Does your country have sex shops like this?

[Gwynd]

Originally Posted by Julesjacka

So I came across this video that showed amazing Sex shops in Berlin. I've never seen anything like it!

http://youtu.be/DNRSeJYVUys

They were so open to the public and had such a crazy variety of toys. Moreover, I noticed that many women seemed comfortable entering them. In the video they compare them to the very conservative unwelcoming sex shops in the UK. I'm wondering how these incredible sex shops of Berlin compare to the one's in the USA, Brazil, Russia etc? Does your country have adults shops similar to the one's depicted in this video?

I don't believe so, however things may have changed.

Pornography in the United Kingdom has been under a variety of "indecency" laws for generations, and although those laws have eased, they have not been removed.

Back 'when I were a lad,' we had a number of '"Private" Licensed Sex Shops', which were run by David Sullivan (Wikipedia) and David Gold (Wikipedia) the shops were heavily advertised by the 'hardcore' magazines which Sullivan and Gold also owned, and like the magazines, they promised something which they did not deliver, claiming that because they were 'licensed' they were the only place you could obtain 'European' and 'American' porn - one of my friends came home once with a 'hardcore' video, and all it had was a woman in a leotard riding an exercise bike.

I think the authorities would likely have a fit if someone actually opened a shop like Berlin has.

[EroticKyle365]

As far as this topic goes. We have some pretty decent ones here in the Milwaukee area. They aren't as crazy open as the Berlin ones in the OP, but the one I go to has a very good selection of DVD's. I look through them trying to find rare ones, that I can't even find online. They pretty much have everything. From sexual aids like dildos, fleshlight like pussies, bondage and S&M gear, to kinky lingerie. I never feel weird there.

Also it took a while but we finally got our first legit Strip Club in the actual downtown area. I still haven't been yet, but def plan on going. I'm trying to get hometown gorgeous Brittany Andrews a feature gig there.

[alexora]

Originally Posted by Gwynd

I don't believe so, however things may have changed.

Pornography in the United Kingdom has been under a variety of "indecency" laws for generations, and although those laws have eased, they have not been removed.

Back 'when I were a lad,' we had a number of '"Private" Licensed Sex Shops', which were run by David Sullivan (Wikipedia) and David Gold (Wikipedia) the shops were heavily advertised by the 'hardcore' magazines which Sullivan and Gold also owned, and like the magazines, they promised something which they did not deliver, claiming that because they were 'licensed' they were the only place you could obtain 'European' and 'American' porn - one of my friends came home once with a 'hardcore' video, and all it had was a woman in a leotard riding an exercise bike.

I think the authorities would likely have a fit if someone actually opened a shop like Berlin has.

Before the internet came into being, I would sometimes take myself up to Soho, in London's West End, and treat myself to a porn VHS.

This is how it worked: the shelves of these very seedy stores were stacked with random dusty old mainstream movies. Upon entering you would be given a folder containing covers of porn VHS', each baring a handwritten number.

You told the guy what number tape you wanted, paid him £10.00, then a lad would leave the store and return with tape in a brown paper bag.

The tape itself had no label, only a small handwritten sticker with the tape number. It would be a pirated copy, probably 3rd or 4th generation. Most of the material was in German.

A handful of the more upmarket stores also sold fetishwear, dildos, condoms, poppers, etc.

Following the advent of the internet, and the partial liberalization of pornography, most of those sex shops have shut down, and those that remain mainly deal with physical products (same as the more upmarket stores I mentioned), as well as some R-Rated DVDs.

I took this picture a few years ago, and it shows who kind of store can be found here in London:

[DoctorNo]

Please, let's leave politics out of this.

One reason why many sex shops and adult book stores have closed, is the same reason many regular shops and book stores have closed. They've been replaced by internet businesses.

[alexora]

Originally Posted by DoctorNo

Please, let's leave politics out of this.

One reason why many sex shops and adult book stores have closed, is the same reason many regular shops and book stores have closed. They've been replaced by internet businesses.

Politics? What politics?

[DoctorNo]

Originally Posted by alexora

Politics? What politics?

Posts were edited or deleted.

[SynchroDub]

Originally Posted by DoctorNo

Please, let's leave politics out of this.

