Playboy not harmful to women
I recently saw the Playboy ad in Technician and thought what an awesome experience this was. In fact, the ad does not bother me at all.
What does bother me is the constant flow of letters to the Technician complaining about how they are ashamed and appalled that Technician advertised Playboy. For those who have written letters complaining about the ad, I don’t think your opinion is going to take the ad off the press — sorry.
As for your rebuttal, it’s not strong at all. The common misinterpreted message that women need to be skinny, beautiful and big-breasted is ridiculous. All of you who believe this assumption must live a really bland life. I mean really, you must not watch television, read magazines, talk about celebrity gossip or associate yourselves with any media whatsoever.
If there are girls who want to post up practically naked, then go for it. Be grateful for your hot bod. And for those who are so against it, then just don’t look at it.
Ronilyn Osborne
freshman, public relations
Women, listen to women!
At the risk of beating a dead horse, I thought that a man ought to weigh in on the issue of Playboy coming to town.
The young ladies who have already written letters to the editor on the subject have made strong arguments, and the Technician ran the advertisements anyway. Our words apparently have no volume when compared to the shrill voice of the treasurer.
I could say a lot concerning the psychology and sociology of such smut from a man’s perspective, but I truly believe that it is an argument young ladies must have amongst themselves first. After all, if they keep doing photo shoots, Playboy will keep printing.
But for goodness’ sake, LISTEN to each other. It amazes me how much young women at universities talk about empowerment only to undermine one another in everything they do. The letter-writing ladies made some stellar points — their reasoning was far more forward-looking than the ad testimonial — but other young women participated anyway. I suspect the young ladies who pose for Playboy believe it is empowering because the creators TELL them it is (a bit of a conflict of interest considering their incomes depend on the success of their argument.)
Your predecessors worked hard to win you the recognition as individuals — worthy, beautiful and intelligent — that you merit as women in this country. But it seems they ill estimated their progeny. Apparently, you WANT to be ogled and used rather than truly appreciated. Was their work really for nothing?
D. Aaron Wells
graduate student, architecture
‘Playboy’ not newsworthy
A page and half spread about “When ‘Playboy’ came to town” for the March 25 paper. Really? At an institution of higher learning such as State, you find it worthwhile to devote 20 percent of the paper to talk about when a magazine comes to Raleigh, and not even State. This is something that affects very little of the student body and I doubt it actually “sparked words of support and disgust” since the only way you probably got comments on it was by individuals responding to your three days of covering this “major even.”
Then on top of that you use a graphic for the article with words such as “tramp” and”slut”- so by that are you implying that the magazine is associated with those stereotypes or are you labeling the students who were a pictured filling out paperwork (very-exciting news) as such. If you’re going to devote this many resources, including an “undercover reporter,” to a topic why not make it something worthwhile that actually affects or has anything to do with N.C. State since after all that is what you’re supposed to be representing.
Alan Foushee
freshman, public relations
More ‘Playboy,’ less politics
I would like to voice my support for the Technician in covering the recent Playboy auditions.
It is an interesting story, one that draws in readers’ attentions and Playboy itself is a celebrated and respected men’s magazine. In response to the Kelsey Lambdin and Maria McDuffie, I think you are selling your male classmates short. Both of you seem to equate Playboy with rape, that seeing naked women leads to violent sexism, and I can tell this is just not true. For a mature, male, American college student, the sight of a female form evokes only pleasure, not a furious lust for sexual assault. I do not want to detract from the seriousness of rape, as a crime and a social issue, but this is Playboy. The student body of NCSU is mature enough to handle the issue of adult entertainment without transforming into pimps and male chauvinists.
I am much more concerned over the Technician’s viewpoint piece on Election Day than their covering of naked women. I think our student newspaper showed a lack of professionalism in supporting one candidate over the other, on Election Day. By all means, the editorial staff is entitled to their opinion, but publish it a week or so in advance. As it was, the viewpoint piece appeared to be a ballot guide for lazy students. Editors, let us form our own decisions by providing more facts, and fewer endorsements.
Joshua Dudley
junior, history and creative writing
