Burton “Love” Graphics Draw Hate Mail
mike lewis
- October 02 2008
- 9,805 views
- 86 comments
Burton’s new Love series decks, which were designed by team riders Mikkel Bang and Keegan Valaika and feature classic Playboy centerfold models on the top sheets, are creating quite a stir. According to the Burlington Free Press, Burton has received a number of phone calls and letters from community members angered by the graphic graphics on these Coalition boards, which are available only in select, core retailers. The story was also covered by CNN.com. Check out the video report right HERE.
The Burtlington Free Press article, written by Lauren Ober, states:
In the past week, Burton has received a number of letters and phone calls about the “Love” model. The snowboards feature four different Playboy bunnies, depending on the board size. They don’t show any body parts that are traditionally kept covered, but the women are naked.
This has parents like Jeff Sprenger of Essex angry enough to pen the company a scathing letter and send it around to all of his friends.
“I think of Burton as a good Vermont company, as a good citizen,” Sprenger said. “I was pretty shocked that they would do something like that. I feel ashamed for Vermont and for Burton.” Sprenger has two children- one who snowboards- and he rides himself. He said his main problem with the Playboy board is the message it was sending to people, especially Burton’s target market of 14 to 24-year-old males. “I’m working hard to make sure my daughter gets a fair chance. This board is not going to make girls feel good,” Sprenger said.
Burton’s response to the Sprenger’s letters and to the other objections they’ve received regarding the two snowboard models is a five-sentence explanation of the genesis of the line and Burton’s founding principle of “individual freedom.”
The boards promote a “commodification of women’s bodies,” says Stephanie Kaza, the past president of the University of Vermont President’s Commission on the Status of Women. She expressed disappointment that the well-respected Vermont company would put images of naked women on its products.
“It reduces a woman to her body and that body is there for sex and sex is there for men,” Kaza said.
A number of individuals and organizations have called on Burton to pull the offensive lines from stores and offer some sort of public apology. Burton doesn’t release sales figures, but based on the brisk sales of the Coalition boards at Vermont retailers, it seems unlikely that the company will discontinue the line. Andrew, Burton’s spokeswoman, wouldn’t comment on Burton’s future plans for the line.
While Burton is getting a good deal of flack about its Coalition line, Waterbury’s Rome Snowboards has not received any negative feedback from its risque “Artifact” line. The “Artifact” boards are meant to be reminiscent of 1970s New York City strip joints, says Ryan Runke, Rome’s marketing manager. The boards feature a neon base with the words “Bend Over Babes” or “Live Nude Girls,” depending on the model. The top sheets have outlines of naked women on them.
Since there are so many companies making snowboards, the graphics are almost equally as important as the board’s technical specs, Runke says. Some area retailers like SkiRack balked at the “Artifact,” saying the graphics were pushing the limit, but the Rome is sold out of the board.
“People want something that makes a statement,” Runke said
To read the entire article, go HERE.
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October 2nd, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Maybe Burton should produce a line of boards with ugly chicks in sweat pants on the top sheets just to balance things out…Honestly, reading this makes me want to pound my head against the wall until it goes numb or I pass out. I’m so sick of this “T-ball, everybody is a winner” attitude”.
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I think this is great Burton taking snowboarding back to its roots NOT GIVING A F*CK! People are so damn butt hurt these days…
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:48 pm
my GOD some people need to grow up…… plssssss…. community and NGO action these days must drive any company up the wall….. hey ‘Government’ stop regulating business and start getting rid of the CR@P in society, start regulating the bull sh!t thats getting aimed at business.
I understand the importance of society in ‘other important’ issues.. but these days society (NGO’s) take there role in business - government regulation too fareeeeeeeee!
October 2nd, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Anyone got the press release from Burton from when Sims did basically the same thing?
Honestly whats up with all the Nimby’s these days?
October 2nd, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Will Burton be releasing a Playgirl series with fine young men on the top sheet?
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:25 pm
People need to fucking accept the fact they aren’t the only people on earth.
Or bust the “think of the children”
As George Carlin says “Fuck the children!”
Not everyone has the same values.
People are so fucking censored now a days i just want to cock slap some sense into them.
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:18 am
I think all of this censorship is bullshit, let people do what they like and they can sort out whatever shit it causes, people gotta stop being so over protective.
October 3rd, 2008 at 8:02 am
you express yourself in a powerful way. unfortunately i believe that you are a functioning retard.
