Two somewhat related topics. Just watched another episode of Yard Crashers, and once again it featured a gay couple. I continue to be unimpressed with the yards they make (they always seem gawdy and just over-elaborate- I want my yard to be green, not some fucking concrete water display tacky mess), but I do love how they seem to use so many bi-racial or gay/lesbian couples in the show. I don’t know if that is simply because of the viewing demographic, or an intentional decision for social equality.
On another note, I realized I need some new socks and boxers and maybe a couple polo shirts, so I logged on to the JCP.com site and ordered myself up some new knickers and footwear. I’m one of those people who simply does not care about clothing. I mean, I wear it, because the alternative for everyone else would be horrifying, but I just don’t care about clothes. On a scale of things I am uninterested in, clothing ranks below Shakespeare festivals and the importance of eating liver and onions. Basically, I wear shorts from target or Cabella, t-shirts that cost 4 for 20 from the foot locker, and when I dress “up” I have a striped shirt from JCPenney’s. I’ve splurged on some nice dress clothes for when people die or things like that, but I wear them about once a year. Other than that, it’s Target (pronounced tar jay, for the fine French apparel it is), Cabella, and JCP. I was at Cabella’s last week doing my shopping for the year, walked in, asked the girl at the counter “WHERE ARE YOUR SHORTS FOR FAT MEN?,” and when she stopped giggling, she pointed me in the right direction, I picked up three pairs, bought them, and was in and out in 7 minutes. That’s how I roll, and I’m good for a year! WAHOO!
Back to my point. I was impressed with the way JCPenney treated Ellen DeGeneres, and then I was so impressed with their corporate leadership going forward with the Father’s Day ads featuring real life couples that I decided I needed to spend my money there. So I did.
But here is my question- how do I let JCP know that I supported them because of their support for LGBT rights? I wish there was a way when I made a purchase that I could let them know why I bought from them rather than some other online retailer.
Totally unrelated, my brother got back from Steeler’s fantasy camp, and he had a signed Steelers helmet from none other than one of the greatest linemen in history, Dermontti Dawson. I’m so fucking stoked, and it is now proudly displayed next to my Casey Hampton autographed ball.
Nicole
Go to the JCP website and send them an email, telling them why you decided to purchase from them. They read those emails; I got a nice one back when I emailed how much I liked Ellen DeGeneres as their spokesperson.
Joshua Norton
If you like DIY make-over shows, see if you can track down any DVDs of the old BBC series “Ground Force”. Alan Titchmarsh and crew would show up at someone’s house, dig up the place and give them a whole new yard. (or as they call it, “garden”).
To make it more interesting, have a shot of something everytime someone uses the word “water feature”. You’ll probably pass out before the end of the show.
Lojasmo
1-800-322-1189
Tell them.
James E Powell
How to thank JCP or any other similarly virtuous company? A short letter is nice. Not sure to whom, but companies do pay attention to such things. That’s how the right-wingers get their way.
Or maybe you could write a blog post about it. It will be read by millions!
Petorado
Baggies, dude. No shorts more comfortable on the planet. They love water, but dry fast when you’re out, and can deal with anything you can throw at them. Maybe more expensive than what you’re buying, but they will last a lot longer. You can literally live in them 24 hour a day. Have worn them every day for over a decade.
Cacti
I’m quite the opposite, Cole. At least here in Arizona.
I wish more people would use rock gardens and cacti (no pun intended), than have a thirsty, water-wasting lawn in the middle of the f**king desert.
Kurt Montandon
There was a show on HGTV that involved house remodels, and I thought it was hilarious that a male gay couple was one of the spotlighted home-owners. Not for the concept, but because when the show reviewed their closet, one of them said something like “Well, we’ve spent so much time in the closet, we figured ours should at least be roomy and comfortable.”
muddy
@Nicole: I did that too, same result! I also told them it took a lot for me to go back there, it was a big deal after the history I had with them.
Some years ago I had their card, and one day found a ton of young men’s clothes on clearance. Like John, my son does not care about clothes and will wear the same 2 things forever. I spent quite some time picking out stuff, and even though it was only $100 It was 3 of the big bags with string handles full, including a leather jacket. It took a long time to ring up due to the number of items and the process of doing the clearance mark-downs. Finally I produced my card and they said it had been cancelled.
I could not understand this, I did not miss payments, in fact always paid my balance immediately because I do not shop often. I guess they didn’t like that kind of customer. They had not written to inform me that my card was dead. The woman at the checkout said I would have to go to customer service to find out what happened. So I went over there and they said it was because I had not used my card in 6 months. I said I live in the country, I don’t come to town that often, and still they should have informed me. They offered to let me apply again. I said no, it was quite possible I’d go another 6 months and have to go through it again.
