All posts by Normal Bob

Artist, Atheist, Anthropologist http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/26/nyregion/26union.html?_r=2&

French Reporter informs me Toys R Us Boycot in France over Jesus Dressup

I just received word that a large French newspaper “le Figaro” (http://lefigaro.fr/) reported that my magnets were on sale at Toys-R-Us. I just finished a phone interview with Matthieu Bock, a reporter for French National Radio Europe (will air tomorrow), and apparently a Christian person called in the news to the paper.

Original Jesus Dressup fridge magnets
Original Jesus Dressup fridge magnets ($14) with colorform style clothes includes yellow sundress, hula skirt w/coconut bra & devil PJs

From what I could gather from the reporter’s account, a call was actually made to Toys-R-Us and they responded “No. That is not us. It’s a boy in New York who did this. We do not carry the magnet.”

Of course the rumor stemmed from the visit I made 4 months ago to Toys-R-Us Times Square when I infiltrated their store and planted the toys on their shelves myself. Read the sidebar of hate mail page 382.

I told the reporter that I did indeed go and put them on the shelves myself because Toys-R-Us refused to stock them and I felt they should. I waited and watched people go up and take them to purchase, so I was right. The reporter asked if I was aware the story was in this very big paper in France and I said I was not, but am happy it is, and I’ll go put my magnets in Walmart next.

Here is the letter from a French fan explaining what he read, and the article translated from here:

“Hi Normal Bob
First of all thanks for the silly humor on your site which I enjoyed. I live in Paris France and only just discovered it because of the internet buzz about the Toy’R’us boycott mentioned in le Figaro, a conservative right wing daily newspaper, which once again has made a fool of itself. Bravo for taking on the fundies as you call them. Luckily here in France they are not so powerful as in the US (after all our forefathers and mothers did kick their butts in 1789 when we also chopped of our good king’s head, so they tend to keep a lower profile here). But there are a few left and they’re as stupid as everywhere else. Also many kudos for taking the time to answer the mounds of appalling hate mail you receive! It’s nice to hear someone tell’em like it is. You mention the Figaro article on your site saying you’d like to know more about it , I found it and translated it for you. It was a short piece but is being relayed a lot on other webmedias and blogs so you’re probably getting a lot of hits from France these days. Here’s the figaro piece, in case you haven’t found it already:

A Toy Upsets Christians
Mobilization of christian groups: a few weeks before christmas, the toy store Toys’R’Us is selling an untasteful game, to say the least..

This magnet game consists in sticking on a figure of christ disguises of Hitler, members of the KKK, and Satan. Some groups have not hesitated to call for a boycott of Toys’R’Us. They demand that this company remove this product that they judge insulting for the millions of french people who believe in the christian faith.”
So how do I translate all of these fun articles?

Nov. 22nd, 23rd & 24th, 2008

Today I posted a new page of Hate Mail for you all, and it’s all over the place! Desparate pleas to accept people’s email love, examining “spirituality” and a whole lot of screwed up thinking. Lot’s of fun! And just added today (Sunday the 23rd), Carolyn responds with some interesting questions, followed by my interesting answers.

11/24/08 Officially “the Carolyn files.” I brush off her pleas with me to not post her emails specifically to show what comes of adult thinking when Faith in the obsurd is a requirement.

Dec 6th, The topic of Spirituality is discussed further in the left sidebar.