October 3rd, 2008 at 9:09 am
The women are not doing anything sexual in nature, they are just beautiful. While I agree beautiful women with no clothes on tend to lead to sexual thoughts, I dont see the harm in it. DO these people honestly think a teenage boy will have different thoughts seeing a nude chik on a snowboard versus a hot chick walking down the street in a tank top and short shorts?
what is more natural than sexual attraction?
October 3rd, 2008 at 12:37 pm
this is obviously a ridiculous issue stemming from america’s taboo with nudity and lack of artistic freedom. but feminists and freedom fighters aside, I think this was a bad move for Burton who has always had a solid grasp on such a wide range of consumers. while being edgy and progressive has always been their thing as well, this might have pushed the limits on what a company with such high regard in the industry can do.
October 3rd, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Nothing like free press!!! I have had 3 calls today looking for these boards since it aired on CNN this morning. Eazy e said it best. “controversy sells”
October 3rd, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Hey hurton, you can’t be everything to everyone because in the end you lose… and it’s quite apparent that you’ve already lost it. That identity crisis you have going on is really getting at you guys. Put that in your powerpoint.
October 3rd, 2008 at 11:44 pm
controversy sells ’short term’ ….. it is the ‘long term’ effects that dont go down well
October 4th, 2008 at 11:34 am
I think these graphics should of been on the uninc line. would of fit that image better.
October 4th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Great, so now you don’t care if you’re restricted to ‘certain lifts’ or certain rides where it’s 18 or older do you???? Good job with your freedom of expression…… Grow up and act resonsibly!
And what happens when the mountains pulls your pass for indecent exposure???
October 5th, 2008 at 4:19 am
ok think about it silly billy… why would a mountain take away someones pass for indecent exposure… if mountains start doing that there pretty much saying ok snowboarders or Generation Y, piss off your not welcome. Every generation y and there dog will piss off and go to the mountain down the road.
a large market of mountain riders are people who want to express themselves through such so called ‘indecent’ ways. Isnt that what burton, billabong, quiki all about, generation y and being individual, different from baby boomers and generation x.
i seriously doubt if a mountain will turn its back on young riders, too risky for them.
October 5th, 2008 at 5:54 am
Well, let’s see Clinton baby…. you’re about 16 I’m sure and Mommy and Daddy still pay for you to ride…. They drive you to the mountain, they pay for your pass, they pay for your cute little ‘express myself’ ways……
Take a look at the overall demographics of who pays the bills next time you’re ready to comment. It isn’t the rider….
And the mountains don’t make the rules on indecent explosure, the laws do….
October 5th, 2008 at 10:53 am
burton is a corporate monster, of course you take mainstream flack when your a mainstream company. i’m honestly suprised they havn’t done a recall to appease the outspoken.
burtons freedom of expression died a long time ago.
October 6th, 2008 at 6:53 am
someone is getting old and bitter…
October 6th, 2008 at 6:58 am
PS there’s no actual nudity on these boards, you see more skin on your average TV commercial… so do a little more research before making you “indecent exposure” comment.
October 6th, 2008 at 11:08 am
If you haven’t noticed yet, Snowboarding IS Mainstream, Adam. This isn’t the first time a sexually provocative item has hit the market in snowboarding. If people don’t like it, they can turn the other way. It’s a miniscule issue to the public for another 3 months or so at most. You think people are still gonna give a crap in March?
The LOVE boards are in the Coalition line up. So they are only in selected shops. Not your general sporting goods store that sell’s to all types of demographics.
The truth of the matter is, more people can appreciate it over the one’s making a commotion. So with it!
October 7th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Not to mention the shit he can find on the internet…
October 7th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
This will be forgoten and in ten years you will be able to sell the series on ebay for 10g’s.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:56 am
word! no one should be responsible for anything they do. little kids in lift lines, i say fuck what they see. you’re an idiot!
October 8th, 2008 at 10:58 am
some would say this is part of the cr@p in society. think before yuo write.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:00 am
you aren’t the only person on the earth either dipshit.
you shouldn’t try to think of complex things like social values. why dont you focus on finding your next bong-load.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:05 am
eazy e also got the HIV and died. lets make a board that has a picture of the HIV on it. or a baby being aborted. yeah controversy.
sucks you get your words of wisdom from rappers.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:08 am
i’ve gotten my pass pulled for much less. not everyone that is involved in this sprot is a worhtless bum that can just relocate mountains when they get kicked off one.
