Fish smells and gay sauna sex: welcome to the minds of the public
The latest batch of Ad Standards Board determinations once again demonstrate as much about what goes on in the complainants’ heads as they do in the ads.
Take this one against Kimberly-Clark’s Kotex which the ASB describes thus: “The advertisement opens on a close up image of a girl looking through binoculars and a voiceover says, “Ever been out and had the feeling that you’re leaking?” We then see various images of girls in different situations as well as an image of a goldfish swimming in a plastic bag which is leaking water from numerous holes.”
Or as the complainant puts it: “The inference is that female leakage smells like fish.”
As the ASB mildly put it: “The Board considered that most members of the community would consider the advertisement does not suggest that menstruation leakage smells of fish.”
Then came a complaint about this ad for Toohey’s New which makes Dr Mumbo wonder if he was watching the same ad at all:
The complaint:
“A man takes off his towel in a sauna (though nothing is shown) and the narrator says that he should impress his father with his manhood. This is sexually perverted; I find it revolting. Also at the end of the advertisement sexually activity is suggested. This is unacceptable.”
As the ASB alternatively explained: “The Board considered that the advertisement did not depict or suggest that two men are having sex in a sauna.”
No kidding.
haha, that’s good. Thanks Doc
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Can they ban the Tooheys ad for being shit? I doubt anyone has seen that ad and bought a Tooheys or feels even slightly better about the brand…
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These are great, are there more? I never get tired of people doing dumb things.
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I haven’t purchased a Kimberley-Clark product since the Beaver ads were launched.
People have a right to feel offended, but it doesn’t mean the ad should be banned.
Unfortunately Rob, this also applies to crap ads.
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