I also declined to pay for the clothes by another method, despite it being a super cheap deal, because I was pissed that they wasted my time. I vowed to them never to return, and made it my business to tell everyone I knew about it.
But I did give it a try due to the Ellen thing. Their return email was *so* nice. I’m still not gong to get their card again though. I guess I was willing to bend the vow, but not to entirely creak it, lol.
Ruckus
Not much better on the clothes issue, once had to shop while moving to new job so I’d have something to wear in the office the first day. And this place was office casual at most. Shorts and t-shirts, jeans for the colder days, that’s all I need. I did own a tuxedo at one point during that job though, complete with shinny shoes and frilly shirt.
Steve P
What’s your problem with Shakespeare festivals?
muddy
@Joshua Norton: I loved Ground Force! But I always thought how easy it was in the English gardens as they were a small but long rectangle with walls all around.
American yards are sprawling even when fairly small, and the neighbor’s stuff hangs over the fence.
Spaghetti Lee
John, you and me have the same mindset when it comes to clothes. For me, anything that has a collar qualifies as a “dress shirt”. It’s a good way to be.
David Koch
Why should we thank JCP, it’s just words. Moreover, they really didn’t want to do it, we made them do it. After all, if they really meant it, they would have done it a long time ago. Now, it’s just a meaningless bone to Gay-T-M.
Yutsano
@David Koch: Wow. Even for you that was massive fail.
rammalamadingdong
You are a man who needs a wo-man. stat.
Ruckus
@David Koch:
Is your whole life about negativity?
Or just everything you post?
Yutsano
@Ruckus: He’s a parody troll. But not a very good one. Schtick got old several months ago.
Ruckus
@Yutsano:
By the end of his second post.
Jamie
Fella, if you like supporting them, fine, that rocks.
I buy underwear from Macy’s, and they suck in a number f ways. I do, because I like the underwear, and it is sometimes roughly affordable.
I buy tools from locals, most of my food is either from my local garden or from my exchange (I’m urban, I can’t grow much), but I’m not going to worry about that crap.
I bought a grommet crimper from a shop somewhat near you recently. They weren’t local, but I felt good that maybe you’d get a cuppa at some point.
muddy
@Steve P: They don’t have the giant turkey drumsticks you get at Renaissance fairs.
I first took my son to see Shakespeare when he was 12. It was Macbeth. He was sure it was boring crap. I said there are sword fights and fart jokes, I promise it’s fun. It took about 15 minutes for our ears to adjust to the dialect, or possibly it took the opening night actors a bit to get into the swing of it. He found many belly laughs to be had despite it being a tragedy.
He told his buds at school the next day, and they wouldn’t believe him that it was cool.
John Cole
@Lojasmo: I was on hold with that number when I wrote the post. I got through and spoke my peace, and they passed on my sentiments.
David Koch
@Yutsano: Lighten up, baby. To each their own. I just won the internets, for the 300th time, just yesterday.
The prophet Nostradumbass
@Yutsano: It’s what happens when you have one note, and don’t know how to play it.
The prophet Nostradumbass
Speaking of massive fail, look at the portrait in this TBogg post.
Yutsano
@The prophet Nostradumbass: Indeed. I guess he doesn’t understand how trite he’s become. And boring.
@The prophet Nostradumbass: Oh Lawd. That’s going to be on the front page of the website now isn’t it?
Jamie
Write a letter. Seriously. I have done so with local places a few times, and they really seem to like the feedback. Hell, I sell stuff locally, I love hearing what people like. Sometimes, yeah, birther crap, whatever, I try to talk to them. If they don’t want to buy from me, fine. I am happy to argue with them and sell art to people who watch.
J.W. Hamner
@David Koch:
Well, you lost the internet today with that self congratulatory comment so I guess it’s 300-1.
Hill Dweller
The twitter machine is telling me a college professor has come forward on behalf of her friend, and claimed Scott Walker got said friend pregnant at Marquette, but abandoned her and the baby.
superfly
I see you know the proper pronunciation of Target (Tar-jay), but how you say JC Penney’s?
Jay Cay Pen-nay’?
or do you use with the formal French name, Jacques C. Pennois ( Zhak Cay Pen-wah’ )?
Martin
Email the new CEO: [email protected]
Ron Johnson was hired by Apple to create and run the Apple Stores and he left for JCP last Nov. He brings a lot of the culture from Apple with him – and he brought some of it to Apple as he was the guy behind Target’s rebranding from K-Mart competitor to what they are today. He’s done nothing short of reinvent retail and he’s got a hell of a challenge ahead of him at JCP. He does read his emails and replies to many as well.