October 8th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Yeah they are so monstorous!!! You would love to be in there position. I would think there freedom of expression is quite alive and kickin. They are not run by stock holders, so they are quite free to express and act as they choose. Go shine up your nikes and stfu!!!
October 8th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
He died of AIDS not “the HIV”
October 9th, 2008 at 1:42 am
?It reduces a woman to her body and that body is there for sex and sex is there for men,? Kaza said.
what, sex is not for women either?
October 13th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Rome is not getting any heat for thier “risky” boards, because NOBODY cares about Rome!
Rome will be sold or bankrupt in less than 5 years!!!
October 13th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Wow why would you hate on Rome, I love that company.
October 15th, 2008 at 6:19 am
Yo it`s a proven fact that guys think about sex every 6-7 seconds it`s a natural thing.. all these comment are just
“too-mature” you ppl make a big deal out of stuff just to argue about it…you probably are thinking that graphic is HOT… if you didn`t think like this,…this playboy pic wouldn`t be getting the attention it is.. we all wanted to see naked chicks when we were 10 years old… it`s natural… don`t freak out
October 15th, 2008 at 7:36 am
It’s a fact that Sex sells, Burton wants to sell their boards.. they nailed it! (Pardon the pun!)Good on Burton!
FreshPow.ca
October 18th, 2008 at 6:56 am
bad PR move burton. you offended the primary purchaser for your target market. you lost the “core” segment years ago to companies like rome. prepare to have a shitty 4th quarter. there wont be as many customs under the tree this year.
October 18th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Burton shouldn’t be surprised with the negative buzz. After all, they are a household name. They a huge mainstream corporation. When you appeal to such a big customer base you’re going to offend someone. Are they surprised that they offended soccer moms and other community heads across the states. They are a mainstream corp. That’s all.
Jeff
October 22nd, 2008 at 5:09 pm
it is very unoriginal, predictable, and not creative at all. Not only does this facilitate a lack of respect towards women (not that the women who bend over for money deserve the respect but women in general) from men, there are 9 year old girls starving themselves because of this mentality. It’s very shallow. this kind of stuff leads to cheating and can destroy families. not only is it demeaning to females and keeps putting more and more pressure on us to look a certain way (which is computer enhanced and airbrushed with a ton of makeup….so fake.) It affects mens’ perception of women….I could go on about this….
BUT all of that aside looking from the female snowboarder perspective,it sends a message that women should not be taken seriously and are unwelcome on the slopes.
and for all the shallow ignorant guys who don’t see anything wrong with this, take this into consideration:
What if the snowboards had images of naked men?
what if everything was reversed and instead of naked women all over the media it was men? What if your girlfriends, wives, were objectifying guys and drooling over scantily clad pictures of guys?
October 23rd, 2008 at 6:02 am
“and for all the shallow ignorant guys who don?t see anything wrong with this, take this into consideration:
What if the snowboards had images of naked men?
what if everything was reversed and instead of naked women all over the media it was men? What if your girlfriends, wives, were objectifying guys and drooling over scantily clad pictures of guys?”
HUH!
I could honestly care less what board graphics other rocking on a snowboard. I would honored to see someone riding a board with a photo of my fat hairy nude body though. seriously, people need to get a freaking life. There are much worse things going on and things to be seen. Have any of you turned on your televison lately? Played a video game? listened to music? I just really dont understand what the protest are about, is it the love boards or the blunt boards? sex and violence are everywhere, have you watched the news? seen images from the war in iraq? that is far worse than a cartoon picture of a hand missing fingers. Seriously, give it up people! stop being such righteous PC goons.
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:48 am
yeah think b4 ‘YUO’ write.how could you think there is n e thing wrong with this, that news report was a load of bullshit the boards are clearly not made for young children . these graphics look sick, luv it.
October 23rd, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Why did you even have to bring Rome into this ? Burton and Rome and gay lovers. Gargle Gargle….
October 28th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
are you kidding? They clearly said it doesn’t actually show anything that is usually covered by clothing. That’s like saying small children shouldn’t be allowed to go to the beach because women are in swimsuits. Small kids are allowed in the women’s locker room, and they’ll see more in there than is on these.
