# The TEENAGED female members of this group are kissing on their own website. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 22, 2002, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-teenaged-female-members-of-this-group-are-kissing-on-their-own-website/144390 "2002-12-22T15:56:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-teenaged-female-members-of-this-group-are-kissing-on-their-own-website/144390/41 "2002-12-23T06:32:39Z")
Whoa, their hit song serves as Lisa Marie Veron’s (Victoria, WWE Women’s champion) theme song. Saw parts of their video, and hmm “This girl” does love “that girl”. Russia have really different rules about body and spirit. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-teenaged-female-members-of-this-group-are-kissing-on-their-own-website/144390/42 "2002-12-23T14:13:29Z")
It’s not like it’s a new concept… [Anyone ever heard of The Runaways?](http://www.ite.his.se/~c95chrha/secrets.html) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-teenaged-female-members-of-this-group-are-kissing-on-their-own-website/144390/43 "2002-12-23T14:50:49Z")
Unless we’re using the New Math or something, the members of Tatu (or t.A.T.U. or whatever it is) are 18 and 17. And if they’re lesbian lovers, I’m a ham omelette. This is a manufactured pop band that came out of a contest, sort of like American Idol; they didn’t know each other before they were picked out of thousands of applicants. **It’s an act.** People kissing on screen and stage are not actually lovers, ya know. ---
**Author:** ![Daoloth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@Daoloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daoloth)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-teenaged-female-members-of-this-group-are-kissing-on-their-own-website/144390/44 "2002-12-23T18:56:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > \*\*they didn’t know each other before they were picked out of thousands of applicants. \*\* Incorrect. "Both Lena and Yulia sang in a children’s group “Neposedy”. Yulia had to leave the group after she was accused of “obscene behavior and corrupting other singers”. The girls came together to the casting that took place on the Mosfilm studio. They were one of the 500 pretenders and were selected independently." So, they knew each other prior to trying out. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-teenaged-female-members-of-this-group-are-kissing-on-their-own-website/144390/45 "2002-12-23T19:07:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by capacitor \* > \*\*Russia have really different rules about body and spirit. \*\* Not really. At my last job, I had a very good friend who lived in Moscow and Kazakstan from 1991 to 1999. He said the Russians he knew were more racist/sexist/socially conservative than any American he had ever personally known. Of course, that’s judging them by American standards, as he was the first to admit. But still, I’ll bet a “lesbian” girl band, even a fake one, would definitely arouse controversy over there. Given that, I don’t think this picture showing up on their website is a coincidence. I’m really surprised that some posters seem to think there’s no problem if these girls are of legal age. Since when did exploitation depend on a person’s age? If they were 50 year-old circus freaks being put on display, they would still be being exploited. And I HIGHLY doubt 99% of all 18-year-olds really recognize the long-term ramifications of what they do, especially when the Internet is involved. Just because someone turns 18 doesn’t immediately make them smart enough to know when something is a good idea or not. ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-teenaged-female-members-of-this-group-are-kissing-on-their-own-website/144390/46 "2002-12-23T19:28:18Z")
I think the idea is that they are exploiting their _own_ sexuality as much as anyone else is exploiting them… ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-teenaged-female-members-of-this-group-are-kissing-on-their-own-website/144390/47 "2002-12-23T23:10:56Z")
I think the lack of response in this thread has more to do with the fact that there are plenty of examples of teenaged sexuality being exploited, so what’s so horrifying about this one? Spears made her name as the slutty schoolgirl stereotype – how is that so different? A kiss? ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-teenaged-female-members-of-this-group-are-kissing-on-their-own-website/144390/48 "2002-12-24T07:17:46Z")
You know, sometimes you just gotta admit when you’re wrong! I know it’s hard to do, but just suck it up and say…I was wrong, I’m sorry, it’ll never happen again!..😉 anybody recognize that line? ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-teenaged-female-members-of-this-group-are-kissing-on-their-own-website/144390/49 "2002-12-24T08:19:03Z")
So the people behind this product is now getting _exactly_ what they wanted - free publicity. I’ve heard the hit single. It’s one of the fastest selling debut songs ever. Catchy teenie-bop. Not bad at all, for the genre. YMMV. re: the morality. Whatever. It’s not like it’s the only pre-fabricated act around. So, they’re trying to be a leeetle ‘bad’ by doing something no other group has done before. **Lizard** , in two years, the next thing will be along to upset you, and you’ll fall for the bait again. ---
