Operation Vibration

April 21, 2005 9:04 AM

We Come In Peace. "The following letters were written by employees of Playtime, an adult toy store in Edison, New Jersey, to accompany thirty-six vibrators sent as gifts to Iraqi women last October." Here's the original Operation Vibration website, what a wonderful thing!
posted by gsb (39 comments total)

Al-Jazeera will have fun with this story!
posted by LarryC at 9:10 AM on April 21, 2005

Maybe that's just the thing to unite Muslim and Xian extremists!
posted by clevershark at 9:20 AM on April 21, 2005

I read some of the letters...somewhat racist and ridiculously insensitive. for example:

"As the bombs and molten death rain unmercifully upon your homeland, know that there are those of us, in various corners of the world, who sympathize with what you are going through."

go team!
posted by es_de_bah at 9:22 AM on April 21, 2005

From what I've seen on the news, you and your fellow women have been suppressed for some time, and now that you've been liberated it is our thinking that we should spread love and hope. There's no better way to do that than with vibrators.

since this doesn't make sense in english, it will be interesting to see how it translates to arabic.
posted by three blind mice at 9:23 AM on April 21, 2005

Operation vibration? They should call it Operation Shock and aaaaah.
posted by clevershark at 9:27 AM on April 21, 2005

I get this bizarre image of a woman in a chador using her new glow-in-the-dark vibrator to mix the lavash dough.
posted by fungible at 9:30 AM on April 21, 2005

Clevershark makes me laugh.
posted by fatllama at 9:32 AM on April 21, 2005

The aim of this project is so naive and short sighted, I'm not sure if I should feel angry or sad.
posted by haasim at 9:32 AM on April 21, 2005

in my life, i've seen very few things i consider obscene. operation vibration is one. most others not coincidentally involve war, like abu ghraib. pathetically, operation vibration doesn't seem to contain any obscenity that is actionable, just extremely bad taste and judgment.
posted by 3.2.3 at 9:33 AM on April 21, 2005

Wait, WHO thought this was a good idea? I don't doubt that Iraqi women need sexual release as much as anyone, but when Al-Jazeera calls Westerners godless hedonists they can pretty much just hold up the box of vibrators for evidence. ARRRGGGGG.
posted by thedevildancedlightly at 9:36 AM on April 21, 2005

It seems to me they would do more good by shipping their toys to the seven states in the US where they are illegal to sell. Charity begins at home, as they say.
posted by TedW at 9:39 AM on April 21, 2005

Self-Absorbed Middle Earth Hippies: Doing more harm than good since 1967!
posted by Divine_Wino at 9:40 AM on April 21, 2005

they don't sound like hippies to me, divine_wino...they sound pretty damn pro-occupation, in fact...
When my fellow Americans leave your country, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to enjoy it much longer.
True, perhaps, but it just goes to show what a profoundly stupid, insincere gesture this is...
posted by es_de_bah at 9:44 AM on April 21, 2005

Wonderful. What an absolutely brilliant way to help offset suggestions of US cultural insensitivity towards Islamic nations in the middle east.

And, just as with the mud-wrestling GI incident, these doubtless well-meaning buffoons wil go "What? Huh? What's the problem?" when the predictable offence is caused.
posted by Decani at 9:47 AM on April 21, 2005

As the bombs and molten death rain unmercifully upon your homeland, know that there are those of us, in various corners of the world, who sympathize with what you are going through.

Although there is very little that I myself can accomplish to stop the invasion of our homeland, know that I am helping to send you various sexual toys and well-wishes in a show of solidarity. The Prophet (just like all religious figures) preaches patience, and I believe that your suffering will be short-lived.

Soon your precious oil reserves will be plundered, and our country will no longer be important. A local despot will gain power, and the great cycle will continue. Enjoy your vibrator while you can. When my fellow Americans leave your country, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to enjoy it much longer.



Hippie! Complete with mysterious total misunderstanding of the distinction between yours and ours.
posted by Divine_Wino at 9:59 AM on April 21, 2005

Not only insensitive to their culture, but also really mean. They might as well say This is to replace your killed husband, very nice.
posted by Napierzaza at 10:07 AM on April 21, 2005

Because women with living husbands never masturbate?
posted by Cyrano at 10:09 AM on April 21, 2005

They'll probably use them to drill wells or grind flour or something.
posted by jonmc at 10:18 AM on April 21, 2005

Maybe that's just the thing to unite Muslim and Xian extremists!

Better get the "double-headed" model for this.
posted by Rawhide at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2005

jonmc and fungible win the thread.

Well, this is certainly the worst well-meaning idea I've seen lately. Except, from the letters, I'm not entirely sure that it was all that well-meaning. And why send vibrators? Why not, oh, medical supplies or copies of the Koran even, or something that isn't quite so culturally insensitive. While I'm sure there are Iraqi women who would love to get off with something other than their husband or their hand, I'm almost equally sure this gift would only horrifically embarass them.

Oh, my bad. We've freedomized them. Vibrators and lube for everyone, even people who value modesty and a private sex life!
posted by kalimac at 10:28 AM on April 21, 2005

This Operation . . . it *ow!*

okay, okay . . geez
posted by petebest at 10:30 AM on April 21, 2005

What Napierzaza said.
Instead of exporting western culture, why not try to understand theirs?
For example, I figure one reason the religious tradition of wearing veils and long beards has survived thousands of years of evolution is because they filter the desert dust, and maintain health.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 10:33 AM on April 21, 2005

jonmc and fungible win the thread.

