# The Politicaly Correct Police Are After A Teddy Bear **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 15, 2005, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-politicaly-correct-police-are-after-a-teddy-bear/284806 "2005-01-15T02:02:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-politicaly-correct-police-are-after-a-teddy-bear/284806/1 "2005-01-15T02:02:23Z")
The Politicaly Correct Police Are After A Teddy Bear wearing a Straight Jacket! A Vermont firm has refused stop sale of an “Im Crazy In Love With You” Teddy Bear, dressed in a straight jacket! The psycho community is saying it is denigrating to mental patients, etc. etc. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-politicaly-correct-police-are-after-a-teddy-bear/284806/2 "2005-01-15T02:16:41Z")
This has got to be a joke, right? Right? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-politicaly-correct-police-are-after-a-teddy-bear/284806/3 "2005-01-15T02:19:58Z")
That bear is so cute and cuddly! They’d be crazy to stop producing tha… (hold on, someone’s at the door) …wha… just meant they should keep making… didn’t mean to denigrate the mentallly… where are you taking me??? OUCH!!! ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-politicaly-correct-police-are-after-a-teddy-bear/284806/4 "2005-01-15T02:29:08Z")
Boy, they’re really not going to like the “Crazy about you” bear with shopping cart, shabby clothes, mismatched and dirty shoes and paperbag wrapped cheap liquor bottle accessories. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-politicaly-correct-police-are-after-a-teddy-bear/284806/5 "2005-01-15T02:51:02Z")
Or the “Crazy about you” bear that has your hacked e-mail account, phone bills from your trash, and a shrine to you made up of pictures taken with a telephoto lens and the bear’s face glued in there with you, and no alibi for the date and time your boyfriend went missing. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-politicaly-correct-police-are-after-a-teddy-bear/284806/6 "2005-01-15T03:24:15Z")
So if someone whose loved one is in a mental state that requires them to wear a straightjacket, screw them because you think it’s funny? ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-politicaly-correct-police-are-after-a-teddy-bear/284806/7 "2005-01-15T03:29:26Z")
[For the record](http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2005/01/13/crazy_teddy_bear_prompts_protest/), it also includes commitment papers. And it’s $70! ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-politicaly-correct-police-are-after-a-teddy-bear/284806/8 "2005-01-15T03:41:20Z")
Wow, that’s bloody hilarious. Or maybe not. Nope, not. (at least, not to me.) ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-politicaly-correct-police-are-after-a-teddy-bear/284806/9 "2005-01-15T03:46:35Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > So if someone whose loved one is in a mental state that requires them to wear a straightjacket, screw them because you think it’s funny? If someone can’t distinguish between their loved one and a teddy bear maybe they too should be in a straight jacket. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-politicaly-correct-police-are-after-a-teddy-bear/284806/10 "2005-01-15T03:50:44Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > So if someone whose loved one is in a mental state that requires them to wear a straightjacket, screw them because you think it’s funny? And we revisit the old issue-so something of which I disapprove is made inaccessible to all, is that fair to you? Books, music, cinema, and teddy bears all contain elements that may not interest me, or I may find to be off-putting. The opinion that I hold about such items should not restrict or abridge your or anyone elses access to them, though. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-politicaly-correct-police-are-after-a-teddy-bear/284806/11 "2005-01-15T03:55:50Z")
Originally posted by **Silentgoldfish** > [@](#): > > If someone can’t distinguish between their loved one and a teddy bear maybe they too should be in a straight jacket. So no Black person should be upset about a Slave in Chains doll as long as they can tell the difference between a doll and their great-great grandparents? I don’t think you have any right to determine who should wear a straightjacket. Much less make light of it. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-politicaly-correct-police-are-after-a-teddy-bear/284806/12 "2005-01-15T04:21:58Z")
Okay, I suffer from mental illness, and I think he’s adorable! I want him!!! Personally, I’ve found that joking about my condition helps me cope. But it’s not for everyone. _shrugs_ ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-politicaly-correct-police-are-after-a-teddy-bear/284806/13 "2005-01-15T04:25:03Z")
Actually, **Silentgoldfish** (and every member of this board) has a perfect right to make light of it. I think the bear is funny. I’d buy one. You don’t have to. There’s a world of difference between making light of stereotypical “insanity” and attempting to commodify a horrible institution which made it OK for people to _own_ other people. I’d hope that you can see that. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-politicaly-correct-police-are-after-a-teddy-bear/284806/14 "2005-01-15T05:56:51Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > So if someone whose loved one is in a mental state that requires them to wear a straightjacket, screw them because you think it’s funny? Yup. Even if it’s one of my loved ones in a mental facility, that would have nothing at all to do with a Teddy Bear. I don’t love any Teddy Bears. ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-politicaly-correct-police-are-after-a-teddy-bear/284806/15 "2005-01-15T06:04:06Z")
> [@spingears](#): > > The psycho community The psycho community? I guess that makes you a member of the “asshole community”. ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-politicaly-correct-police-are-after-a-teddy-bear/284806/16 "2005-01-15T06:05:38Z")
Boy, am I in trouble! By now everyone’s sick of it, but…all together now, who’s zoogirl’s favorite performer? Right! Alice Cooper. Ever see his stage show? Straight jackets galore! Does this mean I have to get rid of my “Love It To Death” because it’s got 'Ballad Of Dwight Frye" on it? How about my “Prime Cuts” VHS and my “Trashes The World” DVD? Again, straightjackets abound. Oops! Love the bear, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-politicaly-correct-police-are-after-a-teddy-bear/284806/17 "2005-01-15T06:11:11Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > So no Black person should be upset about a Slave in Chains doll as long as they can tell the difference between a doll and their great-great grandparents? Ugh, there should be a law for the “Just replace that whole thing with the word ‘black’ and you’ll see why it’s so offensive” arguement. Like Godwin and the Nazis, yes? I think the bear is less offensive than stupid, but this is just over the top, don’t you think? ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-politicaly-correct-police-are-after-a-teddy-bear/284806/18 "2005-01-15T06:20:02Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > Originally posted by **Silentgoldfish** > > So no Black person should be upset about a Slave in Chains doll as long as they can tell the difference between a doll and their great-great grandparents? > > I don’t think you have any right to determine who should wear a straightjacket. Much less make light of it. Given that I’ve seen any number of teddy bears in chains on BDSM shoping sites, no, I don’t think they should necessarily be offended. And personally, as someone whose had friends institutionalized and who, if you must know, came close to being hospitalized last week (I’m feeling much better now :)) I’m all in favour of making light of mental illness. Making light of serious things is part of what making light is for. _Goes off whistling Patsy Cline_ ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-politicaly-correct-police-are-after-a-teddy-bear/284806/19 "2005-01-15T06:35:00Z")
Well, having known two people who took their own lives I feel like I can be sensitive about the subject. And **Hyperelastic** , right on! ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-politicaly-correct-police-are-after-a-teddy-bear/284806/20 "2005-01-15T06:49:43Z")
Just think of the ruckus that would ensue from the PC crowd if the company produced a bear in a gayjacket. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-politicaly-correct-police-are-after-a-teddy-bear/284806.md?page=2)