**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:** [February 4, 2003, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-teenaged-female-members-of-this-group-are-kissing-on-their-own-website/144390/50 "2003-02-04T16:35:34Z")
Interesting fact I read on BBC about these girls: > [@](#): > > The girls were 14 when they were discovered in Moscow by Ivan Shapovalov, a child psychologist and advertising executive. > > He has admitted that Tatu are an “underage sex project” designed to appeal to men in search of “underage entertainment”. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/2723941.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/2723941.stm) Kind of puts a new twist on it, I think. The whole thing was manufactured for the purpose of appealing to pedophiles. Now that they are older, does that taint go away? I guess you have to make that call yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-teenaged-female-members-of-this-group-are-kissing-on-their-own-website/144390/51 "2003-02-04T16:37:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by minty green \* > \*\*“What if it was something totally different than what it is?” \*\* But it’s not. The man who manufactured the band has admitted that he intended them to appeal to men who like underage girls. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-teenaged-female-members-of-this-group-are-kissing-on-their-own-website/144390/52 "2003-02-15T01:56:45Z")
Caught one of their videos last night during one of the rare moments when MTV actually shows videos. Have to say that musically, it wasn’t bad. Visually, not all that “stimulating”. There were shots of the two of them kissing in the rain (bit of symbology there perhaps?), but the lighting and camera angles were such that if I didn’t _know_ it was too chicks doing a “double tonsil inspection” on one another, I’d have never figured it out. Muchado about nothing, I’d say. ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-teenaged-female-members-of-this-group-are-kissing-on-their-own-website/144390/53 "2003-02-15T03:37:19Z")
Are they just starting to show that video in the U.S. or something? It’s soooooo old. We were yawning over that stupid thing in Italy last year. If it causes a ruckus over here, that would be the funniest thing. ---
**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:** [February 15, 2003, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-teenaged-female-members-of-this-group-are-kissing-on-their-own-website/144390/54 "2003-02-15T04:07:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > **… if they’re lesbian lovers, I’m a ham omelette…** Great. Now I’m hungry. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-teenaged-female-members-of-this-group-are-kissing-on-their-own-website/144390/55 "2003-02-15T04:08:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > **The whole thing was manufactured for the purpose of appealing to pedophiles.** Gah! Guys who are sexually attracted to teen-agers are not **pedophiles!** They are **ephebophiles!** Sorry, but this always strikes a raw nerve with me. I can’t stand to see people who have a prurient interest in 14 or 16 year-olds being lumped into the same camp as people who have a prurient interest in 8-year-olds. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-teenaged-female-members-of-this-group-are-kissing-on-their-own-website/144390/56 "2003-02-15T04:37:25Z")
Tatu is great! It’s what’s been playing on my walkman for the last couple of months. Imagine being a Russian lesbian teenager. You’ve lived your life being ridculed and shamed. Maybe you are even too afraid to come out. Then come a couple of pop stars that are having a great time touring with each other (assumeing they have a real relationship) and getting rich and adored by millions. I’m against the objectification of lesbianism for straight male pleasure, but I can’t help but be all for Tatu. They’ve done a lot for gay teenagers, and I can’t help but smile at the idea that this is what Russia comes up with as an answer to Brittany Speares. Plus, their music is lots of fun. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-teenaged-female-members-of-this-group-are-kissing-on-their-own-website/144390/57 "2003-02-15T13:53:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tracer \* > \*\*Gah! Guys who are sexually attracted to teen-agers are not **pedophiles!** They are **ephebophiles!** > > Sorry, but this always strikes a raw nerve with me. I can’t stand to see people who have a prurient interest in 14 or 16 year-olds being lumped into the same camp as people who have a prurient interest in 8-year-olds. \*\* We’ll lock you up for ephebophilia, then, shall we? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-teenaged-female-members-of-this-group-are-kissing-on-their-own-website/144390/58 "2003-02-15T13:54:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by even sven \* > \*\*Imagine being a Russian lesbian teenager. You’ve lived your life being ridculed and shamed. Maybe you are even too afraid to come out. Then come a couple of pop stars that are having a great time touring with each other (assumeing they have a real relationship) \*\* I’m given to understand that it’s fake, and they both have boyfriends back in Russia. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2003, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-teenaged-female-members-of-this-group-are-kissing-on-their-own-website/144390/59 "2003-02-15T14:28:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Evil Death \* > \*\*We’ll lock you up for ephebophilia, then, shall we? > > :rolleyes: \*\* Well, if the subject ephebe is 16 or older, we probebly shant. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2003, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-teenaged-female-members-of-this-group-are-kissing-on-their-own-website/144390/60 "2003-02-28T06:54:29Z")
Anybody catch them on Jimmy Kimmel last night? I just happened to have it on and discovered that they were on. Needless to say, my TV Wonder Card just paid for itself at that moment. 😉 Apparently they were on _The Tonight Show_ the night before and were censored. Kimmel promised that they wouldn’t be censored on his show. A desperate ploy for ratings? I think so. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-teenaged-female-members-of-this-group-are-kissing-on-their-own-website/144390.md?page=2)