NationStates Jolt Archive

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070828/od_afp/swedengermanyunderwear_070828190233

Something tells me that Fass is the exception, rather than the rule.

STOCKHOLM (AFP) - A competition launched by German underwear maker Sloggi to uncover the world's most beautiful bottoms has been slapped down in Sweden after media protests against the "pornographic" event.

"Alas, our goal of finding the most beautiful backsides has been misunderstood by certain sections of the media" in Sweden, the German firm said in a statement Tuesday.

Several Swedish newspapers have slammed the competition as a pornographic event. The company had invited women and men to send photographs of themselves in their underwear which would then be put to an Internet vote.

"Although we are convinced that the complaints do not reflect reality, we respect the opinions of others," the company said.

I seriously doubt that the contest winners would be 400 kilo walrus-like behemoths in ill-fitting sailcloth, and I rather believe that the winners would be stunningly impressive examples of beautiful backsides lightly graced with thongs - so what's not to like?

"Although we are convinced that the complaints do not reflect reality"

That says it all. I've at least not heard, or seen, or read anything about this until just now.

Swede ass :DI meant "Sweet ass" ofcourse ;)[/bad pun]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070828/od_afp/swedengermanyunderwear_070828190233

Something tells me that Fass is the exception, rather than the rule.
The thing that 'proves' that Swedes are prudes is a single news story based on an event which a few Swedish newpapers complained about?

Yeah, nice one.
I seriously doubt that the contest winners would be 400 kilo walrus-like behemoths in ill-fitting sailcloth, and I rather believe that the winners would be stunningly impressive examples of beautiful backsides lightly graced with thongs - so what's not to like?
What's not to like?

Any particularly minging entries.

"Although we are convinced that the complaints do not reflect reality"

That says it all. I've at least not heard, or seen, or read anything about this until just now.

It says "several Swedish newspapers". Would you have any idea which ones in Sweden would think this was pornographic?

It says "several Swedish newspapers". Would you have any idea which ones in Sweden would think this was pornographic?
Svenska Dagbladet, at the very least.

I seriously doubt that the contest winners would be 400 kilo walrus-like behemoths in ill-fitting sailcloth, and I rather believe that the winners would be stunningly impressive examples of beautiful backsides lightly graced with thongs - so what's not to like?

Well, of course; I could have told you that...not everyone shares my taste in women...though if they care to send me a few of the 400-kilo ladies, I wouldn't mind at all...yummy...

It says "several Swedish newspapers". Would you have any idea which ones in Sweden would think this was pornographic?

There is one crazy Christian paper called "Dagen" that most read just for the laughs because they really are bonkers... and then there is the yellow press that on slow news days likes to find things that they claim "shock" and "disturb" people, when in fact no one ever cares. Just the other month or so, one of them was trying to spin a story about Sveriges Radio's late night erotic stories as if they were some sort of "porrshock!" (porn shock), but they quickly had to rescind this "outraging" article because their comment feature got overrun by people outraged not at the radio eroticism (most actually seemed to be positive towards that), but at the spin.

It's actually become like a national pass time to see what new words the yellow press will invent - one of the most famous ones, and the one that started the trend was "nakenshock" (nudity shock) about something no one remembers, and it was soon followed by my favourite "rasa". "Rasa" means "rage" in regular language, but in yellow press language it is used for anything critical or negative about something, no matter how neutral or mild the criticism may be. They can have headlines like "Fass rasar mot nedskräpning" ("Fass rages against littering") when in fact one might have just said something like "people shouldn't litter, it's not sanitary".

I guess this Sloggi thing must have eluded me somehow, because I really haven't seen anything about it until now. Pity, it could have been fun.

Svenska Dagbladet, at the very least.

Nothing about it on their front page, from what I can see.

*your post*
Rasa and indeed Snippa - oh how new Swedish words amuse and amaze me.

Rasa and indeed Snippa - oh how new Swedish words amuse and amaze me.

Snippa is a great word, and fortunately had nothing to do with media. I use it as much as I can to really make sure it sticks, and it ain't as easy as it seems to work vaginas into everyday convos, I'll tell you that.

