Billboard owner tells ASB: ‘If you have nothing better to do with your time then God help us’
The owner of a billboard site has told the ad watchdog “if you have nothing better to do with your time then God help us” after it ruled against an ad t featuring an image of man in a raincoat allegedly flashing was not rude and
The Ad Standards Board upheld complaints against the billboard promoting Boettcher Realty – Rentals which is located in Ipswich, Queensland arguing “the depiction of a man exposing himself is an image that suggests behaviour that is contrary to prevailing community standards on health and safety”.
The billboard featured an image of a man from behind and wearing a raincoat which is held open. It was accompanied with the text “The perfect address for exposure. Phone Darren anytime for inspection”.
Complainants to the ASB described it as “an affront to common decency”, adding: “Indecent exposure is illegal and should be in no way promoted as “normal” or “desirable”. There are many victims of sexual abuse in our society and I can’t help but think such a sign would be abhorrent to them and bring back unpleasant memories and I certainly don’t want to convey the message to anyone – let alone impressionable young boys who might think it would be “fun” to do this and get wrong ideas about what is socially acceptable or that this behaviour is condoned in our community.”
A second said: “Beside the words about exposure, is the back of a male person, bare legs, outstretched arms, holding a great-coat open wide – inferring possible exposure of his body; this stance could be a suggestive trigger to a pervert; or an embarrassment to a parent of a questioning child; or a hurtful reminder to someone who had experienced sexual abuse.”
The owner of the billboard defended the ad, arguing there are worse signs on camper vans and was sceptical the two complaints came from separate people, pointing out how they came within days of each other when the sign had been up for more than a year.
They added: “I am informed these signs are available to purchase as a standard sign and are used commonly to promote vacant billboards. There is no nudity in the sign as the person has his back showing but is covered with a raincoat or similar. I see worse signs on camper vans and driving around Brisbane.
“The Ipswich City Council has also had a complaint made to them and I am informed that they met the agent on site. Then wiped their hands of the matter, as they considered it trivial. They did not state who had made the complaint, but I assume the same people as they stated they had two complaints.
“I do not have a copy of the advertisement and have no intention of getting one. When the occupant of the building decides what to do with the billboard. The sign will be then removed and replace it with his own. [sic]
“I assume that all the same signs on billboards across Australia have had complaints lodged against them also. As stated I am informed that many of these stick on signs have been sold and have to have a heat gun to remove them.”
In its ruling, the board noted that while “it is not possible to see what the man is wearing under his coat” and while ” the combination of the style of coat and the man’s bare legs do amount to a commonly held perception of what a “flasher” looks like there is no detail”, the image does suggest nudity which is further enforced with the text “the perfect address for exposure”. The board ruled it amounts “to a depiction that would bring the idea of nudity and inappropriate exposure to the minds of children” and is “not appropriate for a broad audience which would include children”.
The owner of the billboard has not committed to removing the sign, telling the board “The sign will be removed when the tenant uses the sign. It is not a rude sign. If you have nothing better to do with your time then God help us.”
Miranda Ward
Miranda Ward worked for Mumbrella from 2013 to 2017, eventually becoming deputy editor. Miranda joined Mumbrella in September 2013 from Sky News.
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Good grief. We’re becoming a country so ridiculously constipated by petty bureaucrats, useless, toothless, self-regulating boards and PC-shrills that getting anything at all done going forward will be a challenge. “the sign had been up for more than a year” before a complaint summarizes this well. Instead of focusing on targets softer than a camp-fire marshmallow, the ASB needs to go after scams such as the so-called Therapeutic Goods Industry. Their (in many cases) non-scientific blithering ads pumped out by Suisse, Blackmores etc are a con at best, and in some cases damaging to health where people go on to buy their products. Coles was until recently was marketing fresh, store-baked Australian bread which in fact was par-baked, frozen and exported from Ireland. Where was the ASB in proactively prosecuting this? (It was a win for the ACCC). The ASB needs to – as Chopper Reid used to say – Harden the **** Up – or dissolve itself and admit to being irrelevant, with responsibility taken up in full by the ACCC
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The ultimate, compelling justification:
The owner of the billboard defended the ad, arguing there are worse signs on camper vans.
And another reason to rid the streets of the Wicked vans. Here is proof positive they are setting a standard to which others aspire. Yuk!
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