Please sign this petition to send a message to The Advertiser Editor Greg Barila and reporter Antimo Iannella that this content is highly inappropriate. 

I was absolutely shocked and horrified at the article “Kinky kicks are all tied up, From Rope bondage to dominatrix etc” in The Advertiser on 18/6. This is extremely inappropriate content that should not be in a newspaper that children may have access to. I rarely buy the newspaper but seeing this today made me realise I can’t EVER leave a newspaper in reach of children where they could inadvertently be exposed to such pornographic-like content. The Advertiser should have an “R” 18+ rating if they are going to print articles such as this. 

The article shows a sickening example of one of the reasons why sexual assault is such a problem in our society at this time. There is such a cry that people need to be educated about sexual consent/safe sex, and yet it is total hypocrisy when all of this ‘BDSM’  etc is promoted as normal and acceptable. What a confusing message that it’s okay to play-act rape & sexual violence, but it’s not okay if it’s real. What’s the difference? Throw drugs and alcohol in the mix and there is no possible way that people can be aware of where the ‘line’ is between pretend and real. In this digital age it is absolutely tragic that young people get their “sex education” through pornography AND mainstream media that is not only normalising but then continually feeding their desire for ‘pretend’ sexual violence. The moral decay is frightening, and there are very real consequences- sexual assault being just one of many ways that individuals, marriages, families and communities are impacted by this depravity. 

Please sign this petition to send a message to The Advertiser Editor Greg Barila and the author of the article Antimo Iannella that this content is highly inappropriate. 

This article contained images of sex toys, and mentioned:

• 'rope play' with 'dominatrix'
• bondage/BDSM
• flogging/whipping/tying people up
• 'corporal punishment'
• sensory deprivation/'mummificaition'
• 'people want to be used as pets and slaves' 
• swingers/casual sex parties in Adelaide

All the above was depicted as normal and positive behaviour. It sent shudders through me to imagine how easily my primary school aged children could have flicked through the newspaper and read this. I remember enjoying reading the newspaper on a weekend as a teenager and this has shown me that the newspaper is not safe to have in the house. Surely no parent wants to raise their children to think these perverted sexual behaviours can be part of a healthy sex life and can help set them up for healthy relationships. 

This sort of content should be confined to restricted and content-specific platforms, it does not belong in a newspaper that sits on a families kitchen table. 

I have written a 'Letter to the Editor" about this, and emailed the Advertiser consumer feedback. I would like people to sign the petition to show that I am not the only one concerned about this. Graphic pornographic content is creeping into more and more mainstream media (TV shows, news articles, magazines, movies). The boundaries are constantly being pushed with how much sexual content can be shown/written about and we need to stand up and say it's not okay. If the line can't be drawn at the sort of thing in this article, then where on earth can it be drawn?? How much more graphic does it need to get before we say enough! I already have to vet every single book, show and website before I can let my primary school aged children look at anything. I don't want to be so controlling, but they are just too young to be exposed to this, I won't take any chances and it's utterly exhausting as a parent having to be so vigilant with media. I though the newspaper was one of the last remaining safe spaces... but apparently I was wrong. I refuse to let this one slide. Please stand with me and sign this petition!