Martin
@Hill Dweller: Ah, 11th hour ratfucking. When you really need an extra thousand votes to put you over the top.
Yutsano
@J.W. Hamner: The Interwebs, she is indeed a fickle mistress.
@Hill Dweller: Sounds a little too gossipy for me without the actual mom coming forward. On the other hand this race could use a juicy sex scandal.
Nellcote
HGTV has had gay/lesbian homeowners on their shows for a few years now. I think it’s had an impact on normalizing the idea of gays=not scary for a lot of viewers. Though usually described as “companions” or “partners” it will be a big breakthrough to describe as “husband” or “wife”.
John T
Since this open thread is kind of gay, I’m just going to say that “Steelers fantasy camp” is a rather evocative phrase.
David Koch
@Hill Dweller: not surprising. last year, 2 gop legislatures in wisconsin came down with sex scandals.
frankly, for all their Jesus talk, the wingers have a lot of hang-ups and sex issues.
it’s an open secret in washington that Rubio has his own “issue” waiting to come to the surface if he gets picked as the running mate.
Nellcote
@Martin:
It’s been a rough transition. Sales are down significantly in the first quarter. I like what they’re trying to do with the best prices concept but they need to up their game in the product design department. Isn’t that ironic?
bmaccnm
I sent a comment on the custoer service page of the JCP website when they stood up for Ellen DeGenere, then I got a JCP charge card and bought some shoes with it. Frankly, there isn’t a lot I would but from them (or from any mall store- I’m a thrift store shopper)but I do buy my underwear and dish towels from them now. I order from the web site and have things shipped to the nearest store, wehich I can access by light rail. I always make a little comment on the website about why I’m buying from them and not anyone else. AFAIK, I’ve never bought anything from Target- they were big antiunion Republican supporters for years. Maybe that will change.
David Koch
Here’s the poop on Walker leaving a baby on the wood pile.
http://wcmcoop.com/members/integrity-the-child-scott-walker-left-behind/
bmaccnm
I sent a comment on the custoer service page of the JCP website when they stood up for Ellen DeGeneres, then I got a JCP charge card and bought some shoes with it. Frankly, there isn’t a lot I would but from them (or from any mall store- I’m a thrift store shopper)but I do buy my underwear and dish towels from them now. I order from the web site and have things shipped to the nearest store, wehich I can access by light rail. I always make a little comment on the website about why I’m buying from them and not anyone else. AFAIK, I’ve never bought anything from Target- they were big antiunion Republican supporters for years. Maybe that will change.
Lance Boyle
Funny that you felt compelled to add “totally unrelated” between LGBT and Steeler’s fantasy camp. Peanut butter, totally unrelated to Jelly. Cookies, totally unrelated to milk.
Hill Dweller
@David Koch: This feels like a setup, but I suppose time will tell.
ruemara
I’ve been calling HGTV Happy Gays TV for years now. It’s one of the things I adore about the channel. That being said, the minute I have some scratch for clothes replacements, I plan to spend a bit at the JCP. The whole tolerance thing has made me very happy.
Yutsano
@ruemara: I have to replace the blinds in my condo unit. My kitteh, bless her heart, is rather hard on the window treatments. The fact that what is there now is cheap blinds that look like surplus from an office supply store closing doesn’t help matters. First place I went was jcp.com. I liked the price and the selection I saw there. I feel much better about buying from them than Lowe’s or Home Depot.
Martin
@Nellcote: It has been rough. But major department stores are tough to move. I think he’s got the right ideas there, but can it all get implemented fast enough? And can they get their message out there widely enough? The coupons/sales have to go. They work fine for the pre-internet folks, but young people just don’t do that, and someone needs to start grabbing that demographic.
I don’t know the entirety of how the Target rebranding came about – I didn’t start paying attention to him until he got to Apple, but at Apple he had the advantage of starting from a clean slate and being able to do everything in anticipation of what Apple would roll out next. JCP is a whole other animal. I hope he succeeds though.
suzanne
I wish their quality wasn’t crap. I’ve bought work clothes there before, and they’ve fallen apart pretty quickly…seams come undone, thin fabrics, and the tailoring sucks. I have a small waist relative to my size, and their clothes make me look like I’m wearing a sack. I’d love to support them, but the quality needs to improve. Kohl’s, too.