October 28th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
If Burton made a board with a naked guy on it I’d ride it. Major steeze points
Are you implying women don’t look at scantily clad men? Go pick up any magazine aimed at women without specific interests besides being a woman, like cosmo. I guarantee there will be at least one picture of a barely clothed man.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
shut the fuck up, parents need to cut the leashes off. If they get offended by a picture of a girl then they need to grow the fuck up. “Oh no my kid might see that and ask me questions” well then keep your fucking kid inside and don’t ever let him leave his room. And what does these boards have anything to do with someone “finding your next bong-load” are you a fucking faggott or what dude? your probably some queer on a power trip mad because burton didnt make a board with guys all over it.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
There is no indecent exposure here, it does not show and tits or vag so shut the fuck up whore.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
no one is giving any shit to rome because every kid and their grandmother knows about burton. the soccer moms don’t know about rome.
October 29th, 2008 at 8:32 am
?and for all the shallow ignorant guys who don?t see anything wrong with this, take this into consideration:
What if the snowboards had images of naked men?
what if everything was reversed and instead of naked women all over the media it was men? What if your girlfriends, wives, were objectifying guys and drooling over scantily clad pictures of guys??
This person must be a fortune teller or have a tie with Burton. In a reply to all this Burton is introducing a super late model based on the womens Troop series of boards called “The Hung Series”. No, joke, 100% true colab with Playgirl magazine. Banana hammocks will be running wild this Christmas.
October 29th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
The uproar over the boards, however expected, is stupid. They were made by teenaged kids who think about hot chicks all the time. Of course they’re looking for a ticket to the playboy mansion. Those graphics are actual playboy photos from the 1980s, which ties in with the whole current throw back trend in not only Burton’s line, but snowboarding (and fashion) as a whole. Have you missed all the neon? Yes, it’s ‘dirty’ but so is pretty much everything associated with snowboarding aside from the ‘learn to ride’ package at your local hill. I’m a 24 year old girl, I also ride, and have been since I was 12. I also SELL boards and work in a snowboard shop. We don’t carry the love there, but even in the specialty shops that DO, the love is in a black cloth bag unlike the clear plastic snowboards are usually sold in. Also, from what I’m told directly from Burton Reps themselves, you have to ask for it. Not to mention that most of the almost-there dirty bits you can see are going to be covered up by bindings anyway. And a lot of snow. I know I don’t brush off my deck in the lift line so you can see the graphic on my troop.
I’d also be more inclined to ride a board with a hot lady on it than a studly dude. Sex, drugs, booze, partying… it’s the corner stone of snowboard culture. Woman should realize the power they have OVER men due to their sex appeal and run with it, rather than run scared because ‘the media’ told them to. There are also a lot of filthy graphics on a lot of twin tip skis, but all these vera bradley toting, suburban driving, mothers of fifteen year old boys who would give Santa his left nut if there were a Love under the tree for him this year, are still going to be hitting the slopes this winter on two sticks. Relax, ladies. Everyone is going to be just fine.
October 29th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
when i was a little kid my parents took me to james bond movies. All i recalled afterwards were those cool cars…
November 1st, 2008 at 12:41 am
girls on…
http://www.skiing-infos.com
November 1st, 2008 at 11:39 am
Hi, new poster.
“They were made by teenaged kids who think about hot chicks all the time. Of course they?re looking for a ticket to the playboy mansion.”
-As I can see based on the post (and I’m not one to judge) that there are some very many less educated and naive people on this site. The mere fact that you post unrealistic and immature statements like:
“People need to fucking accept the fact they aren?t the only people on earth. Or bust the ?think of the children? As George Carlin says ?Fuck the children!?. Not everyone has the same values. People are so fucking censored now a days i just want to cock slap some sense into them.”
I wonder if when people see other’s talking like that, if there’s a part of them that worries about those people leading our country. And if it worries others to ignore educated and mature statements like:
“The boards promote a ?commodification of women?s bodies,? says Stephanie Kaza, the past president of the University of Vermont President?s Commission on the Status of Women. She expressed disappointment that the well-respected Vermont company would put images of naked women on its products.
?It reduces a woman to her body and that body is there for sex and sex is there for men,? Kaza said.”
I did like the post from Meiling (up top):
“and for all the shallow ignorant guys who don?t see anything wrong with this, take this into consideration:
What if the snowboards had images of naked men?
what if everything was reversed and instead of naked women all over the media it was men? What if your girlfriends, wives, were objectifying guys and drooling over scantily clad pictures of guys?”
I doubt that there is even one guy who wouldn’t sit back and wonder about why they need a snowboard with naked guys all over them. Sure there are guys in magazines objectifying themselves, they are just as wrong. But if one would disagree that women aren’t MORE objectified than men in this today’s media, they would be most certainly decreasing their intelligence exponentially. To say you wouldn’t be bothered by naked guys in your house is a lie.