One reason why many sex shops and adult book stores have closed, is the same reason many regular shops and book stores have closed. They've been replaced by internet businesses.

Amazon is definitely the #1 in that list.
Here in Italy, even 'ol school electronics and many important music shops I used to go to when I was a kid/teenager, to buy my CDs and Vinyls and computer/game stuff, have closed, due to the many cheap offers you can find, these days, there, not to mention the benefits of FREE shipping for orders starting from 29 Euros and up.
But, anyway. For my Porn/sex needs, even when Amazon wasn't still the big player, here, I always preferred to order from specialized and notorious Sex Shops, such Lovehoney and the likes, instead of going directly to a shop, due for the sake of some privacy, and due to the many choices available.

[thruster315]

I'm on the road enough to see the roadside porn palaces all the time. I've visited a few from time to time. Some are skeezy as hell and just cater to the lonely truck driver types. And then there are some that actually buy billboards all up and down the freeway advertising themselves- and those are generally the cleaner, classier places that could cater to couples on the prowl for some spice in their lives.

But I think for the most part, online is the way to go for most purchases now just because of the privacy. One could shop with their partners and gauge what would turn them on mutually. Shopping at brick and mortar stores always has that "will anyone I know see me?" factor- and while that gets the heart racing a little bit, it does get awkward when you do run into someone there; I ran into a co-worker in the backroom of a video rental place and it was awkward as I knew his wife and he had a hefty stack of porn.

[SynchroDub]

Originally Posted by thruster315

I'm on the road enough to see the roadside porn palaces all the time. I've visited a few from time to time. Some are skeezy as hell and just cater to the lonely truck driver types. And then there are some that actually buy billboards all up and down the freeway advertising themselves- and those are generally the cleaner, classier places that could cater to couples on the prowl for some spice in their lives.

But I think for the most part, online is the way to go for most purchases now just because of the privacy. One could shop with their partners and gauge what would turn them on mutually. Shopping at brick and mortar stores always has that "will anyone I know see me?" factor- and while that gets the heart racing a little bit, it does get awkward when you do run into someone there; I ran into a co-worker in the backroom of a video rental place and it was awkward as I knew his wife and he had a hefty stack of porn.

Yeah, indeed.
That's why I always refused to go to a physical sex shop to buy any DVD or object for me or my ex's.
First, because I would have had to give unnecessary explanations to people that I encounter and only talk to, like, every month or so. And second, because of the social stigma that is still present behind Pornography and certain sex fetishes topics.
Being a very open-minded person, that has never put no labels to people tastes and sexual orientations, I hate the way certain closed-minded people judge us and make us feel, like we are some sort of molesters or rapers. Or that always come up with very ignorant comments, like, this is gay, this is perverted, etcetera etcetera.
To all those people, I dedicate this very straight-forward song:

You Tube

You Tube

[thruster315]

Originally Posted by SynchroDub

First, because I would have had to give unnecessary explanations to people that I encounter and only talk to, like, every month or so. And second, because of the social stigma that is still present behind Pornography and certain sex fetishes topics.
Being a very open-minded person, that has never put no labels to people tastes and sexual orientations, I hate the way certain closed-minded people judge us and make us feel, like we are some sort of molesters or rapers. Or that always come up with very ignorant comments, like, this is gay, this is perverted, etcetera etcetera.
To all those people, I dedicate this very straight-forward song:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jhgXaVXwoDE

When I saw my friend in the back of the video rental place, I wasn't exactly judging him by his choices of films that he and his wife wanted to rent. I think, rightfully or wrongfully of me- I was more amazed by the quantity that he had under his arm. Granted it very well could've been for a stag party or whatever the case- but I couldn't help but feel that slight bit of awkwardness.

Obviously I didn't say anything as to judge him (or his wife) as they're entitled to their kinks in the privacy of their own home. If anything I might've thought in the back of my head "your wife (my friend) is into that? I never knew!"

And if I were to call them a kinky couple (not that I would) it would be in appreciation of their sexual adventures, not a condemnation of their lifestyle.

I think that's why beyond the privacy of internet shopping for sex toys and such is so much better than actual stores- it's the lack of judgement and shame that one might have to feel from other customers or even the friendliest of store clerks in those stores.