Lovely. Just lovely. Urban Outfitters discourages the youth vote

[eyesroll]

Lookie what they're selling (for $28.00, no less):
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=3740&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=163&iSubCat=173&iProductID=3740

[Mountainman]

1. Kool let us old people set things up for ourselves

Ignorance is for young people.

[Bertha Venation]

2. Mrs. V. has been gently urging me to expand my vocabulary, but for this:

there's only one word. It's FUCKED.

[RandomKoolzip]

3. Irony?

Crossing my fingers. Then again, I might be giving these guys too much credit....

[Pithlet]

21. I think so

I'm 31, so I'm definitely not who they're marketing to, but I thought it was supposed to be ironic. It says so in the descrpition.

[BurtWorm]

32. A "drudge-load" of irony it says.

What the fuck is a "drudge-load" of anything?

[Lars39]

4. Boycott and tell 'em why! Here's ways to contact them:

Whoever allowed that one's got shyte for brains.

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/custserv/customerservicemain.jsp?cid=7

To Contact Us By Phone:
Sales 800-282-2200
Customer Service 800-959-8794


To Contact Us By Fax:
800-959-8795


To Contact Us By Mail:
Urban Outfitters Direct
1701 Walnut Street 5th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103

[scottxyz]

25. I called them

and told them I wouldn't be shopping there anymore.

The young lady on the phone was nice... She recommended that I also use email to reach them.

Anyone have their email address?

[Lars39]

28. Here's their email link:

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/custserv/customerservicemain.jsp?cid=7

[girl gone mad]

5. I can''t imagine anyone old enough to vote..

would want that.

[GOPisEvil]

6. Didn't their founder support the elephants?

It's no wonder they want a low turnout then.

Edit - yep - donated money to (p)Rick Santorum. http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/archives/article.asp?ArtID=5725

[eyesroll]

10. His two big donations:

HAYNE, RICHARD
PHILADELPHIA,PA 19107
URBAN OUTFITTERS/CHAIRMAN
4/16/2001
$2,500
Republican Federal Cmte of Pennsylvania

HAYNE, RICHARD
PHILADELPHIA,PA 19118
URBAN OUTFITTERS
11/7/2000
$5,000
Republican Federal Cmte of Pennsylvania

Other people who work there and contributed large amounts, though, are more "D":
ROBINSON, MICHAEL
NEW YORK,NY 10026
URBAN OUTFITTERS
8/28/2000
$250
Clinton, Hillary Rodham

SCHULTZ, MICHAEL
NEW YORK,NY 10022
URBAN OUTFITTERS
12/13/1999
$1,000
Corzine, Jon

SCHULTZ, MICHAEL
NEW YORK,NY 10022
URBAN OUTFITTERS
8/24/1999
$1,000
Corzine, Jon

SENK, GLEN T
PHILADELPHIA,PA 19118
URBAN OUTFITTERS/PRESIDENT
4/20/2002
$250
Hoeffel, Joseph M

SENK, GLEN
PHILADELPHIA,PA 19118
URBAN OUTFILTERS IN
8/18/2000
$250
Democratic National Cmte

(Michael Schultz was also a president of Urban Outfitters but doesn't appear to be with the company any more; Michael Robinson is/was managing director of its Anthopologie Direct division, and thus not responsible for anything that goes on at the UO store proper, per Google.)

[GOPisEvil]

11. That is what shocked me about Hayne.

I always thought the company was somewhat progressive. :shrug:

Edit - English is my first lanugage, really!

[Cat Atomic]

7. We'll see how cool apathy is when the Draft comes back.

[skypilot]

20. BEST...RESPONSE...EVER!!!!

:yourock:

[Retrograde]

31. you beat me to it

maybe it is time to repeal the 26th amendment. Looking back to the time it was passed, all the agitation and work it took to get it passed in the first place, and the hassles the county registrars (in person in those days, none of this convenient pick-up-a-form anyplace stuff) put the new voters to in 1972 (my husband in Alabama then had a particularly difficult registrar to deal with - and he's white) it saddens me to see so few young people take civic responsibilities seriously.

So let's move the voting age back up to 21, and put in a civics requirement - i.e., you can't vote unless you can pass the standard US citizenship test. If you don't understand what you're voting for, you shouldn't vote.

linda
putting on the asbestos

[RamboLiberal]

34. Any of you Viet Vets got a pic of your draft notice?

Cause any kid of voting age wearing one of these shirts ought to be handed a copy of one, cause if AWOL gets elected there's going to be a draft.

[OneBlueSky]

8. just sent them an e-mail . . .

that essentially asked if they were out of their minds . . . hope others will do the same . . .

[outinforce]

9. Here's What I Sent Them

I followed the links to the Urban Outfitters "Contact Us" page, and sent them this email:

"I just saw, on your webpage, one of the items you are marketing -- specifically the "Voting is for Old People" t-shirt.

