Is it me or is this offensive?

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R_healing
R_healing Member Posts: 19
edited June 2014 in Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts

Hello-

Something has been bugging me since earlier this week and I thought I would tap into this amazing and wise group and get a sanity check.  Now, I would never describe myself as someone who is easily offended - I use four-letter words liberally, laugh at and tell some pretty good dirty jokes, etc. I have a good sense of humor and have no issues poking fun at my own flaws.

 That being said, I was at one of my oncologists' offices earlier this week checking out and paying my bill when I looked over and saw a large poster advertising "Tee off for the Ta Tas".  It really ticked me off!  Is it me or do other women out there find the use of the words tatas, hooters and others, in reference to breast cancer, distasteful and disrepectful?  Of course, I could be overly sensitive too (between the steorids, chemo, Xanax, etc.) so that is why I am asking you all. I am actually considering saying something to my physician's office about it next time I am there.

 I started wondering if we would ever see posters with sayings like "Golfing for Gonads" or "Bowling for Butt Cancer".   These seem just as insensitive and inappropriate as teeing off for tatas in my mind.

Thanks for any insight or thoughts you have to share on this.

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  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited December 2010

    I think it depends on the culture you come from. Ta-tas can actually be considered a polite term for breasts in some circles. Better than "boobs", in my mind. Hooter, well that's male slang and any advertising that used that term would be offensive to just about everyone.

    I'm sure some advertising department was just trying to be creatively alliterative.  Their headline rolls off the tongue better than "Breast Cancer Golf Tournament." If you don't play golf, I'd just ignore it.

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  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited December 2010

    I sure wouldn't like it in my oncologist's office.  To me, it would feel demeaning - I would hope that I'm more than my breasts.  I would hope my oncologist  would treat me like a person.

    Outside of the oncologist's office, then I would be *slightly* more tolerant, because I know there are lots of people out there who 'don't get it'.  I'd still feel offended though, especially if others knew that I had breast cancer.

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited December 2010

    I DO find it offensive strangely enough. I don't even like "boobs". I had breasts.

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  • InTwoPlaces
    InTwoPlaces Member Posts: 354
    edited January 2011

    I should have been offended as well. I can't imagine an oncologist offiice has something like that on the wall.

    I guess it's meant in a good way, but I wonder how many women without breast or damaged breast because of all the thing we has to go trough would feel when they read "the Tee off for the Ta Tas". I think the last thing we want to see is two perfect breast:-)

    Very bad taste IMO,

    So,no you are not alone and I would urge to to explain for them how it make you feel!

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  • Lmflynn
    Lmflynn Member Posts: 373
    edited December 2010

    I don't find it offensive -- I agree that it depends on culture -- context etc.  Now "The Tee Off for the T*ts"  that would be offensive....There is a group of women that started the "Save the Ta-Ta's" group that has a foundation for BC resaearch and T-shirts etc... so someone may be actually thinking they are supporting this group or it may be a fundraiser for this group?

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  • AnnNYC
    AnnNYC Member Posts: 4,484
    edited December 2010

    I agree with Leaf -- not something I'd want to see in my onc's or BS's office.

    In general, it does bug me -- maybe more in terms of plain old respect for women!  It's women's lives that need to be saved!  Not some generic, disembodied ta-tas!  I'm all for sexy talk and even "objectification" in the bedroom, in games I choose to enjoy with my boyfriend!  But I do have a feminist reaction to "save the ta-tas" -- as if breasts are like whales or puppies and other (helpless) miracles of nature, needing an Audubon Society or Sierra Club or ASPCA to preserve them -- I guess I wouldn't publicly campaign against this, on the grounds that maybe it raises some money that's helpful.

    But it's a little too frivolous-sounding for me -- as if the sponsors feel it would be a real downer if the cause were portrayed as saving the lives of living, breathing, sentient, capable women.  "Gee, how sad.  Let's portray our cause as preserving breathtaking scenic views..."

    NancyD, I know what you mean!  But this is just how it strikes me today!

