RutlandHerald.com - We Are Vermont

Products taint Vermont image



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Published: February 20, 2009

One thing that Vermont cititzens can take pride in is the sense of tight community present from county to county. We look after one another and in times of need and band together when the tough gets going, but after reading that a home-based Vermont business was getting into the sexual aids sales, it was shocking and sickening.

Growing up in a culture that is based on images of sexual intensity and awareness is disheartening enough to know that when we turn on the television within a span of an hour, viewers will be bombarded by the selling of sex appeal for useless items. Targeting teenagers and young adults is bad enough, but to read that a once respected and hard-working Vermont-based business is now seeking the money of the older generation is insulting.

Leave the sexual aid concerns and questions to licensed doctors, not products that are being sold in our back yard. I implore Vermont Country Store owner Mr. Lyman Orton to reconsider this not just for the sake of future sales but for the homegrown business image his decision is now tarnishing.

JACKIE STEPONAITIS

Vergennes








READER COMMENTS


I don't know exactly what image of Vermont Ms. Steponaitis is referring to, but I can just imagine the chuckle that all of this commotion over relative nonsense would generate among the old Vermont farmers whose livelihoods contribute greatly to the picture postcard image of the state that so many are familiar with.
-- Posted by Bill O. Rights on Sat, Feb 21, 2009, 2:01 pm EST

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I gotta life: Right on! Hey, do you know why sex and pizza are alike? Because even when they are bad they are still pretty darn good.
-- Posted by SC Boy on Sat, Feb 21, 2009, 8:59 am EST

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Everyone always feels better after sex so why be upset if a company is trying to make a living helping people feel better. We have a lot of issues right now in this country that need addressing a lot more than this one.This is a non issue.Period.
-- Posted by I gotta life on Sat, Feb 21, 2009, 8:42 am EST

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I prefer sex to violence....
-- Posted by Colleen Wright on Sat, Feb 21, 2009, 6:56 am EST

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Obviously with a name like DOC JOHNSON, I belive that Mr. Lyman Orton has the right to sell these products. Hell, you might even say I would encourage it.
-- Posted by doc johnson None on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 10:00 pm EST

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Tell me it T'aint so.....
-- Posted by ex-vermonter None on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 6:52 pm EST

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When The Orton clan starts selling marijuana, that will be a real milestone.
Vermont Homegrown with the Vermont Seal of Approval on the package.
Of course, if you could grow your own, why would you bother BUY any ?
Ever notice that you can't grow your own tobacco plants ?
It's a Felony actually. A Federal Offense. Now, for the record, I am neither a tobacoo consumer or a current marijuana partaker, but please, let's just all make sure that when Marijuana is eventually legalized, that nobody ends up with a monopoly on the product. Pot goes great with sex by the way.
-- Posted by Christian Essene on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 5:57 pm EST

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Basically, the Ortons have the right to sell (and advertise) whatever they want to sell or advertise, and people have the right to buy it or not... to be offended or not. Those who choose to be offended are free to take their business elsewhere. Pretty simple really.
-- Posted by Allen Kuusela on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 5:41 pm EST

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Hey Dave Holland...."skyrocketing teen pregnancy rate'?????

ummmm...no... its actually down 36% from its high in 1990.

http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_ATSRH.html

Now, i know its harder to research facts rather than make them up..but give it a shot sometime.
-- Posted by None None on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 4:19 pm EST

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David Holland: Gosh, I'm embarassed. I thought this was just all pretty funny. Having read your post I now realize that I should be taking this much more seriously. And I intend to do that as soon as I can stop laughing.

Lighten up, bud.
-- Posted by SC Boy on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 1:59 pm EST

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Jackie I'm sorry you were taught that sex is dirty. There are powerful emotions involved here and for thousands of years people have been using this power to the negative, and have been very successful in doing so. Because if you are not aware that sex is probably the best thing since sliced bread, please get out from under the bed. Psychologically, sex is very healthy, the benefits range from better heart and brain function to better circulation less stress and most importatantly it provides an intimate connection that we all need and are looking for. But when this powerful drive is used to control people with guilt and shame it transforms into the actions we see that are so prevalent in America today (i.e., rape,pederasty,pedophilia and spousal abuse). In countries that sex is not an negative issue such as the Scandinavian countries, Japan and Europe these acts are basically non-existent in these countries. Now to address your fear that young people are some how being drawn into a sexual frenzy by television is just bunk. Believe me puberty and raging hormones have way more to do with the teen sex problem that we are having in this country today. The only way that we have to counteract this is with education and involvement in young peoples lives and the monitoring of where they go who they see and what they do is our job as parents and this involvement and teaching by example is the only way that you will curb this epidemic. As for your statement that our culture is based on sexual intensity and awareness. Heres some homework for you. For the next month or week whatever you want. Keep track of every breast, sexual act and sexual aid you see on tv. Also keep track of every incident of bullying,shootings, intimidation and general vindictiveness on the same tube and I assure you the latter will have a much higher number.So being a good Vermonter I'm sure you must have some common-sense to see these violent acts are far more of a determinant to our young people and to people in general for that matter. Than some sex aid catalog or mothers breast feeding their children or some other intimate incounter between two consenting adults and maybe a healthy dose of conversation with our kids about love, respect and honoring your partner would go along way in turning around our 60% plus divorce rate and skyrocketing teen pregnancy rate. Jackie heres an analogy for you. you can wash and wash something but if it isn't dirty in the first place its never going to get any cleaner for you. I truly hope you can open your mind to a new perspective because how we have been taught to view sex in this country is dangerously WRONG.
Respectfully, D.O. Holland
-- Posted by David Holland on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 12:45 pm EST