There’s another point I want to make to this society. Yes, most people do not share the same view points on morality and ethics, which I sad to my opinion. I see our country downsized because we feel a need to indulge our “horny” sides. This leaves the value of our society, our inter-personal relationships at a low. Studies show the more men/women who look at pornography (or like the sort) actually show a decrease in IQ and attention span (I have credible sources, asking for them is irrelevant). It troubles me that we push to limits of our liberties, our constitution, so that we can be as horny and self-gratifying as we possibly can, even while doing something as innocent as snowboarding can be. I’m not a religious man, I’m not even a family man. We attach ourselves to the idea that everything is “ok” as long as it doesn’t break the law. We stretch our moral standards because we can, not because it’s good for us.
Saying statements like:
“They were made by teenaged kids who think about hot chicks all the time. Of course they?re looking for a ticket to the playboy mansion.”
and
“It?s a fact that Sex sells”
Does this make it right to do? Would you disagree with me that you would want your teenage daughter having a picture of a (near) naked man on her snowboard, wall of her room, in your HOUSE?! It’s atrocious to imagine parents willing to give their young men the terrible chance of showing them (at an age when they’re so vulnerable to the image of people) it’s okay for women to show off their nakedness on anything from magazines to snowboards. None of it was right. There were lands in ancient Asia that were praised for killing prostitutes and for the wrongful objectifying of women, these lands were praised by Europeans. I praise them as well.
“And the mountains don?t make the rules on indecent explosure, the laws do”
Yes, this is true. I think, however, if you wanted to sell to young men, other means of pictures could work just as well. In relevance to the “law”, I think it’s wrong that the law is created to please the people and not exactly for what may be right for them. Allowing people to over eat, not be healthy by doing things like smoking and drinking, these ideas make me sick. I love this country for it’s many true liberties like good education, a lack of oppression from our government and the ability for men and women to share equal rights. Anyone here can appreciate a first amendment discussion.
If you think “sex sells” it’s only because you let it. You look at porn. You buy into the magazines that show near-naked women. It is because of people who cheer for movies that show naked women. Because of all of you, and more, is why sex “sells”. If you didn’t allow yourself to be ruled over your libido, and everyone not being able to grow up from their horny/primitive side, we’d all see that there is much MUCH more to life than staring at men and women as tools and pieces of meat. Nowadays, I don’t see much more matureness between a 16 year old and an 18 year old, where one age is appropriate to view pornography. It’s absolutely wrong. I’m also talking about the music, the “art” of naked people. It’s all wrong. The body IS a beautiful thing, incredible in it’s own way and a marvel to behold. But the more we lose the imagination of one another, the less interested and invested we truly become when we want to get married or be in a relationship.
?Imagine riding a chairlift with your 7-year-old son or daughter and the rider next to you has a photo image of a woman?s buttocks staring up at you!?
Ask yourself how you’d feel? You take your kids out snowboarding to see these images and YOU be the one to explain about why there’s pictures of naked women on the boards. How do you, then, tell your young daughter that it’s not okay to pose nude…but then she asks “why are they?” “Why would you say it’s okay for them but not for me?” Kids smell a lie from a mile away better than adults and it hurts them more. Two things, you’re teaching them to lie and that their parents thinks it’s okay for them to pose nude because that’s what their parents say so. Things stick more when your between the ages of 1-14 than almost any other age. Are YOU going to be the one to sit back and tell your son that women who pose nude are “hot”, you want them to grow up staring at women, objectify what “beauty” is? Then be prepared to be responsible for their failed relationships because they can’t keep their eyes of women. How do you expect them to grow up respecting women when their own parents don’t respect women for what they TRULY are.
Women are NOT something to objectify. NOT something to stare at. NOT a tool. NOT a piece of meat. They are to be respected and loved, as equals to men. To think otherwise puts a grave ill-feeling in my stomach.
This all applies to the objectification of men as well.
Thank you.
November 1st, 2008 at 11:55 am
snowboarding ISN’T FOR EVERYONE!!!!! my son is 3. i won’t buy him the love board by burton. doesn’t mean i don’t want it. stop treating our thing like it “needs” to be accepted. we’d rather you didn’t. to steal another tag-line, it was better when you hated us. to all my brothers and sisters who don’t give a shit, keep shredding. to all the angry parents and grandparents, i hear rossignol is for sale. buy’em and put balls of yarn and kitties on them shits
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:35 am
The fact that we have people like you degrading the soils of the good country is what puts a stone in my stomach. You should know by now that you don’t need to buy your kids something for them to be subject to medial “brainwashing”. People give that dumb excuse “people aren’t brainwashed by the media” or “if you teach your kids better, they won’t listen to tv like that” but then ask yourselves this:
“Why do you suppose, if media doesn’t affect our kids negatively, whether it be video games, music, or advertising, DO THEY SHOW THOSE KINDS OF ADVERTISINGS ANYWAYS!?!”
