Purple and Green
By Red Delicious • Dec 28th, 2007 • Category: Politics, SESA, Technology, sex tipsSo two things of note today, or should I say, two colors. First let’s begin with Purple. They customer interaction was short and sweet, but nevertheless meaningful, and went a little something like this…
Custie “Hi.”
Me “Hi.”
Custie “Do you have anymore of these in the back?”
Me “No, unfortunately we don’t. Is there something wrong with this one?”
Custie “Na… Purple’s just so much more fun!”
Really? Is that the reason? Purple’s more fun? Ever since I started this job I wondered why everything we carry comes in purple. From double dildos to anal beads to vibrators to kits, this color dominates the store. I used to think our buyer just had a strong affinity for the color until she pointed out it sells the best, which still left to be known: why? So I ask you, is that the reason? Do people really find purple to be the most exciting, sexy, spunky, and all around fun color in the rainbow. Personally, I really dig black and red, light pink and blue are nice as well, and pearly white is so goddess like. Maybe it’s just that I see so much purple every day that it doesn’t thrill me anymore, or maybe I’m just so biased by my own favorite color (I’ll give you one guess) that it blinds me from the cosmic benefits of Purple. You tell me…
Secondly, Green. What a lively color this one is and all the rage. “Going Green” is hitting everyone from hippies to yuppies, activists to lawmakers, children to seniors, and with good reason. Even in the sex industry people are really focusing on how to make toys and be environmentally conscious and the same time. Many manufacturers are moving to make products without the use of pthalates (toxic plasticizers). After speaking with our toy buyer, Vibratex finally created a phthalate-free version of the famous Rabbit Pearl vibrator so they can support the greening of our business. (Note: The pthalate-free version of the Rabbit Pearl is currently in stores only.) Nob Essence is a completely green company who makes beautiful toys out of sustainable hardwoods. At GV we offer many green choices and solutions when it comes to your playtime.
I’ve stumbled across a couple articles recently which discuss how to green your sex life. I think this is great, because it is one area of our lives that often goes unnoticed in that regard. There are so many things you can do to make your sex lives green: dispose of your contraceptives properly, choose lubricants that are paraben-free, refrain from buying wasteful gag gifts, and buy toys that use safer, longer-lasting materials like silicone, hard plastic, steel, and glass. You can also learn how to use fewer batteries with your vibrators, which is mostly what I wanted to write about today.
*To eliminate battery use completely, you can invest in an electric or rechargeable vibrator like the Hitachi or the Delight.
*Store your batteries outside of your toys, this will extend the life of your batteries (meaning you’ll use fewer) and the life of your toy’s motor (which means it will last longer).
*Purchase toys that use batteries more efficiently. The Little Somethings from Jimmy Jane for example last 16 hours on one AA battery.
*Dispose of your batteries and dead vibrators appropriately. Set up a little bucket under the sink and throw dead ones in there. When it’s full, take it to the dump so they can put it with other hazardous waste, like your broken vibes and other electronics. If you can’t easily get to the dump here is a webpage that offers another solution in San Francisco, or you can google “Battery Recycling” to find solutions in your area.
And last but not least, your Sex Tip of the Day:
Rechargeable batteries may seem like a very green idea, but they actually aren’t great for many toys. Most battery operated vibrators that we sell in the store recommend against them on the packaging. The main reason for not using rechargeables is that they heat up very quickly and can damage the motor of your toy or even melt the material. Never leave rechargeables in your vibes, ever. If you must insist on using them anyway, store them in a small pouch or ziplock with your toy. Melted vibes aren’t green.
Loving being green,
~*~Red~*~
Red Delicious >> a blogger here at Good Vibrations!
All posts by Red Delicious
Color is definitively an interesting aspect of product design. I am quite happy that some sex toy manufacturers are showing some creativity (vibrant colors, marble texture, etc.). If you look at the computer industry, it took them more than 15 years to get computers that are not beige and turn them into an attractive and useful item in every home, and this not just for techies.
