitler pretty well before I think of piano keys or Eric Lindross. And that there on that hat is no hockey logo.
I suspect that it is much more familliar to your kids than it is to you, which would explain why it wasn’t caught until somebody complained about it.
I’m 20 and I’ve never heard of the 88 significance before.
I’ll be honest and say I didn’t know that Target had clothes with ‘88’ on them (I don’t go to Target often), but I’d think they were just making apparel with a number. K-Mart has their Route-66 clothing, with shirts having ‘66’ on the front. Before reading this thread, I’d just figure that Target was making similar numbered clothes.
I hate to disappoint you all but the use of 88 as a sign for Neo-Nazis is real. It comes from Germany where displaying any form of Nazi insgnia is illegal ( I am sure you understand why). To get around this German Neo-Nazis and skinheads use other signs on their clothes and to name organisations. This has lead to popularity of Helly Hansen ( initials! )and Lonsdale sportswear. ( loNSDAle = Nazionale Sozialistiche Deutsche Arbieter Pprtei). Such signs even go so far as to the colour of the laces worn on boots.
Such things help the thugs know whose side thay are on when they are kicking some non-Aryan to death.
Big deal.
If I and 150 friends decide that the number 12 really means “Fuck Jerry Lewis,” does it really matter in the long run to anybody but me and my friends? Will I be barred from traveling to France if I have a Jim Kelly jersey on?
No.
88 as standing for “Heil Hitler”, while adhered to by some, is so friggin’ juvenile as to be laughable. Let them be idiots … er … bigger idiots.
Unless, of course, it was a Gap store. But then, it’s no surprise that they would have “69” on their clothing, since the chain was founded in 1969. (And no, there’s not a “19” before the “69” on all their clothing. Much of it, is [or was, when I worked for them], in fact, just “69.”)
Of course, now that word’s gotten out as to what “88” means to some groups, Abercrombie and Fitch will be plastering it all over their new line of thongs for infant girls.
SHhhhhhh A & F don’t need any help coming up with stupid ideas.
I remember a brand of women’s bluejeans, targeted at teen-aged females, named “For Play.” Of course, the company that made the jeans publically denied that it meant anything other than that the jeans were for playing in, but everybody knew what it really meant.
I would think that a line of clothing with “69” on it would be a big seller!
So, does this mean that the poster flyboy88 is a Nazi and does he know that he’s supposed to be one, since he’s got 88 in his username?
Um, mainstream stores do sell shirts with “69” on them. Usually with “Playboy” or “AllStar” before the number. They’re real cool with the kids.
I’m just curious…
If it were known that the designer’s intent was indeed to allow those in the know to identify each other through this number, would the OP be okay with Target selling it?
Would it make a difference whether Target knew the intent or not?
I think it’s a good idea to allow fuck-witted neo-nazis to identify themselves in this way. Very democratic of them.
Of course the same goes for those wearing 69, which clearly corresponds to F(6)ucking I(9)diot.
Funny you mention that. In fact, KISS albums released in Germany change the logo so the “SS” resembles a pair of backwards Z’s. Here’s a link to an example.