You’d think if they wanted this country to aspire to something more than a cesspool of pornography, they would want to aspire to ad something meaningful and inspiring then they would put pictures of aspiring athletes, pictures of snowboarder, for instance. The point of “need” is that people don’t want to get rid of it because if we get rid of something, its taking away our “right” to be free and add stuff to whatever we want. Another point is, I believe I’ve discussed, that we censor things partially, but why? Why don’t we just let the F word float around our TV if it isn’t “really that bad” or “everyone uses it”? Or why would our courts suppress ages of drinking or the ability to view pornography. Two parts, to shut those horny teenagers (teenagers not limited to age, by the way, but wisdom) up and the other half is we know it’s wrong. We try to out-weight the good and the bad, which allows the bad to live free in our society.
Why the heck would you not buy your three year old son a “love” snowboard at 3?! Would you buy it for him later on? Would you let hi buy it as a teen? It would be sad to imagine you can live with your conscience, as many others do, to allow their kids to subject themselves to pornography and ignore the fact that it’s wrong. If it weren’t wrong, there wouldn’t be so many people who disagree with you, peezy. We’re not talking balls of yarn and kitties, I snowboard, I don’t mind seeing cool art designs, names of brands, whatever. But what I don’t like is that I can’t go anywhere in this society without seeing some excuse for a horny guy to show off to other horny guys that girls are nothing more than objects or “play things”.
You have NO idea the power of what parental influence can have. The subtleties you have towards your son. You make one small move and your son sponges it up and whether he remembers specifically, he maintains a thought process that could affect him largely or minuscule. Snowboarding CAN be for most of anyone who doesn’t have a disability. The mere fact that you say it isn’t for everyone discriminates and disallows people who may want to snowboard to not. I may not be 6′8″ but I can still play basketball. I may be afraid of heights but I can clear a jump better than most. People will keep shredding and good for them. But because you seem so laid back in your little existence that I hope you grow to understand the impacts of your perspectives on this issue. That you may some hot model and tv and your child looks up at you, sees the tv, and grows to view models as an ideal “sexy”. It’s because of people like you that women look at and hope your children grow up ok because they will have it tough. Women need appreciation without having to feel intimidated or insecure because guys would rather check out some girl who has had 10 surgeries to her chest than their wife who is bearing their children.
For any guy, ANY guy, who dares say that “I look at women but my wife is more beautiful” well you’re a down-right liar. If you didn’t think that, there would be no need for you to check out a girl who spends two hours doing makeup everyday when she walks by you on the streets. Why not spend more time focusing on your beautiful family, wife, son, instead of spending ANY time checking on some stupid girl.
Take psychology, human interaction and sex ed. Catch up to the rest of the world and see, in this century, how children are affected by media. If you don’t believe it, understand there are organizations, scientific classes and research to prove all of this. Personally, I think people should take a psychological evaluation and class to have children, to understand HOW to raise a children. It is our right and responsibility to have children, and yet people take the “rights” and only do SOME of the responsibilities. You grow up, any of you who disagree, and watch your kids grow, and see how many relationship issues they have and then ask yourself what YOU could’ve done better. I’m sure now you’ll disagree. I’m 100% positive. Americans, most, are egomaniacs, always trying to have the last word.
Let me tell you something they won’t tell you in school, your parents, therapists:
You don’t know anything about anything. You’re zoned to this safe little world where you think you know everything. You’re stuck in your mind where if you’re wrong, it’s an insult. You’re stuck in a world of the media controlling you because Americans have to be “on top” all the time. We are not that smart. We are far from “wise”. You’re not “ahead” on any curve. You know SELDOM right from wrong and how to use it properly. And we live to convince ourselves that no matter what we do, it’s right, and you’ll never guilt or regret.
All of this applies to the simple fact that we could be a much better country if we didn’t let media become more overpowering than we are. We strive to be on top of our government, our authority figures like obedient rebells, but let the media portray anything to us and our kids to make everything seem okay. One day the world will open their eyes and see they’re much smaller than they preconceived. Kudos to you who see higher than the mark, you’re out there, and only two people I’ve seen on this site are above that, maybe three (you’re on your way).
