Police: 200 Hooters applicants taped undressing

[absyntheNsugar]

WEST COVINA, California (AP) -- Nearly 200 women who applied for jobs at a Hooters restaurant were secretly videotaped in a trailer while they undressed to put on a Hooters uniform, police said.

Authorities raided the trailer last month and seized a computer that held 180 digital videos of the women, ages 17-25, Lt. Mark Dettor said.

<snip>

I really don't know where to start with this....so wrong on so many levels....f***ing wings my ass...


ON EDIT: I guess I should start with the question why does one need to change clothes for a job interview in the first place????

[boobooday]

1. Nice

It's one thing to hire them to be "hooters" girls. It is another thing to photograph them without their permission!

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[Jack_Dawson]

2. OK OK you can have your tape back

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. Link

They need to change clothes because they need to check out their asses in those outfits...because this is an establishment that sells food and drinks by objectifying women...unfortunately..and I KNOW you didn't mean this with your PC thread...it is NOW PC once again to objectify women and treat them as nothing more than tits and ass...

I hope Hooter's gets their ASS sued off for this...

[Skittles]

5. it is deplorable, nsma

what is worse than misogyny is when women participate in their own degradation. Still, I too hope these young gals sue the f*** out of Hooters.

[absyntheNsugar]

13. Capitalism Degrades EVERYONE

Having said that, we don't have a choice as to what economic system we live in so we have to make the best out of this one.

[KittyWampus]

24. Capitalism Degrades Everyone? That's The Most Absurd Statement Of The Week

Capitalism is an Economic System and as such does not have the capacity to degrade anyone.

It's those who PRACTICE or MALPRACTICE within the system who can degrade.

Gads.

[absyntheNsugar]

39. Apologies - I completely wasn't clear there...

Capitalism objectifies everyone
It can degrade, but it can also increase the value of an individual...degrade implies devaluation, which can or cannot occur. Capitalism just lets the market determine an individuals worth.

Now, do you want the market to determine how much you are worth?

I should have clarified this - my apologies big time for not specifying what I was trying to say.

[cynicinthesouth]

55. I agree.

[Muddleoftheroad]

14. So, a question

Hypothetically, a business that makes money from the appearance of its help (fashion industry, porn, strip clubs, restaurants, magazines who hire models, companies that hire PR people, etc.) shouldn't hire good looking folks?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

20. I think you are collapsing a couple of things

I don't put restaurants, the fashion industry, magazines or PR firms in the same category as I put businesses whose survival actually depends on degrading women.

If a restaurant named themselves Blackies and dressed up black folks in chains to make a statement, how would you feel?

[Zhade]

37. Note the lack of an answer.

I happen to agree with you, by the way.

[Muddleoftheroad]

41. The lack of answer resulted from a lack of food

Perhaps you might give people a chance to fucking eat sometime before you are so quick to criticize.

[Zhade]

46. Seld-deleted

Not worth the effort.

[thebigidea]

48. my goodness, that's the first bit of profanity I've seen you use

what would Joe Lieberman think?

[Muddleoftheroad]

56. Oh, well you clearly aren't a true fan

[Muddleoftheroad]

40. I would feel it would go out of business first of all

Would it be offensive, yes. And likely illegal too. However, there is not innate human behavior being served.

Human beings are sexual creatures. Men like to look at women and women like to look at men. (General rule only, yes, there is some crossover.) Companies that wish to cater to one of those groups must do their best to satisfy those customers.

[Cursive_Knives512]

4. "Those girls asked for it"

That's what some people will say, because they're not girls from a "nice" restaurant. Because women *always* ask for crap like that, right?

I hope they get sued big-time!!!

[Scairp]

47. It could be worse than they think

If anyone of those girls was one day under eighteen and filmed unclothed then they are looking at some very serious child pornography charges.

[Emboldened Chimp]

6. Ok, I'll say it...

First off, what this particular Hooters establishment did was criminal, and all involved should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

That said, this should not be used as fodder for an indictment against the chain itself. Most women who go into these types of jobs know exactly what they're getting themselves into. They know people go to Hooters to look at them; it sure as hell isn't for the shit food they serve. To say that women are some how manipulated into working these jobs is, imho, utter bullshit. If a woman wants to be a server, there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. Most women who work at Hooters want to work at Hooters.