I am of the firm belief that voting is for ALL people of voting age. I happen to live in Arlington, Virigina -- not too far from Arlington National Cemetary, where thousands of men and women who died defending the right of ALL people to vote are buried.

I am frankly amazed that your comapny would seek to make money by marketing a t-shirt that actually encourages young people not to vote.

I shall make a point of not doing any business with yourm company, and I shall point out to my friends what you are attempting to do."

[NashVegas]

18. Mine

I was just shown the url for an item your company is marketing. A teen in a shirt reading, "Voting is for old people."

The marketing wizard who came up with and approved that should be fired. I've seen a number of irresponsible items put out to consumers, but that pretty much takes the cake.

[jackstraw45]

12. Let's not over react to this...

Any person OVER 18 who would be swayed whether to vote or not based on a t-shirt is probably a person who would "just vote for Bush cause he went and kicked those iranians butts real good."

:)

[BiggJawn]

13. Yeah, you got a point there for sure.

Could say the same for any person over 18 vapid enough to wear that shirt.

Oooooooh....I'd LOVE to see one here on campus. I'd introduce the wearer to another t-shirt saying:
"Old Age-It's not for SISSIES!"

[Habibi]

15. Still

nothing wrong with sending 'em an email with one's humble opinion on the product. Which I just did and, well, it wasn't very complimentary.

:-D

[La Lioness Priyanka]

14. also they contribute heavily to rick santorum

''While the typical Urban Outfitters shopper is likely to be liberal-minded--as is the province and privilege of youth--the fiftysomething Hayne is mom-and-apple-pie conservative. He and his wife Margaret have contributed $13,150 to the campaign coffers of Paleolithic right-wing Republican Sen. Rick Santorum and his Political Action Committee over the years. ''

http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/archives/article.asp?ArtID=5725

[boxster]

16. As if we don't already have enough voter apathy.

Argh.

[RebelOne]

17. I just sent them a scathing e-mail telling them that I will be boycotting

their site and products. And I am advising other potential customers to do likewise.

[scottxyz]

26. Please tell us the email address!!

n/t

[RebelOne]

30. Go to Customer service and Contact Us.

[KittyWampus]

19. Item Description Sez "Drudge-load of Irony". Maybe It's For Freepers

Screen-printed on a vintage baseball tee with a drudge-load of irony.

[BurtWorm]

33. I couldn't help but notice that too.

What the hell is a drudge-load? Is that the same thing as a shitload?

[Oilwellian]

22. The poor kid wearing it

He sure doesn't look very happy. Perhaps he realizes he's advertising a product that encourages his peers not to vote, and as a reward for doing such, will live their lives on their knees.

[adriennel]

23. Voting is for All People

Yes! Someone is already on the case.

"Voting is for all People: Web Site Spins Urban Outfitters' Irony"

Urban Outfitters might have guessed that a T-shirt featuring the slogan "Voting Is for Old People" wouldn't go over well in an election year where every vote already seems to matter. But in addition to the already mounting protests from its patrons, the retail chain's ironic statement has also generated some competition.

Online clothing retailer Moe Wampum Inc. has added a "Voting Is for All People" T-shirt to its repertoire of satirical tees, to counter what company president Gary Mittin called "political apathy being packaged and sold to America's youth by a certain 'hip' clothing store"

"I saw the Urban Outfitters T-shirt and thought, 'My God, here is a major retailer that insults black people one week, Jewish girls the next, and now they're saying it's cool not to vote," Mittin said. He was referring to the board game Ghettopoly, pulled from Urban Outfitters shelves last fall following a public outcry, and this year's debut of a contentious T-shirt with the slogan "Everybody Loves a Jewish Girl" surrounded by dollar signs. "I had to do something, so I took the opposite position and made a shirt."

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1485254/20040223/index.jhtml?headlines=true

[scottxyz]

24. I don't shop at Urban Outfitters any more

First I noticed they were so boring - their buyers are basically just ripping off hip-hop fashion and making it "safe" for the white kids.

Then when they came out with those ethnic slur t-shirts (google "urban outfitters ethnic slur" for info) and when I found out who they were donating to - I stopped shopping there.

[Loonman]

27. They suck, anyway

Corporate "rebellion" clothes. Like Hot Topic.


Marketed teenage angst.

[scottxyz]

29. I sent them a nasty email

Hey, just wanted to congratulate you all on your new T-shirt "Voting is for Old People".

Also good to hear you've been donating to "Man on Dog" Rick Santorum and all those other great Republicans.

Also loved your line of "ethic slur" T-shirts. Way to go!

When's the new line of swastika T-shirts gonna come out?

Keep up the good work!

Signed,
A young person who makes a LOT of money and won't be spending it in any of your stores any more.