Good luck to the rest of you. I hope your kids grow to see my side, and push away from your current close-minded ideals.
Shred-on!
Your son is only three but when (I hope) your son grows up to see daddy or mommy
November 3rd, 2008 at 8:23 pm
haha yea, i liked that one too,
kaza is probably a dog, sex is apparently not for her
November 5th, 2008 at 8:39 am
AIDS is caused by HIV. Go back to school before entering into such a contraversial issue as this, and maybe then we wouldn’t even have to have this thread.
Hopperq2
November 5th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Well..consider all the female singers that only make it big after selling their sex appeal (Brittney spears, Christina something or other, etc.) and tell me women are no just for their bodies.
Hopperq2
November 5th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Honestly what is wrong with you people? Make a board with HIV on it? Besides the fact that that makes no sense, its just ignorant and pointing out that someone died of HIV as a way of discrediting something they said is pretty much the most dick thing ever. Putting a beautiful woman on a board is expression, whether you like it or not. Would you not let your kids see a museum exhibit showing greek statues because their genitals are showing (which the love boards actually don’t show, for the record). Grow the fuck up and be a responsible adult and educate your kids. Google images comes up with more provocative images than these boards.
P.S. I’m not a knit-pick for this type of thing at all but the last annoynymous comment, you look like a fucking idiot mis-spelling contrOversial on a sentence telling someone to go back to school.
November 5th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
burton want publicity…. and do you no what this is???
publicity!
good on them! even tho some are hateing i bet they sell a dam lot of these boards!
November 7th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Here’s a little article I wrote on the history of similar graphics in snowboarding and skiing.
http://frontlipped.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/burtons-love-and-primo-a-history-of-controversial-snowboard-graphics/
November 12th, 2008 at 6:11 am
where do they find these fucking kooks to interview? they might as well have waited out front of a church! fuck CNN
November 13th, 2008 at 8:06 am
Thanks Melissa and Jeremy…
I’m a female shredder.. and a well educated PhD student. It was great to read all the banter and have it finish off with two great posts that were educational and encouraging.
Snowboarding has made a HUGE transition in the past 8-10 years, especially with women’s equipment. I’ve been around to deal with the worst of the “knuckle dragger” stigmata of snowboarding. Do we really have to be compared to gorrillas? They are extremely intelligent animals, but… come on! Are we really that bad?
Its a shame Burton stooped to this new low, they were doing so well!! I just really wonder what their big female Burton reps like Kelly Clark and Molly Aguirre thought about these new graphics. I know was definitely bummed…
November 16th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
If you can hear me talking down here from your high horse, pull your degree out of your ass(and whatever else may be lodged up there)and listen for just one minute. The goal of marketing and advertising is to motivate consumers to purchase a product. Burton nailed it on this one. Just look at all the energy you are wasting on this issue, and every time you type ‘Burton’ or ‘Love’ you are buying into it as much as any bro who thinks the graphics are sick and shells out $430 for the board. I can’t even believe that I am responding to this garbage, what a joke! Snowboarding is not for you, and you are not a snowboarder. You may slide down the hill with your back foot set to +21 degrees and call yourself a snowboarder, but don’t try and fool me. Snowboarding has always been about going against the grain, giving society and media alike the middle finger. Now mine is raised in your direction. No one cares about your kids, who probably get made fun of in school for being snobby twirps like their parents. I hope to see the day these kids grow up and are broken when they are finally exposed to things you tried so hard to shelter them from. Young children all over this country grow up experiencing things far worse than a picture of pretty girl and her butt on a snowboard. Those children will persevere and grow up to boss your little turdburglers around. You’re weak and old and probably spend too much time in front of your computer, so i understand where your pseudo-elitist conservative attitude comes from, but it has no place in OUR community. You belong on skis.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:18 am
sh*t’s rad. i don’t see what the big deal is? it’s not like it’s early 90s skate graphics….
November 25th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Marketing 101…..look at all the free press on a product in limited production that is already sold out. Bravo Burton, well played. You can see more graphic graphics in Vogue or Cosmo by the way. Inside industry news: Intawest has banned all employees from riding the Love boards. Now that is something to get upset about.
November 27th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
It’s interesting to see the general public ranting about the wrong “male” perspective on women expressed by the love series. How about this: womens themselves corrupting the image of women in snowboarding: http://www.bitchboards.com
November 29th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Meiling - Your post is the only intelligent comment I have read on here so far.