Flame away.

[alarimer]

7. the problem is

Why they want to work at a place like that. Do they think so little of themselves that they don't care if they are used like that? I don't know if they pay more at Hooters or not. If they pay more than at real restaurants that might be a factor too. But it is very sad that anyonw would want to work at a place that treats you as a sex object and nothing more.

[Emboldened Chimp]

8. I'm sure some really don't care

Why, I don't know. And to be honest, Hooters is about as tame as you can get. It's rather harmless compared to, say, stripping.

[absyntheNsugar]

11. Why they work there

OK...I will start off saying yes it does objectify women. Capitalism objectifies everything, including you, your thoughts, your labor etc.

ANYWAY, I knew a Hooters girl (that's what they prefer to be called)and as for why they work there? BIG TIPS! (That's TIPS, not...um) A waitress can pull in $200+ per night. Much better than Dennys. Some women like to be treated like a sex object. I have no problem with their uniforms.

HOWEVER, where I draw the line is making a woman change into a specific outfit for a job interview. That's just WRONG! Anytime physical appearance is taken into account in a job interview, that is prejudice, and it's wrong. Whether it's Abercrombie and Fitch only hiring rich, white popular kids (they do) or Foot Locker only hiring jocks (they do.) It's WRONG.

...and videotaping them in the locker room being wrong goes without saying.

[Muddleoftheroad]

15. Physical appearance factors in many jobs

See my post above for a short list. Should firms hire unattractive people equally for such roles? That's silly.

You are right about the tips. They get paid well and personality IS a factor in who they hire. As you said, the videotaping was heinous.

[absyntheNsugar]

16. What's unattractive?

There are some of us who find Paris Hilton to be hideous, ya know :)

That's the worst thing that came along with television, IMHO, the standardization of beauty.

[Muddleoftheroad]

17. It is subjective only up to a point

There is indeed a mass market version of beauty, depending on cultural norms. For instance, in the fashion industry, the view of beauty might be one thing. In a strip club, it's another.

I am not the leader of the Paris Hilton fan club, but she does indeed have a certain something.

[absyntheNsugar]

18. Paris

"I am not the leader of the Paris Hilton fan club, but she does indeed have a certain something."

It's called Gonhorhea

[Muddleoftheroad]

19. Now, now

That was uncalled for. Yes, she's a public figure, but that's more than a tad ungentlemanly.

[Skittles]

21. Paris Hilton is a skank

that would be me being a tad "un-ladylike".

[Emboldened Chimp]

23. Yeah, she's a ho

and the funny thing is, she'd probably agree. She's one of the ones that really doesn't care. Power to her; it's her life.

[Skittles]

25. more power to her?

she's disgusting beyond belief.

[Emboldened Chimp]

28. That's my way of saying, who cares?

If she wants to be like that, that's her problem. Why should I get outraged by it? It's obvious she wants to be a ho, so let her. You want to be disgusted by her, that's cool. I choose not to be, because quite frankly, I could give a shit about Paris Hilton.

[Skittles]

29. arrogant displays of wealth are very disturbing

she is sickening.

[Emboldened Chimp]

31. True, but...

There are other displays of wealth that deserve such description much more, like invading Iraq for its oil. That's sickening. Paris running around like a 'ho is amusing at best, sad at worst. Nothing more, imho.

[Skittles]

33. gee

I'd hate to think of what you REALLY find amusing.

[Muddleoftheroad]

42. She is wealthy, she is beautiful

And she lives her life the way she wishes.

It's not the way I would choose, but it is HER life.

[absyntheNsugar]

22. I'm sorry - but you left that one wide open

I had to jump on it :)

[Zhade]

38. Maybe uncalled for, but I must admit to surprised laughter at reading it!

It was a good set-up and knock-down, ya gotta admit. :silly:

[saigon68]

32. She's one of the three RRhea Sisters

Gono, Dia and Pyo

[ashling]

34. capitalism is barely ethical

at best

[alarimer]

43. I figured as much

I just can't for the life of me figure out why anyone would put up with the behavior they must have to put up with from drunken assholes. There is no amount of money large enough for me to put up with it, that's for sure.