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What a funny column. I lost my wife's "devise" when we moved, must have been in a box that got thrown out by accident. Now I know where I can get a new one, Yeah! Does anybody know what section of the store has these? Do they have them in Weston?
-- Posted by RUKIDDING ME on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 11:59 am EST

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They have every right to sell what they deem fit to sell. If you don't like an item they sell, do not buy it. If it horrifies you so severely (What happened to our tough constitutions? We're all weakening!) then simply do not shop through them. It is as simple as that.
-- Posted by Scott Frank on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 11:54 am EST

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Oh get over it.
-- Posted by Comfy Anon on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 10:49 am EST

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Is there anything more wholesome than an orgasm ?
-- Posted by Christian Essene on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 10:40 am EST

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Jackie Steponaitis: I used to know a couple who used maple syrup for things other than pancakes. They insisted on pure Vermont Maple Syrup. You wouldn't suggest that Mr. Orton stop selling VT syrup, would you?
-- Posted by SC Boy on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 10:03 am EST

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Amy Grover: People over 60 have sex? Could you call my wife and tell her that?

(It's a joke, folks, just a joke).
-- Posted by SC Boy on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 9:58 am EST

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Does it really matter what these affectionate people do--as long as they don't do it in the streets and frighten the horses!
-- Posted by (Anonymous) on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 9:18 am EST

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Cmon, Jackie..what right to you have resenting Mom & Pop having a lil fun???? Do you really think they ALL run neighborhood stores and play bingo????You have a convoluted view of Vermonts "image"..where do you think all the little Vermonters come from?
-- Posted by None None on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 8:49 am EST

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What a hypocrite!!!!!!! From your article it appears you read about these items in the paper, so, I would assume you don't purchase from your own Vermont business in this "tight community" that you band together with...
The Vermont Country Store employs hundreds of people and is one the largest local contributors that donate time and money to support the local community..
If as you stated, you grew up with it, so it shouldn't matter what other people want or do with these products...
Get a life... You can have one without sex, but it seems you already know that....
-- Posted by None None on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 8:05 am EST

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I see their sales strategy, it targets older people who may be interested in trying these products but don't want to be seen in the local adult bookstore, nor do they want a subscription to adam & eve lying around their house when the grandkids come over.
-- Posted by concerned citizen on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 7:40 am EST

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Did you know that vibrators were once sold in the Sears & Roebuck catalog c. 1900 as aids to help in female "hysteria"? They were developed to help physicians in their treatment of women. What's all the fuss? Our great-grandparents didn't see a problem with this. Are we so much more moral than they were? With all the real problems in the world, let it go.....
-- Posted by a friend on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 7:40 am EST

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Here is a surprise for you - Vermonters have sex. Guess what? People over 60 have sex. Even more, some people actually enjoy it!
Another point - obviously these products are profitable or they wouldn't carry them. That means people are buying them and enjoying them. Yes, even people who shop at the Vermont Country Store. This does not make these people deviant perverts -this stuff is very tame.
-- Posted by Amy Grover on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 7:33 am EST

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Haven't been to Rutland in a few years, huh? There's been an adult store located downtown for almost 10 years now. Don't you think it's time you start getting out and see what's around for real instead of just reading about things? I mean really, Harlequin romance novels just don't do it for some of us any more.
-- Posted by White Witch on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 7:31 am EST

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uhh are you a moron writer of this letter? Sexual aids dont require a prescription and I doubt a womn would want to go in to a what size ******** to by...what an ignorant fool. Welcome t0 2009 not 1909.
-- Posted by None None on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 7:19 am EST

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If you think the Ortons are tainting Vermonts image, why don't you look out your back window at Killington? Vt has allowed big biz to take over a natural wonder, and if you think there isn't a lot of sex, drugs and (well, there isn't a lot of rock and roll on the mountain anymore) on that mountain, you have never cleaned rooms in hotels up there. Sex is fun. If you need assistance, get it. Its not a big deal. And if a small piece of plastic will keep a couple together enjoying themselves, great. Would you rather they break up a family because one parties needs aren't being met over something as easily solved as erectile dysfunction?

If you don't want to buy the products, don't. End of story.
-- Posted by Colleen Wright on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 7:19 am EST

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certainly legalizing marijuana would provide equity, crime (cost), and revenue for vt and the us. the government must do what it needs to survive. tax revenue from the sale of marijuana would go towards this end.
-- Posted by ronald grande on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 5:57 am EST

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This business is doing what it needs to do, to survive. Do not judge them on these items alone, it is unfair. In the end,(no pun intended), they will find whether it was a good business decision or not. My relative gets another companies catologue in the mail that has adult items included in their pages. I was a little surprised when I first saw them, but I just turned the page to see what else was for sale. No Problem! As I have not seen VCS's catologue, I believe that they would not put anything that was terribly inappropriate in it. But, if I did not care for it, I would just turn the page, again. As long as it was not pornographic I would not have a problem with it. The world has a lot worse things going on in it than to worry about a tasteful catalogues' items. You could be out of your home, job, food, heat,need medical care,etc., don't make such a big deal out of something that is not. Maybe, society as we know it will collapse, then do you think that you'll care what is in their catalogue? Maybe, if you cant afford bathroom tissue! Good Day! CCF
-- Posted by Clyde Fitzgerald on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, 4:39 am EST

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