I hadn't heard that people were using the yaoi/yuri paddles to "punish" people who exhibit those tendencies. I always figured it was a fetish item for people who liked yaoi or yuri.
I don't really approve of either of those uses, though. And let me affirm something: it does NOT have anything to do with the fact that it relates to alternate sexual preferences. I'm not fond of the yaoi/yuri fanbase, but it's because of the way it's treated, not because of homophobia.
I am against the paddles for one of two reasons: A) the promotion of S/M fetishes (which aren't appropriate for the con if we care at all about our public image), or B) the likelihood that they will be used to swing at people, since that is what they are designed to do. In the latter case, I think they should be treated just like any other non-prop weapon, since they are made of hard wood, which is capable of hurting people (especially if they miss and hit someone in the head).
I am not at all happy to hear that a vendor not only stole the idea but
copyrighted it, but it's hearsay at this point and as staff I wouldn't push that as a particular reason to ban them.
A semi-unrelated question--did they ever make Het Paddles?
That would be frickin' hilarious. A big ol' label marked "HETERO" instead of yaoi or yuri.
VonDan, if you ever go through with your joke about nerf yaoi/yuri paddles (which *might* be within the rules), I highly suggest you add that to your plans.
![Cheesy :D](https://www.kumoricon.org/forums/Smileys/default/cheesy.gif)