Funny or offensive (rated PG-13)?

Question

There's a men's bathroom that installed urinals shaped like a woman's mouth. Someone told a woman about it, and a bunch of women's rights groups complained, and eventually the urinals were removed from the bathroom. What do you think? Is it funny, or offensive, or neither (or both, I guess)? When you answer, say whether you're a man or a woman.

Here's a link to a picture, and a news story about it:
http://www.gadling.com/2007/08/28/controversial-urinals-in-vienna/

Some women seem to have interpreted the urinals as advocating that men pee on women. If that were the case, then obviously it would be gross. But note that I think they're just intended to allude to oral sex. Not peeing on people.

FYI, I'm a man, and I think it's funny.

My responses to individual answers:
Lioness: If a man likes oral sex, that is not degrading to women. Nor is it the equivalent of dog fighting or men being raped in the anus.

Auntie: If it made the statement that oral sex is all women's mouths are good for, then it would be offensive. But it doesn't make that statement. It makes the statement that oral sex is *one thing* a woman's mouth is good for. It doesn't say it's the only thing. The fact that you'd infer that when it wasn't implied says more about you than it does these urinals.

draecoiram: A man puts his penis in a woman's mouth, and the possibility of oral sex doesn't even occur to you? Seriously? Seriously?

Shadow Dweller: Nobody's stopping you from installing them.

This question strikes me as an interesting Rorschach test to see whether or not a woman is easily offended. An important consideration when deciding whether or not to date them.

FYI, I asked this question in 3 different categories. Here are the overall results, excluding people who didn't answer the question:

In all 3 categories, 11 men responded, of which 10 thought it was funny, and 1 thought it was offensive.

In all 3 categories, 28 women responded, of which 12 (43%) thought it was funny, 8 thought it was offensive, and 8 thought it was neither.

In the Jokes and Riddles category, 7 women responded, of which 5 (71%) thought it was funny, 0 thought it was offensive, and 2 thought it was neither.

In the Polls & Surveys category, 11 women responded, of which 5 (45%) thought it was funny, 4 thought it was offensive, and 2 thought it was neither.

In the Gender & Women's Studies category, 10 women responded, of which 2 (20%) thought it was funny, 4 thought it was offensive, and 4 thought it was neither.

So it would appear that the women in the Gender & Women's Studies category are easily offended, the women in the Jokes and Riddles category are fun loving, and the women in the Polls & Surveys category are in between. That's about what I expected.

Answer 1

I think it's funny. Some women are so over sensitive about this stuff.

Answer 2

It wouldn't be as offensive if the women got to use a man's face as a toilet seat when they sit down. I don't find it offensive but bizarre. Looks like something found on a tacky game show or movie.

Answer 3

Back in my "younger days" I used to have a ceramic bong that was made in a realistic-looking likeness of a man's penis (and a rather large one, at that..)......lol! I suppose there would be all kinds of people that would find that offensive- for several reasons. But then again, it wasn't for "public use", either.

....But the peeing in a "woman's mouth" thing is indeed offensive because it's degrading to women, and because those urinals were installed in a public place...that means there was no regard at all given to those it may offend.

Answer 4

I don't find images of urinating in a woman's mouth particularly humorous, putting her mouth in the bathroom where every man walks one by one and finishes his business. Neither do I, seeing imitations of beat up children or men being raped in the anus.

I don't understand the humor behind degrading another individual. But again, people engage in dogfights for fun and beat up old people to get a kick...not to mention stalk and harass people on here for giggles.

There are certainly other ways to have fun and laugh without having to do it at someone else's expense.

PS: Oral sex or urinating- doesn't matter. While people have the right to do either they choose with their mouth behind closed doors, I consider the image in a man's restroom, for the public to see, offensive.

Answer 5

I think it is offensive because it makes the statement that the only thing women's mouths are good for is taking something from a dick. Not kissing, not saying wonderful things or singing or laughing...do you kind of see how it might be interpreted as being offensive?

Answer 6

i think it's a bit offensive. in the very least it is in bad taste. (no pun intended)
i don't see how it can be seen as anything but portraying peeing in someone's mouth. (most likely a woman's, yes).
alluding to oral sex?? do you usually urinate during oral sex?
gross. foul.

Answer 7

I think this is a bit immature but as a woman I do not find it offensive.I do not know why any women would complain about what happens in a men's room.What business is this of some feminists?

Answer 8

Somewhat funny but mostly sad.
Sad because it had to cost a lot of money to custom make urinals in very limited production for a bad joke.
The person who did it has highlighted his character (or lack of it) for the whole word to see.

Answer 9

I am a man and I find this not only very hilarious, but non-offensive in any way. I, too, would interpret it as oral sex which is (at least in recent times thanks to the media) a very common and often talked about subject. I feel that the women of this "women's rights" group were merely bored and needed something to do and complain to men about. Plus, if they truly believed in women's rights they would equally believe in men's rights which would mean we have the right to pee in urinals shaped like women's mouths. Case closed.

Answer 10

I just think it's weird, it's not offensive or not funny. But those are cool looking urinals.

Answer 11

Eh, I guess it could be offecsive. But if it really got to those women, they should be taken down. By the way, why were the urinals right next to the bar?