Sociological Images

Duff, Jody B., and Keely W. sent in a link to a CNN article about a $7,000, battery-powered sex doll with multiple personalities and sensors in her anatomical-correctness, so to speak, that make her “shudder.”

That’s “Roxxxy” to you (after the jump, with inventor, because maybe not safe for work):

I posted recently about a news program highlighted on Hulu that spotlighted a pornographic film company and its troubles with the economy.  It was an interesting example of the mainstreaming of pornography, or the gradual disappearance of a critical stance towards porn.  I wrote:

…the program treated pornography as if it was just any other industry; it could have been a discussion of the car industry in light of the economic downturn or pig farmers in light of swine flu.

It’s fascinating to me that pornography has managed to go from wildly scandalous to entirely banal.

Remember, both feminists and the religious right used to launch vicious anti-pornography campaigns.  Interestingly, an issue that inspired vitriol from both sides of the political spectrum has landed squarely in the center.

And, indeed, the CNN article treats Roxxxy like she is just any other new technological gadget.  Remember, this is CNN which, if not a paragon of good reporting, is not, by any stretch, a specialized news outlet for sex toy connoisseurs.

Below, I quote the text and translate (I admit, snarkily).

It begins:

To some men, she might seem like the perfect woman: She’s a willowy 5 feet 7 and 120 pounds. She’ll chat with you endlessly about your interests. And she’ll have sex whenever you please — as long as her battery doesn’t run out.

Translation:

Hardy har everyone!  A sex doll!

Text:

“There’s a tremendous need for this kind of product,” said [inventor,] Hines…

Translation:

Sex dolls are like food stamps and day care; their existence fulfills an important and tremendous need.  What?  You don’t have one?   How do you live!?

Text:

…thousands of men have signed up [for one].  “They’re like, ‘I can’t wait to meet her,’ ” Hines said. “It’s almost like the anticipation of a first date.”

Translation:

Sex dolls are the equivalent of real flesh-and-blood women.  “Thousands of men” say so.  Look at how cute she is in normal clothes!?

Text:

Women have inquired about ordering a sex robot, too. Hines says a female sex therapist even contacted him about buying one for her patients.

Translation:

In case this makes you queasy… stuff it.  You’re repressed.

Text:

…Jay Leno expressed amazement that a sex robot could carry on lifelike conversations and express realistic emotions.

“Luckily, guys,” he joked, “there’s a button that turns that off.”

Translation:

Oh, and feminists… fuck you.

Text:

Hines, a self-professed happily married man from Lincoln Park, New Jersey, says he spent more than three years developing the robot after trying to find a marketable application for his artificial-intelligence technology.

Translation:

Hines is not a perv.  In fact, he’s a super-serious scientist.  So this is all on the up-and-up.

See previous on “stuff it” and “fuck you.”

Text:

…her conversational abilities provide something close to emotional companionship. His customer base?  Shy, awkward or older men who “have trouble meeting girls,” he says.

Translation:

Don’t like the idea of a sex doll?  If you’d just open your legs for those creepy guys, they wouldn’t need them!  You frigid bitch!

Text:

TrueCompanion also is developing a male sex robot, named Rocky.

Translation:

See, we’re totally not sexist!  We’re equal opportunity objectifiers!

Text:

“Whenever she’s out in public, everyone wants to talk to her and pose for pictures. It’s so cute.”

Translation:

Take a chill pill, freak.  She’s adorable.  You’d have to be dead inside to not love Roxxxy!

(Image sources here and here.)

See our other posts on the pornification of everyday life here, here, here, and here.