But, but it's not over yet!

petebest deserves props, too.
posted by Rawhide at 10:36 AM on April 21, 2005

In all seriousness, this idea is bullshit. What if sympathetic Afghani women had banded together to sent American women burqas and advice for them not to be so "uppity" after 9/11? I am not sure we would have appreciated the gesture.
posted by Rawhide at 10:45 AM on April 21, 2005

Wow, this is the best idea since Operation Clark County! What could possibly go wrong?
posted by afroblanca at 10:53 AM on April 21, 2005

Cyrano,

There will be more lonely women in Iraq nowadays, am I right? Kind of an 'in your face' thing.
posted by Napierzaza at 10:57 AM on April 21, 2005

kalimac: ... And why send vibrators? Why not, oh, medical supplies or copies of the Koran even, or something that isn't quite so culturally insensitive.

Because, much as it pains me to say so, there are actually some leftist ideologues who are as whacked-out and radical as the rightist ideologues.

I've gotten to know a few serious hedonists, and for the most part they're pretty live and let live folks. But you can always find a few in any crowd who think that everyone ought to think about [sex / drugs / property] just exactly like they do. The cleverer ones phrase it in terms of "natural law" or "God's will" or "human nature", but it really boils down to "we have insight you don't, and so we're telling you that you should fire up these iBrators and have some fun."

Oh, and, just to prove I can be sacreligious [very NFSW...]...
posted by lodurr at 11:00 AM on April 21, 2005

What if sympathetic Afghani women had banded together to sent American women burqas and advice for them not to be so "uppity" after 9/11?

That's not the same thing at all! It's Americans' god-given right to invade, pillage and insult other countries. The other countries have no business telling Americans what do to!
posted by clevershark at 11:02 AM on April 21, 2005

The cleverer ones phrase it in terms of "natural law" or "God's will" or "human nature", but it really boils down to "we have insight you don't, and so we're telling you that you should fire up these iBrators and have some fun."

Looks like the extreme right and the extreme left aren't terribly different from one another then... except for some minor specific details. "We have insight you don't, so we're telling you that you should open up these Bibles and have some fun."
posted by clevershark at 11:05 AM on April 21, 2005

Maybe the vibrators and lube could be turned into *highly* personalized IEDs?

"The fact that the insurgents managed to get an explosive device into the base is disturbing. The fact that several of the casualties had the devices up their asses is something we'll quietly leave out of the press coverage."
posted by Grimgrin at 11:05 AM on April 21, 2005

Some of the cartoons from the site are laughable.
posted by thomcatspike at 11:40 AM on April 21, 2005

These people are trying to solve a problem. And you know how when all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail? Well, when all you have is a...
posted by Capn at 11:51 AM on April 21, 2005

seven states in the US where they are illegal to sell..
See them for easy purchase around Dallas; condoms 2 go is one store that carries them. In Texas know the material used in manufacturing it will make a factor if sale is legal or illegal. Can't recall which substance, I do remember if it made from latex like substance then no, like the 2ft long two-headed dildo.

Wait, I'm a guy why do I know this. See them displayed and have a buddy who would like pulling some pranks he did in Cali.
posted by thomcatspike at 11:55 AM on April 21, 2005

but when Al-Jazeera calls Westerners godless hedonists they can pretty much just hold up the box of vibrators for evidence.

Yes, is it possible to imagine anything more ignorant of the circumstances? How about copies of that underground kink film 'Eyes Wide Shut' too, just to get 'em in the mood and reinforce the soul-less, self-absorbed, debased, devil-worshiping American stereotype while we're at it?
posted by scheptech at 1:12 PM on April 21, 2005

It would be different if the Iraqi women asked for them... And since that site is a) the only one built since '99 to use frames, and b) really fucking vague about the logistical details, I think this is most likely a scam. Despite their first three FAQ answers being "This is for real."
posted by klangklangston at 1:14 PM on April 21, 2005

How about copies of that underground kink film 'Eyes Wide Shut' too, just to get 'em in the mood and reinforce the soul-less, self-absorbed, debased, devil-worshiping American stereotype while we're at it?

How are vibrators "soul-less, self-absorbed, and debased"?

This is a great idea. They should send vibrators to all women of the world. Then maybe some women will grow some balls and stand up to their men. ;p

Also, this is *really* old news, though I know Harper's doesn't post online. Playtime has moved on to New South Wales by now. And good on 'em.
posted by mrgrimm at 1:44 PM on April 21, 2005

Yeah, insensitive, burqas for Americans, blah blah blah.

But this made my day and I laughed real hard when I read it:

This Operation . . . it *ow!*
posted by Specklet at 2:13 PM on April 21, 2005

As has been amply pointed out, this idea extends beyond the moronic. It demonstrates the kind of complete absence of cultural criticism and understanding that fuels anti-Americanism around the world. The bald assertion that the American way is correct obscures the strong arguments that can be made for core American values and paints Americans as ignorant, idiotic, or simply mad.

Plenty of liberal Western women are quite embarrassed by the idea or sight of vibrators. I'm not saying that such a response is more or less valid than that of someone who embraces them openly and heartily, but rather that there should be ample evidence for someone living here that sending someone on the other side of the world, who lives under a different culture and historical tradition, is not an act that is likely to be well-understood. I just hope these get grabbed by customs somewhere or, barring that, that those who receive them cannot read the insensitive and foolish accompanying letters.
posted by sindark at 6:02 PM on April 21, 2005

Terrible. They'll read it as nothing other than an offensive act, as though Americans are essentially telling them to "f^*k off."
posted by Lillitatiana at 9:54 AM on April 22, 2005