Mister Papercut
I actually used to work for JCPenney as a phone rep. It’s also the only place where I’ve been proselytized to on the job (it concluded with an exhortation to see The Passion of the Christ — it had just come out and hers was one of those churches that bought out a showing so they could all quaintly see it together — because “Mel Gibson is such a godly man”). I wonder where that wingnut is now and what she must think of her precious JCPenney and I just laaaaugh.
asiangrrlMN
The lede in the article about JCPenney is atrocious. What if they are doing it because it’s a reflection of society? Is that not even a possibility? And, who gives a fuck as to the reason? To me, the fact that JCPenney didn’t back down makes them aces in my book. I wish I shopped there because I would like to support them, but it’s not really my style.
T-27 hours. Gotta throw back some Excedrin and get my clean on. Oh, and do about a million loads of laundry. Ugh.
Arclite
We used to have a JCP on the island here, but it went out of business. I actually frequented it a lot somehow, but it’s a shame now that it’s gone. The only stuff I order online is stuff that JCP.com doesn’t carry.
Mauve Lantern
Lots of advice here on how to let JCP know how cool you are. You can also blather on via their Facebook page, here: http://www.facebook.com/jcp.
You might want to leave out the part about Shakespeare festivals and that you wear only three pair of underwear per year, otherwise they might think you’re an ignorant assclown with chronic shartstain.
Steve P
@muddy: I’ve been taking my daughter to the Woodward Shakespeare Festival in Fresno since she was 5. You explain the story, point out who’s who, they usually get it if the actors do their job well.
I’m impressed that JCP didn’t back down, if only because I can’t remember a time prior to 2012 when a major corp didn’t switch positions when the wingnuts lost their shit.
Schlemizel
couldn’t agree more about the crappy yards – I hate that show.
I have a feeling there was an internal decision a long long time ago to “sneak” gay and mixed-race couple into shows on the home network. I noticed it first on the old Trading Places. I commented at the time to my wife that the affect would subtly change opinions when people saw these people, plopped in without comment, being as normal as they are.
RalfW
I was watching Meg’s Great Rooms on HGTV last night (Note: she’s not that great. I still think Design Star picked the wrong winner last year, but waaaah, whatever).
Anywaaaay. They had a youngish gay couple on, wanting their kitchen redone. The show is based in Chicago, so it had a fairly midwestern, not at all exotically gay feel to it.
Also recently, House Hunters had a gay couple looking for a place in the Bay Area. I’m always floored by how damn expensive San Francisco is, but to the point: the couple picked a place, and at the ‘months later’ follow up, they said “can’t wait to get married and start having kids.”
HGTV does not shy away from featuring gay couples – though I’m trying to recall if I’ve seen a lesbian pair – and they are just delightfully subversive with things like the married & kids comment.
We’re just sliding right in to middle-class, consumerist, suburban America.
Patricia Kayden
@David Koch: Wow. Just another reason for why this Walker is a jerk. Funny how Repubs are pro-choice when it’s convenient for them. Then anti-choice for everyone else.
Hillary Rettig
My only problem with gay men is that they won’t date me.
gaz
Sacrilege! Clothes are wonderful! The sidewalk sales are in full bloom on broadway right now. This is the only time of the year where I wish I made the kind of money I used to. hehehehe
Steve
Greatest lineman in history? What was John Hannah doing at a Steeler’s event?
Cassidy
Alright men, put the old man clothes down and find a reasonable lady and go shopping. I’m not a fashionista, but I like to look decent when I walk out the door. Hair should be combed, clothes should maych, do some of you all even bother to brush your teeth on the way out the door?
Cassidy
@suzanne: I bought my dress slacks for work from JCP. I’m happy with them so far. I go to Kohl’s for the shirts because the APt 9 polo’s are just so soft and comfortable.
Ruckus
@Cassidy:
The reasonable ladies that have been in my life didn’t give a shit about fashion. Maybe that’s part of the reason they were in my life, not trying to make me something I’m not.
JoyceH
@RalfW:
I’ve seen lesbian couples on HGTV, though less often than the male couples. The lesbians are more likely to be househunting than decorating, at least in my viewing experience. Mixed-race couples are also a lot more common than they were a few years ago. It’s nice.
Shana
I’m with all the folks who said email the company. Let them know what you bought and approximately how much it cost. It may or may not have been a lot of stuff or money, but tell them that when you shop you’ll probably shop with them. I wrote an email recently to Replacements because their CEO came out against the North Carolina DOMA-like referendum. He’s openly gay and was one of the very few business owners in the state to state his objection. I’ve used their services a number of times over the years and have a few different patterns registered with them. It took over a week but I got a very nice response from the company.
Jugular
How close are you to Paw Paw? Not wearing clothes is a viable option.
Haydnseek
Who the fuck is Casey Hampton?