offensive? British billboard

[Bob S.]

According to Weird Car News (http://autos.aol.com/gallery/weird-car-news?ncid=AOLCOMMautodynlsec0004&icid=main|netscape|dl2|link5|http%3A%2F%2Fautos.ao l.com%2Fgallery%2Fweird-car-news%3Fncid%3DAOLCOMMautodynlsec0004) from AOL, a billboard in England has apparently caused serious offense. It shows a bra-covered breast with the words "Nice Headlamps. What do you look for in a car?"

How that is offensive is beyond me.

Bob S.

[MeBNude]

A billboard in England has apparently caused serious offense. It shows a bra-covered breast with the words "Nice Headlamps. What do you look for in a car?"

How that is offensive is beyond me.

Bob S.

Well, while I'm not "offended" per se, I wouldn't buy a car from a company using that as their ad no matter how much I liked the car. I find that a simple objectification of woman and degrading for that matter. A car's headlights is not its most important features nor are a woman's breast for that matter, unless we're talking about baby feeding.

Let's see if my fertile imagination can come up with something comparable...

Ticonderoga, the pencil company has just launched a new pencil product that is significantly longer and fatter than your standard pencil. And the tag line is... "they've lied. Length and circumferance do matter."

Which of course doesn't get to the real reason the product exists... longer life and more comfortable to hold. So, while I'm sure other folks in here won't be offended by my proposed advertisement... you can see how it really is off point and really there for the sexual double entendre, right?

Hmmm... maybe I should get into advertising as my next career?!!!!:p

[Kouak]

Ticonderoga, the pencil company has just launched a new pencil product that is significantly longer and fatter than your standard pencil. And the tag line is... "they've lied. Length and circumferance do matter."

Great analogy. Maybe advertising is in your future.

[Naturist Mark]

Hmmm... maybe I should get into advertising as my next career?!!!!:p

Or possibly pencil sales ... hmmm ... which would make you a pencil pusher ...

[Fitz1980]

Well, while I'm not "offended" per se, I wouldn't buy a car from a company using that as their ad no matter how much I liked the car. I find that a simple objectification of woman and degrading for that matter. A car's headlights is not its most important features nor are a woman's breast for that matter, unless we're talking about baby feeding.

Ticonderoga, the pencil company has just launched a new pencil product that is significantly longer and fatter than your standard pencil. And the tag line is... "they've lied. Length and circumferance do matter."

I wouldn't see that as offensive nor even as the objectification of men if you put a shirtless stud in the ad.

Advertisements aren't really about telling you the features of a product most of the time. They're about trying to attract attention and be memorable amongst the other million or so ads in our consumer culture.

[Stu2630]

I don't find it offensive. I can, however, see the feminist objection that it "objectifies" the female breast (referring to it as a "headlamp") and thus objectifies the female body. I'm not persuaded that it should be banned, though, as it is a little bit of humour aimed at a predominantly male readership.

Stu

[Sanslines]

I don't find it offensive. I can, however, see the feminist objection that it "objectifies" the female breast (referring to it as a "headlamp") and thus objectifies the female body. I'm not persuaded that it should be banned, though, as it is a little bit of humour aimed at a predominantly male readership.

Stu

How is your job going? Have things lightened up a bit now that you spend more time at university working?

[MeBNude]

Advertisements aren't really about telling you the features of a product most of the time. They're about trying to attract attention and be memorable amongst the other million or so ads in our consumer culture.

Could be why I avoid commercial television at all costs, as well as magazines. Unless I can get real information about a product, then I find the ad a waste of my precious time since there is so much other relevant and important information to sift though in the world.

But, I certainly agree with Stu2630, there is no reason for the ad to be banned. They obviously have a target audience and I am sure are advertising well to that selected target. :)

[Stu2630]

Sanslines

Thanks for asking. I've got a mountain of work to do and I spent 4 hours yesterday and 4 hours today trying to catch up - my days off before starting work tomorrow with a solid 6-hours teaching. My extra work has helped a bit and, with a bit of luck, things will begin to ease off towards next weekend.

Stu

[David77]

I think that billboard does not give proper respect for the female form in publicly calling her breasts "headlights".

[Kouak]

I think that billboard does not give proper respect for the female form in publicly calling her breasts "headlights".

I agree that they are not respectful. Have the guys that thought this up strip nude. I think you will be able to see them advertising their IQ...ONE! :rolleyes:

[richinoregon]

I think it fails in in one major point-communicating a message. I can't figure out what the point of the advert is.

[Baron Lake]

There are two points in this message Rich. :)

Jeeze Louise, from some of the comments you would think the gender equality
movement has been set back 30 years.

Actually a friend of mine has a bra on his car. He's like Stu, can't abide nudity.

b.l.

[MeBNude]

Yes, B.L. I have those same two points in my life on a 24/7 basis... and I like and think mine are better than what was used in the advert. But, I don't want or need mine or someone else's to sell product... unless we're talking something relevant to the push...

you know... bras, breast augmentation or reduction surgery, the benefits of breast feeding (infants), etc. :D

[richinoregon]

There are two points in this message Rich. :)

Jeeze Louise, from some of the comments you would think the gender equality
movement has been set back 30 years.

Actually a friend of mine has a bra on his car. He's like Stu, can't abide nudity.

b.l.

Sorry, I'm still confused. What are they trying to get the consumer to buy?

[Hairgod]

Confusing, but not offensive per se. Inuendos are offensive.

[steve-o]

I agree that they are not respectful. Have the guys that thought this up strip nude. I think you will be able to see them advertising their IQ...ONE! :rolleyes:

Sure, their silly, sexist ploy would get my attention but it would turn me off for those same reasons. If they can't be more creative and intelligent than that I don't want to buy what(ever it is) they're selling.

--steve

[ah2benude]

Simply put; Sex sells. Always has and always will.

[Boreas]

I am with MeBNude. I was going to say that I did not find the ad offensive. I do find it mildly offensive. Sure, the "humour" is there on some level, as they say. I thought using "boobs" to sell things was outdated.

I would certainly not be buying any product from that seller since I am clearly not in their target demograpics.

It reminds me of a Ford dealership in the city where I grew up. They were "The Workingman's Dealership" well into the 80's. Clearly they did not want my business.

[wynotbnude]

Offensive? Yes a little, but mostly just in poor taste. A lame attempt at best to use sex in advertising. Not creative at all.
I guess I am not in their target group either. I would not consider buying anything from them.

[David77]

The British billboard reminds us of the billboards paid for by the city of Louisville Kentucky's concerning their "Possibility City" which upset the city council, as the billboards allude to finding a girl with a tatoo on her butt, and a parody of an erectile disfunction ad.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/2009910120326

[Redtan]

As another poster said: sex sells. I thought the ad was mildly funny; kind of juvenile. Wouldn't put me off or cause me to buy. Obviously aimed at guys.

I haven't seen it, but as described I certainly don't find it nearly as offensive as the airbrushed super skinny models, occasionally looking underage and often in sexually suggestive poses/situations, that are used to sell cosmetics or fashion to women. See this story for example:

http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Skinny+model+claims+fired+being/2100540/story.html

Guys buy sexual suggestion; women buy sexual ambience.