[Muddleoftheroad]

44. The behavior

Seems no different there than any restaurant/bar I have ever been in. I don't see the men getting out of line and the place is well monitored. There are only two differences. One, the outfits are skimpy. Two, the waitresses flirt as a matter of policy instead of on their own initiative.

[kysrsoze]

51. I'd rather they worked for Hooters than in a strip club or porn movies

I'm sure most of them don't complain when they're raking in the cash. You could argue that it helps those who are physically pleasing, but mentally challenged. I ate there years ago and the gal was a terrible waitress - dumb as a stump. Bless her heart.

[rumguy]

9. I've never been to a Hooters, nor will I ever go to one

I hate the premise, I hate the way they (the restaurants) look - they disgust me....

[absyntheNsugar]

12. Yeah if I want *good chicken wings*

I go to Steelhead Brewery in Burlingame. Good wings, better beer - terrible wait tho :(

[NashVegas]

26. I finally went to Hooters for the 1st time

About two months ago.

1. Their wings smell great, but otherwise suck (too saucy, too clammy on the skin).

2. Chairs. What have they got against back support?

[Scairp]

50. Me neither

I have consistently refuse to patronize that chain, and now, in light of this story, feel more strongly than ever about never setting foot inside one. They really don't need my money.

[rumguy]

53. There's something gross about combining eating greasy foods with

ogling women...it's like to things that should just be kept separate.

Yet, I've been to strip clubs before, but never a Hooters. There's just something about Hooters that creeps me out....

[mkultra]

10. what an outrage

This crime is outragouse.

Does anyone have a link to the video, i need to investigate the validity of this claim?

[unbrand]

27. I nominate this for DU Funniest Post of the Day

Damn! I'm glad I wasn't drinking anything when I read this.

:toast:

[Moderator]

30. LINK

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040326/ap_on_re_us/hooters_videos_1

[absyntheNsugar]

36. OOPS...Can't beleive I forgot that

bad fingers!

[Scairp]

49. I found one too

On the LA Times website, but it pretty much says the same thing.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-hooters26mar26,1,7794259.story?coll=la-headlines-california

[orthogonal]

35. It's all about context

In this context, I really thought the <View All> link would do something else.

[montana_hazeleyes]

57. Good one,orthogonal!

;) (edit- wrote god instead of good:silly:

[dax]

45. We had this in Portland at a tanning salon/bathing suit shop!

There was a tanning salon next to a gym where they also sold sports wear and bathing suits. They busted the owner for drugs and found HUNDREDS of videos. Glad I am cheap and buy my suits at Freddie's (local dept store.)

[absyntheNsugar]

52. I remember that story

happened in the early 90's right?

[PassingFair]

54. My husband and I are working on our own theme restaurant...

for women with possesive husbands. The waitstaff will all be eunichs, and we call it

"NEUTERS"

:7

[jmowreader]

59. One of my salesmen wanted to set up a Hooters for women...

The mascot would be a rooster, the waitstaff would all be bodybuilders.

The name would be Peckers.

[jmowreader]

58. It's not just a job interview, it's an audition!

Preface: The secret videotape is so very, very wrong. And I hope the judge kicks this guy's ass.

Now, why would you change clothes for a job interview? Easy.

Some women would feel, and look like they feel, uncomfortable in the standard Hooters uniform. Maybe it's religious. Maybe it's psychological. Maybe you've got a big spot on your leg you're uncomfortable about other people seeing. Whatever it is, a lot of women would feel really uncomfortable about showing as much skin as a Hooter's uniform displays. And Hooter's knows it.

This is the standard Hooters uniform:



Ladies: would you wear this uniform? A lot--a third, easy--of the women who apply at Hooters in a Bush economy wouldn't be caught dead in that thing except if they were desperate for money. They'd do a terrible job because they'd be supremely uncomfortable in their situation. If I was a Hooter's manager (two reasons why I'm not: no foodservice experience and my wife would kill me--also, selling lumber pays better) I would want to make sure the women who couldn't wear the Hooter's uniform didn't.

There are women who like wearing clothes like this. They're who I'd want.