There is one crazy Christian paper called "Dagen" that most read just for the laughs because they really are bonkers... and then there is the yellow press that on slow news days likes to find things that they claim "shock" and "disturb" people, when in fact no one ever cares. Just the other month or so, one of them was trying to spin a story about Sveriges Radio's late night erotic stories as if they were some sort of "porrshock!" (porn shock), but they quickly had to rescind this "outraging" article because their comment feature got overrun by people outraged not at the radio eroticism (most actually seemed to be positive towards that), but at the spin.

It's actually become like a national pass time to see what new words the yellow press will invent - one of the most famous ones, and the one that started the trend was "nakenshock" (nudity shock) about something no one remembers, and it was soon followed by my favourite "rasa". "Rasa" means "rage" in regular language, but in yellow press language it is used for anything critical or negative about something, no matter how neutral or mild the criticism may be. They can have headlines like "Fass rasar mot nedskräpning" ("Fass rages against littering") when in fact one might have just said something like "people shouldn't litter, it's not sanitary".

I guess this Sloggi thing must have eluded me somehow, because I really haven't seen anything about it until now. Pity, it could have been fun.

And I thought Americans had the craziest "news" programs. This whole contest smells of funny, though.

<snip>and the one that started the trend was "nakenshock" (nudity shock) about something no one remembers, and it was soon followed by my favourite "rasa".

Well, I've experienced nakenshock when people were sufficiently corpulent.

And I thought Americans had the craziest "news" programs. This whole contest smells of funny, though.

It's a little like those old 7-Up commercials where the guy asks people to send in pictures of their can, and instead of sending in pictures of their 7-Up can, the entire public misinterprets the message and sends in pictures of their...ahem, hindquarters. It very well could be a hoax, but then again, people will do anything to sell underwear. Or anything else.

... it was soon followed by my favourite "rasa". "Rasa" means "rage" in regular language, but in yellow press language it is used for anything critical or negative about something, no matter how neutral or mild the criticism may be. They can have headlines like "Fass rasar mot nedskräpning" ("Fass rages against littering") when in fact one might have just said something like "people shouldn't litter, it's not sanitary".
your next nation, should you lose this one, should be named "Fassrasar". I can't think of a pithy, more apt name.

back to the OP: when you say you haven't heard anything about it til now, do you mean:
nothing until RO posted it, and that's all you know;
or as in
you read the OP article then looked around and found some Swedish article confirming this English one.

I ask because if you've heard/seen/read nuffink about this I wonder as to veracity of the story.

nothing until RO posted it, and that's all you know;

That one.

That one.
In which case I'm not that confident about the story. It seems to me to be one of those, 'make shit up and use the name of a weird European country us Americans don't know squat about 'cept it has Abba and skiing. Then we kin chuckle 'bout how silly they all is. Why, they as prudish as we - ain't that funny!' stories.

They come out every so often and eventually just prove to be yet another nail in the coffin of journalistic integrity and professionalism.

I don't about being prudish but those Swedes are damn good at making me buy flatpacked funiture I don't need..........

It says "several Swedish newspapers". Would you have any idea which ones in Sweden would think this was pornographic?

Some Swedes are very anti-porn. Of course, opinions vary quite a bit.

Some Swedes are very anti-porn. Of course, opinions vary quite a bit.

Some Americans, and people from other nations, are also very anti-porn. I've never actually met any of them, but that's what I hear...

There would have been the same sort of protests from conservative groups if this sort of thing were done in North America.

*shrug* Either way the company got what it wanted: publicity with a controversial add campaign.

It's a little like those old 7-Up commercials where the guy asks people to send in pictures of their can, and instead of sending in pictures of their 7-Up can, the entire public misinterprets the message and sends in pictures of their...ahem, hindquarters. It very well could be a hoax, but then again, people will do anything to sell underwear. Or anything else.

You have got to be kidding. How could they do that?

Snippa is a great word, and fortunately had nothing to do with media. I use it as much as I can to really make sure it sticks, and it ain't as easy as it seems to work vaginas into everyday convos, I'll tell you that.

I much prefer to say Muff, skäggbiff and of course the glorious fitta :)

You have got to be kidding. How could they do that?

The commercial was a joke; there was no actual "send in your can" contest. Granted, all the "cans" were covered, so they got away with it...

