I was going to start this entry by saying "I don't believe I'm seeing this.." - but sadly, I do.
Todays issue of the Irish Times carries the story that:
"A controversial advertising campaign for Hunky Dorys crisps has been withdrawn after attracting over 300 complaints and a threat of legal action.
The campaign by Largo Foods featured women in revealing tops playing rugby under straplines such as “Are you staring at my crisps?”and “Tackle these”.
The Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland (ASAI) said yesterday the company had accepted its request to pull the campaign because of the widespread criticism."
Christ Almighty.
The lunatics have finally been give the keys and the green light to take over the asylum. The PC Brigade have completely lost the run of themselves this time.
Before I go any further, I have nothing, repeat, nothing but the highest regard and respect for groups like the Rape Crisis Network Ireland. However, on this occasion, they are surely guilty of a massive overreaction to a bit of harmless fun. They claim, and I'm quoting here, that:
"the posters were sending out messages that may condone or have the effect of encouraging unsafe actions. They add to attitudes and behaviours that make Ireland a place where the casual and everyday sexual assault of women is permitted and unchallenged.”
Ah, lads. Isn't that going just a tad over the top?
They are posters advertising crisps, and using some mildly amusing cliches to do it.
No more, no less.
Are the RCNI seriously trying to argue that a poster, like the one above, is encouraging attacks on, or violence against women? Are they trying to tell us that an ad for Crisps has the potential to cause women to be endangered or intimidated?
Give me a break, will ya!
It's harmless fun. In fact the greatest danger of the posters, as I see it, is that a poor old gobshite like me might crash his little motorin' car, as a result of being distracted by the sight of 'yer wan' in her little t-shirt that's too small for my daughter!
OK, time for another quote.. The National Women’s Council described the ads as..
"depressing because of the fact that the company would get masses of publicity from the controversy they created."
And who, my dear NWC, are giving them that publicity? You are.
Now, I know there were complaints, but bear with me here..
The Advertising Standards people have told us that they got 'over 300' complaints against the posters.
Hello?
There are four million people in Ireland. 300 complaints represents, (are you ready for this?).. point zero zero seven per cent of the population!
Oh yeah, that's RAKES of complaints. NOT!
Doesn't it start to look as if there's been just a tiny little storm in a tiny little teacup here?
Shouldn't we have more to bother us, when our arses are to the wall and we are trying to drag our great little Country back from the edge of the cliff and get people working and smiling and going about their business with confidence once more?
According to the Irish Times,
" Largo Foods could not be reached for comment last night, but previously chief executive Raymond Coyle rejected the allegations of sexism and claimed the company just wanted to inject a little bit of fun into things."
Well said, Sir.
Mind you, there's no such thing as bad publicity. The campaign, apparently, cost Largo around €500,000 to put together. That's a lot of crisps. However, the amount of 'free' advertising the company has won on radio (Today FM, Newstalk, 96FM, RTE, etc.. etc.. - they've ALL devoted rakes of time to it in the past week), would have cost a hell of a lost more, if they had to pay for the airtime!
Largo might be taking down their posters, but, make no mistake about it, they're laughing their little heads off as they do.
So am I.
It never ceases to amuse me how the PC Police can get their knickers in a knot over nothing.
..(sits back and waits for reaction to the mention of knickers !!!)
OOOh....seems some people need to seriously invest in a sense of humour! FFS indeed!..But as you say....publicity is publicity and THIS will probably ensure more contoversy than the adverts themselves.....therefore job well done! LOL! (perhaps they knew this would happen!)
ReplyDeleteHarmless fun.
ReplyDeleteWould be intresting to see sales data for Hunky Dorys to see how the campaign and subsequent publicity impacted on sales.
As if there are not enough problems at the moment FFS!
Having read the above blog , I decided to do a little research prior to responding.As is always the case with high profile campaigns like this people become over emotional and rational thoughts take flight.I am not going to bore anyone by referring to the proven correlation between provocative images of women and the increase in the level of violence against women.Regrettably I believe this would not encourage any dialogue with any of the above commentators unless I displayed images of boobs also!!.
ReplyDeleteThe main objection I have to the add is that the add is very misleading.The 2 models in question have never played rugby.The taller of the 2 , Lian has never traveled to Ireland.The add was filmed in Miami, 60 girls auditioned and none of them were Irish.
The Irish Rugby Football Union sent a solicitor's letter to Largo foods demanding that the add be pulled not just as a result of it's sexy images but because Largo foods claimed to be " major sponsors of rugby in Ireland".It subsequently emerged that they sponsor Navan Rugby Club only.The IRFU stated that this was " an untrue and cynical ploy in an attempt to capitalise on the games popularity ".
Another aspect that has not been raised is that the add is also sexist to men.Do Largo foods really believe that men will buy more crisps because they can ALMOST see boobies in the add ?.If they believe that advertisments like this are so powerful that men will choose these crisps over any other brand , it seems to me that this portrays the stereotypical male image that as a society we no longer idolise or tolerate.
With regard to the number of complaints , considering the general apathy the Irish people have in relation to voicing our opinions in an official capacity , 300 is a large number.Most people would rather ring a radio station etc , then engage in the official complaints process.How may complaints are normally received by this department generally ?,300 is a lot of complaints!!.
In conclusion,I would question the supposed humourous aspect of this add. it's actually not funny.Unless of course you find boobs amusing ?, in which case I am amazed that I can get to work in the morning, surely I should be at home standing in front of the mirror laughing at my boobs!!!!.
This type of humour died in the 1970s with the demise of Benny Hill and there it should remain.
Would any Fathers looking at this add want other men to sexualise their daughters and show them the same disrespect ? .