November 29th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Nice…resorting to calling someone a whore in order to reinforce your completely mindless point. That perfectly illustrates the kind of ignorant, sexist attitude that some of us would like to eliminate from a this sport.
December 1st, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I’m pretty sure the men who buy this board aren’t going “Alright! A somewhat naked chick! Lets objectify her! (add sinister laughter here)”. People need to find more important things to protest about. It’s a snowboard graphic! Get over it. Snowboard and skateboard companies will always push the boundries with products so just get used to it because it probably will never stop. Protesting isn’t going to change anything beause snowboarding is supposed to be about doing your own thing and not caring what other people think. Burton posted this on their site defending and backing their products and riders:
http://www.burton.com/NewsAndEvents/News.aspx?nid=1978
December 9th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
The boards would not be an issue if Burton didn’t market to a young audience. If they were highlighting the beauty of a human body that would be a different scenario. These images of Playboy models degrade the value and worth of a woman and teaches 14-24 year old boys that it is okay to do so. People are so quick to protect their “freedoms” that sometimes they forget that what is liberating to them as an individual actually takes away freedoms from others, like the freedom to be respected as an individual and not a sexual object.
I would like to clarify, there is nothing wrong with being a sexually powerful being or appreciating one. The issue I have here is these boards send the message that women are objects solely meant to please a man. There are so many violent sex crimes that happen every day. I believe the statistics say that 1 in 7 women will be raped by the time they are in college and 1 in 3 women will be sexually harrassed (although from experience I believe 100% of women will be sexually harrassed). It is a disgusting fact about our society but it is true. The more women are objectified by the media, brands, etc. the worse society will treat them.
I hope that Burton thinks long and hard about the LOVE line. It is not only a misleading message but it completely disrespects women. Whether or not they care, they now have one less customer.
December 12th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
um there are several boards that are very offensive to males. i am an active malenist and i do not appreciate graphics such as http://customsnowboardart.org/images/shredbordz.png
December 12th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
slut
December 12th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
don’t you forget it jackson franchetto penis boobs
December 21st, 2008 at 2:42 pm
World Industries skateboards circa the early 1990’s. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. Good for Burton! Maybe they haven’t totally sold out.
December 31st, 2008 at 9:48 am
Unreal. Some people act like since there’s no violence or crime committed that these graphics are just fine. Are you people 13 or what? The advancement of an agenda is extremely powerful as it creates a mindset and an attitude. Hitler’s speaches didn’t include violence directly, but the effect created it. The power of the word - spoken verbally or through visual imagery is huge!
Grow up and recognize the rationalization going on here. Obviously a person doesn’t say “oh, I’m going to objectify women . . .” That’s assenine to even imply and just flat out stupid. The power of this type of marketing is the subliminal and the mindset it creates.
Here’s what I say . . . if you all think this “love” series is so awesome - put your wife, mother, and daughter in the same imagery and sell it. Feel like “love”?
January 5th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
I love my new Love Burton Board. I can not wait to try it out in the snow.
January 17th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
what, do we live in iran now or somthing? get over it.
January 20th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
I’m going to call extreme bullshit on the “freedom of expression” card. Seriously?? That’s how you express yourself? Via naked girl? Look, I’m female and not offended at seeing another woman’s body. I don’t think anyone should be ashamed of nudity, IT’S THE HUMAN FIGURE!! But if that’s really how you’re going to justify riding something that stupid, originality probably shouldn’t be what you go for. Considering if you were really individual you probably would’ve designed your own fucking board.
January 20th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Shave your legs and give it a break girls , all you are doing is bringing more attention to Burton , or do you work for Burton Marketing ?
January 20th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
I didn’t know that all of you crunchy hippie feminists had the internet. I must say that TYPING IN CAPS REALLY GETS YOUR POINT ACROSS!
“Considering if you were really individual you probably would?ve designed your own fucking board.”
Really Liv? Do you design your own graphics? Do you even ride? Did you care about the Sims board from a few years ago with Jenna Jameson on them? All of you crazy feminist hippies give all of us ladies a bad name. Cut the crap and get over it. No one is making you look at or ride these boards.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:02 pm
it's too bad that a lot of the comments by females are negative towards the love boards- it just makes us look insecure. lots of girls/women are confident enough in themselves to see the graphics as just "graphics" that help sell the board. if you want to assist women's issues stop commenting on silly stuff like soft porn and go help a rape victim.
August 9th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
hahahahahahahahahaha
wow