Most of my toys are black, and I admit finding this a little boring. My favorite toys in color are the Aneros for being white (not beige
), my Ecsta Sleeve for being lavender, and my Crystal Wand for being clear. If you look at the psychology of colors, you could understand why it matters to put some life in sex toys. I do appreciate the manufacturers who choose to go wild with colors: green, purple, fuchsia and white daisies, marble, etc. seem more fun than the default flesh looking toys. I think colors that matter to people can help make the toys less impressive. I guess people’s taste in toy color could come from both a personal and collective consciousness. But I’ll leave all this to Jung and Freud, and I’ll just enjoy the rest myself 
In regards to the battery issue: I am sad to read that rechargeable batteries are not the top for toys. I wish we could encourage manufacturers to adapt their equipment to accommodate rechargeable batteries. Regular ones are definitively an expensive waste. Toys with their own proprietary batteries are a good idea, but let us hope they do not come from the same manufacturers used by Apple, Dell, Sony, and the others; the idea of an explosive device between my legs is not something I find sexy. I am not really crazy about cords hanging around (I actually wish the remotes for some of the vibes were wireless), but electric toys seem more powerful and exciting than battery operated ones. They do score one point. Good advice about taking the batteries out of the toys when not in use; keeping all my batteries out has allowed me to keep them running a lot longer.
Red, you already know my stance on purple, i totally love it! but i do assume it’s popularity is b/c of it’s gender neutrality…it’s not the pink or blue of our baby years. Then again, black’s pretty neutral too. But when it comes down to it, purple is just dang pretty.
Black is my favorite for a number of reasons. Besides being my favorite color, ahem, it’s also gender neutral, matches almost everything, and is super sexy, especially when shiny.
I’ve always wondered about anal toys that come in white. It seems to me, that one would desire a darker colored toy, such as a black one, that would not show discoloration, or any possible dirtiness from that particular use. I always thought that’s why folks choose the purple aneros over the white aneros. However, perhaps it’s because white looks more medical, and folks like that?
Colors are so interesting.
Had to edit this to add something! I LOVE flesh colored dildos, and I especially love that there are more varieties of color tones. I remember a time when there was only a light peach color for “flesh”. For people who want realistic skin options for dildos, it’s getting better and better. I think the next best thing would be to add some flushed coloring to the skin tones — to show the purple and reddened hues of a hard one. Vixen? If anyone can do it well, they can!
You do mark a few points: shiny black is sexy. I think any shiny color adds something sexy due to the way light interacts with the object (almost caressing it with a nice glossy veil) and it also gives it a unique texture (as smooth as ice). The same would go with vinyl vs. Latex or leather, or nail polish and lipstick.
In regards to white, I agree that, depending on the material, it is not the easiest color to keep clean, especially for anal toys. However, the Aneros being plastic is really easy to keep clean, and one could use a rubber if needed. I prefer the white Aneros as I think the purple one is too saturated in color and makes it look like they just picked the color without much thinking, compared to maybe a more subtle color with a similar hue but a different saturation (sorry for the artist in me bitching about hue and saturation, but I do that for a living).
As for white, it is also a color not as loud as others, maybe offering a sense of delicacy, sensibility, serenity, etc. I like light colors or clear toys like my wand for intimate and quiet play, but I agree that hotter and more saturated glossy colors are sexy hot for some real action
“I’ve always wondered about anal toys that come in white. It seems to me, that one would desire a darker colored toy, such as a black one, that would not show discoloration, or any possible dirtiness from that particular use. I always thought that’s why folks choose the purple aneros over the white aneros. However, perhaps it’s because white looks more medical, and folks like that? ”
Ah ha! I have often wondered the same thing: it does have to be with being a more “medical” product fetish?…
Rumour is that Aneros was geared towards older folks as a medical tool needed to stimulate the prostrate for those with poor prostrate health. This recommended by their Doc’s for it’s health benefits of doing so, and the white colour was to be able to see blood. An indication that they should head right back to the Doc.
Not so sexy a colour, but the white colour carried over till the folks realized it was a hot selling item and it started to come out in another colour and more sizes for pleasure oriented use rather, this giving folks a head start on prostrate health!
Also a tip, Aneros can be boiled to sterilize, I asked the folks at Aneros myself.
Toys, though I like the regal colour of purple, it has a magestic spiritual quality, the “off” colours delight me. Metallics, shimmers and especially the gold shimmer toy made for me by those fantastic fellas at Vixen.
[...] Sometimes called “Twice-as-nice” (you know, cause you get too great features out of the product) the toy comes in many styles, materials, and most importantly, colors — from pearly pink to lusty purple. Okay, I’m sorta kidding on the colors part, though people DO get VERY particular about their favorite colors! [...]