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited December 2010

    I agree.  Very offensive, especially in an oncologist's office.  I've always preferred "breast" too, not boobs, not ta-tas, not titties (really hate that one)....

    I do think that men's cancers need to get the same focus that women's cancer's get, so in addition to your Golfing for Gonads, how about:

    Bowling for Balls

    Pitching for Prostates

    Darts for Dicks

    Tee off for Testes 

    Peddling for Pricks 

    Others? 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2010

    I would definitely find it offensive and would say something to the office staff about it.

    anne

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  • AnnNYC
    AnnNYC Member Posts: 4,484
    edited December 2010

    Free the Willies

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  • MissBianca
    MissBianca Member Posts: 2,193
    edited January 2011

    Well, I gotta say, when I first read "tee off for the ta tas", I thought, yeah that's pretty tasteless. But then I read your potential slogans "golfing for gonads" and "bowling for butt cancer" I have to admit made me crack a smile, even though of course they would be outrageously inappropriate. Some things just sound funny, even when they can be about dreadfully serious issues. Some ad exec probably cracked himself up over the tatas slogan and couldn't resist. Or maybe it was supposed to rally up a bunch of "tata" loving male golfers for the cause, or perhaps someone thought they should lighten up the angle for a serious cause to gain more participation. Well, I hope those happy golfers teeing off with tata jokes made a bundle for our cause!

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  • zap
    zap Member Posts: 2,017
    edited December 2010

    You have touched on my pet peeve.  I hate tata, boob and boobies.  The girls were wearing bracelets at my school that said "Save a Boob" and it just was too much for me.   One would not say "Save some balls" when fundraising  for testicular cancer.  You have an oppotrunity to bring some awareness to thse in the medical profession where you need to go for treatment.  You are not over-reacting.

    I do think, however, that this is a generational issue (could be wrong), but it appears many young woman and girls are not offended. 

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  • Bren-2007
    Bren-2007 Member Posts: 6,241
    edited December 2010

    It seems so out of place in the oncs office.  Very weird and inappropriate .. but on a lighter note, you ladies are cracking me up!

    "ASPCA" bahwahaha!

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  • R_healing
    R_healing Member Posts: 19
    edited December 2010

    OK Beesie - you made laugh out loud!

     Thanks ladies for all your responses - I really appreciate your perspectives and perhaps, being that it was in a doc office, after i just got pumped full of drugs, it struck me in a bad way.

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  • kira1234
    kira1234 Member Posts: 3,091
    edited December 2010

    Beesie you made my day. I am laughing so hard my DH just came in to ask what's so funny. I chose not to tell him can't imagine his reaction if I did.

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  • caaclark
    caaclark Member Posts: 936
    edited December 2010

    I can't say I am offended at the slogan but to me it gives the feeling that boobs are the ONLY thing we are trying to save.  Isn't saving lives way more important than saving the ta tas? 

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  • CrunchyPoodleMama
    CrunchyPoodleMama Member Posts: 1,220
    edited January 2011

    I don't really get offended by things, but that is really irritating. I saw a "Save the ta-ta's" bumper sticker today and got irritated. As someone has said here, it's not about saving the ta-ta's anyway... many a ta-ta has to go... it's about saving the LIVES.

    ROFL, thanks for the giggles about possible men's fundraisers. How about: 

    • Wakeboarding for Weewees 
    • Pole Vaulting for Peters
    • Rackets for Rectums
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2012

    Beesie

    FABULOUS!!!!   was just about to write I think it is offensive in a doctor's office - if there is still a Men's Only ( and I hope there isn't) golf club and they want to show what jerks they are - then they can put it in their "clubhouse"  - I hope you do mention it to your doctor  - maybe with a print out of these responses.

    Golfig for Gonads - pleeeze use a BIG magic marker and make up a poster for your doctor, maybe with some of Beesie's Beauties too.

    You are all the BEST - thanks for finding something to laugh about!  Happy New Year to all...

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  • nora_az
    nora_az Member Posts: 720
    edited December 2010

    It rubs me the wrong way too.

