Or at least know what you are getting into.
**I originally posted this at Joecustoms.com, but I thought it might be more relevant to Canadians. Also, if anyone can name the toy shop that I was coming out of, I'd appreciate it, as I can't remember for the life of me what it was. They have network gaming and a basement full of models.**
I was visiting a old toy store on Yonge (near Wellsley)in downtown Toronto (I forget the name, but it's been there forever, same crappy figs at $10 each for the last 5 years..) On exiting, I saw a Gi Joe logo sign (Oldstyle script) hanging in a window across the street.
Interested, I climbed the four flights of stairs to get to the place. I was met by a fence with barbed wire on the top. There was a counter at the end with a guy dressed in fatigues. There was nothing else in the hall.
I walked up tp the counter and asked him, "Is this the G.I. Joe place?"
He nodded, and responded "yes".
I so I said, "Do you have any toys?"
He looked at me, and said, "Most clients like to bring thier own."
I was really unable to put his answer into a context I could understand. Why would anyone bring thier own toys to a toy shop? I was confused, and now, looking at the guy behind the counter for the first time, I notice that he's wearing a camo halter top.
I ask him, radiating perplexity, "What is this place?"
He responds: "A gay spa."
I don't remember what I said next, but I was stunned. I couldn't help thinking, how did it happen in the desire to purchase children's toys that I am somehow at the entrance of a gay spa? How did a G.I.Joe sign lead me to this?
I hoofed it back down stairs in a bit of a fog. Wondering how I might inform Hasbro of this sort of copyright infringement.
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Dear Sirs,
In your efforts to defend the effort that you have made in establishing a worldwide brand for the Gi Joe name, you have gone to great lenghts to eliminate any references to the toy that might tarnish its image as a high quality childrens toy brand.
I might suggest to you, that the GAY SPA that is currently using your trademarked name and logo in downtown toronto might be inconsistent with this image. You may want to look into that.
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Now I have nothing against homosexuality or any other form of sexuality that doesn't involve children, former food or former people, but I really think that a line was crossed here. Mind you, anyone that I tell the story doesn't seem to be able to stop laughing long enough to take it seriously...