News & Views

We are a nation divided when it comes to Fifty Shades of Grey. Some women love it; others want to use the paper from the books to wipe their asses. No, literally. U.K. women's shelter Wearside Women in Need recently found out that libraries were ordering more copies of 50SOG to keep up with demand, and it pissed them off. So the charity asked people to donate copies of the book so they can turn them into toilet paper.

No, not because they're burning through those cheap, pilly generic brand rolls at lightning speed, because they want to send a message.

The original plan was to pile the books together and make a big ol' bonfire, but after what I assume was intense deliberation, the committee decided TP was the way to go. Women in Need's Clare Phillipson told the BBC:

We discussed the book burning while getting the message across that this book is a dangerous trend. I think we've got a culture now which has completely sexualised women and in which women feel obligated to take part in that culture. We want to draw a line under that. We will be cutting them up, using them for toilet roll, and sticking them on our compost heap and they will go back into the ground ... although the ideas they represent will continue.

Seems like a lot of work, if you ask me. Clearly, Women in Need, being that they're a women's shelter, does amazing things many of us can't claim to do, but I've gotta say: Seems like a bit of a waste of time and resources. I mean, to go through all that -- the cutting up, the composting, etc. -- is a bit elaborate. And not sure it's really going to get a message across.

On the flip side, though, it is pretty funny. We always hear people claiming they're going to "wipe their ass" with something they dislike. Rarely do they actually do it.

What do you think about 50SOG being turned into toilet paper?