    To me it under emphasises what we go through and makes light of the situation.

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  • R_healing
    R_healing Member Posts: 19
    edited December 2010

    Yeah, the more I think about it and read your thoughts and responses, the more I think it is the objectification of my body in reference to the disease in a tasteless slogan.  The word tatas doesn't really bother me - it is the use of it in a fundraiser for breast cancer advertised on the wall of the doc office the ticks me off.  I am going to say something when I am there next week.

    Rackets for Rectums - that is awesome :o)  I am going to share that one with a friend of mine (young, male, colon cancer survivor) because it would make him laugh!

     You all made me laugh today with you humor - thank you!

     May 2011 bring you lots of love, blessings and laughter.

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  • kelben
    kelben Member Posts: 269
    edited December 2010

    It strikes me as just tasteless. But I think it depends on which illness is being posted, as to who becomes offended. We have gone through so much unfunny crap with this disease anything that doesn't say "golf for the worst disease in the whole damn world", is just not appropriate.

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  • Delilahbear
    Delilahbear Member Posts: 466
    edited January 2011

    Now that I am done laughing over the male possibilities, I have to say that the whole "TaTas" issue is offensive to me as well. As far as breast cancer goes, it is bad enough to go through it, but the TaTas and Boobies, etc. help to imply that it is only a female disease. I know of several males who have had breast cancer and I am sure they probably do not appreciate the "save the ta-tas" propaganda. I believe that they are the forgotten ones in this whole fight. I prefer to have a poster that is along the lines of Teeing off for Breast Cancer Research or something to that effect.

    Just my thoughts.

    Nancy

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  • mrsnjband
    mrsnjband Member Posts: 1,409
    edited January 2011

    So this is my question, is breast cancer the only cancer they treat? So why are the advertising raising money for bc research?  I didn't even want to save the "ta-ta's" that were making me ill.  I don't want to save them, find a cure.

    But I will admit I got a chuckle out of the other slogans!

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  • mamanmidwife
    mamanmidwife Member Posts: 689
    edited January 2011

    you all are goin to yell at me but i had a "Ta-ta to the tata,bye to boob, toodles to the tit" party right before my mastectomy, but it was mine. when a reiend had a save the tata posting on facebook i got pissed, i coud care less about the breast it's my life i'm looking to prolong

    P.S. i also had a "bub-bye ovules" before my oopherectomy in july

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  • ADK
    ADK Member Posts: 2,259
    edited January 2011

    It was tasteless. 'nuf said

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  • riley702
    riley702 Member Posts: 1,600
    edited January 2011

    Maman, I don't have a problem with your personal Ta-ta to the ta-tas party. If it helped cheer you up prior to your surgery, go for it! I'm sorry now I didn't have a Bon Voyage to the boobs party, myself. JMO, of course.

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited January 2011

    I would find it extremely ofensive to see that poster in an onc's office! I am sick to death of the pinkification of bc. This is not about "saving tatas"

    I'm Stage IV. THE HELL WITH SAVE THE TA-TAS! SAVE MY LIFE!

    Leah

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  • karen333
    karen333 Member Posts: 3,697
    edited January 2011

    I find it offensive too.  I too thought I wwas being overly sensitive, but it is just another instance of objectifying women.  If it in poor taste to direct it to males, it is in poor taste to direct it to women.  Karen

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  • BaseballFan
    BaseballFan Member Posts: 859
    edited January 2011

    Leah_S - I think your slogan would make a great bumper sticker:  HELL WITH SAVE THE TA-TAS!  SAVE MY LIFE!  Love it!!!   It's just extra skin....but my organs are necessary!

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  • Paula1231
    Paula1231 Member Posts: 456
    edited January 2011

    Both points are well taken, but for me the humor was priceless.  I laughed till I cried and nearly wet my pants.  Best:  Racquets for Rectums LOL LOL ow ow LOL

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  • carcharm
    carcharm Member Posts: 486
    edited January 2011

    Definetely offensive. I grew up with 4 brothers who used "Ta-Ta's" to describe large breasted women...

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