I much prefer to say Muff, skäggbiff and of course the glorious fitta :)

Skäggbiff is revolting (seriously, think about it - it tricks you with the "skägg" part that it may be something pleasant, but then the "biff" evokes hairy beef curtains and just... ugh!), muff is stupid, and fitta I only use as a swear word or, weirdly enough, as a term of endearment. Snippa is neutral, and therefore I need it and will make sure we all do.

Skäggbiff is revolting (seriously, think about it - it tricks you with the "skägg" part that it may be something pleasant, but then the "biff" evokes hairy beef curtains and just... ugh!), muff is stupid, and fitta I only use as a swear word or, weirdly enough, as a term of endearment. Snippa is neutral, and therefore I need it and will make sure we all do.

I'm really starting to wish I took a course in some Germanic language in college right about now...

Skäggbiff is revolting (seriously, think about it - it tricks you with the "skägg" part that it may be something pleasant, but then the "biff" evokes hairy beef curtains and just... ugh!), muff is stupid, and fitta I only use as a swear word or, weirdly enough, as a term of endearment. Snippa is neutral, and therefore I need it and will make sure we all do.

See, here we differ. Skäggbiff is truly a revolting word(But still better than Geggveck, if you ask me) and as such is fun to throw around in late-night discussions over a whiskey. Muff is everyday word for me, the sound itself a hint of warmth and slight moisture. As for fitta, I try hard to turn the tides for this word, to take the negative attitude out of the word. Mainly because I think snippa sounds like kindergarten-talk. But each to his own, I suppose.

I'm really starting to wish I took a course in some Germanic language in college right about now...

Yeah, you wish now :) I wish I did too, Deutche is one great language, all it takes is to listen to Ohne Dich by Rammstein. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pkLDEEs20U)

Yeah, you wish now :) I wish I did too, Deutche is one great language, all it takes is to listen to Ohne Dich by Rammstein. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pkLDEEs20U)
Deutsch... not Deutche, which doesn't even sound the same at all.

Deutsch... not Deutche, which doesn't even sound the same at all.

Ah, I stand corrected. Sad thing is, even though I'm half austrian and both my mother and father speak Deutsch, I can barely make myself understood while in Germany. I should take classes...

"porrshock!" (porn shock)
"nakenshock" (nudity shock)
My new favorite words. Now I just need to find ways to work them into daily conversation. Maybe if I start pretending that they're legitimate medical ailments:
"My uncle died of severe nakenshock."

There is one crazy Christian paper called "Dagen" that most read just for the laughs because they really are bonkers... and then there is the yellow press that on slow news days likes to find things that they claim "shock" and "disturb" people, when in fact no one ever cares. Just the other month or so, one of them was trying to spin a story about Sveriges Radio's late night erotic stories as if they were some sort of "porrshock!" (porn shock), but they quickly had to rescind this "outraging" article because their comment feature got overrun by people outraged not at the radio eroticism (most actually seemed to be positive towards that), but at the spin.

It's actually become like a national pass time to see what new words the yellow press will invent - one of the most famous ones, and the one that started the trend was "nakenshock" (nudity shock) about something no one remembers, and it was soon followed by my favourite "rasa". "Rasa" means "rage" in regular language, but in yellow press language it is used for anything critical or negative about something, no matter how neutral or mild the criticism may be. They can have headlines like "Fass rasar mot nedskräpning" ("Fass rages against littering") when in fact one might have just said something like "people shouldn't litter, it's not sanitary".

I guess this Sloggi thing must have eluded me somehow, because I really haven't seen anything about it until now. Pity, it could have been fun.

Swedish radio has late night erotic stories? Damn, I am envious.

The commercial was a joke; there was no actual "send in your can" contest. Granted, all the "cans" were covered, so they got away with it...

Weird. Was this the 60s/70s?

Weird. Was this the 60s/70s?

Nope. Within the past few years, back when 7-Up had that "Make 7 Up Yours" guy as the spokesperson.

Might have been a 60s/70s spoof.

Nope. Within the past few years, back when 7-Up had that "Make 7 Up Yours" guy as the spokesperson.

Might have been a 60s/70s spoof.

Seemed like something as weird as that could only happen then.

Seemed like something as weird as that could only happen then.

Of course, this is the generation that spawned all kinds of other weird shit...see Tube, You.

Anyone else really enjoy the title? He opted for Prudish Swedes when it could of just as easily been Swedish Prudes. Like the symmetry.