Macquarie Network ::: 2GB | 2CH | LIVENEWS | STREET CORNER | RUGBYLEAGUELIVE | WHAT CAREER | AMAZING AUSTRALIANS :::
Thursday, 04 December 2008

Van hire forced to remove ‘misogynistic and demeaning’ slogans

21/07/2008 12:48:00 PM.  | 
A campervan company has agreed to ditch sexist slogans aimed at the backpacker market.

The Advertising Standards Board has upheld complaints over slogans painted on the company's vehicle's that claim "if God was a woman, sperm would taste like chocolate" and "women are like banks - once you withdraw you lose interest".

Advertising Standards Bureau chief executive officer Alison Abernethy said Wicked Campers will remove the slogans which the board deemed offensive.

"The board considered the slogans to be misogynistic and demeaning to women and that they served to commodify women and could not be considered humorous or acceptable," Ms Abernethy said.

The board did not rule on four other complaints because it lacked visual evidence the slogans existed.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh was among the complainants and last week she lodged a further complaint over the slogan "Save a Whale - Harpoon a Jap" which she labelled racist.

"The advertiser has listened to community concerns and will remove the slogans which are causing offence," Ms Abernethy said.

"In agreeing to comply with the board's decision and remove the slogans, the advertiser has agreed to not use the same slogan on other vans in the company's fleet."

The Advertising Standards Bureau administers the complaints system through its Advertising Standards Board.

Comment is being sought from Wicked Campers.

COMMENTS

Monday, 21 July 2008

Oh Gawd! Where has our sense of humour gone? There's insult and innuendo everywhere, even in this forum. It's the Aussie way to say, call a redhead "blue", is that an insult, offensive or demeaning? No. This is the same Advertising Bureau which banned the babies driving the Hyundai's, yet in New Zealand the same babies are currently allowed to drive Subaru's, without compliant. We've become too precious in the country.

Posted by: David Ready,

 

Monday, 21 July 2008

We get to see alot of these vans pass by. It'll be sad to see them have to change. Some of the humour is rather strong but then its humour still at the end of the day. For those few who complained, get a life or you'll be a misery forever. Smile and walk on, if it offends, dont re-read it. simple.

Posted by: Nick Again, maryborough

 

Monday, 21 July 2008

these vans have been around for a long time , the people who take the time to read what is written on some of these vans means you have to stop what your doing to stop , look & read . If people have to do this then complain about it being vulgar . If it offends don't stop and read it then complain , just keep walking remember these vans are part of Australia . Get a life and a sense of humour !!!

Posted by: chris larsen, bundaberg

 

Monday, 21 July 2008

With all due respect - "Ms Abernethy, you're an idiot"! I am a women, I don't believe in sexual harrassment, I don't believe in nuddie calanders, or offensive commentry in the workplace etc....but there is nothing wrong with these vans - they are funny.....its a joke, its advertising, there is no real naked people. The only one that i could possible see as offensive is the brazialian one - but only becasue of the naked women...but even then you see that on hoons cars all the time, so who cares.

Posted by: Concerned Liberal, Minto

 

Tuesday, 22 July 2008

Could the complaint lodged by PremierMrs Bligh of qld had any bearing on the outcome of the case? Big weight there to bear Mrs Abernathy? I hear it only takes a few complaints to have TV adds removed if found offensive, So i wonder how many complaints were issued over the VANS? If less than HUNDREDS, it should have been Binned, not investigated!

Posted by: Nick Again, Maryborough

 

Tuesday, 22 July 2008

Humour is obviously a way to be subversive - and because it's "humour", many comedians can use that banner to say or advertise, or communicate in whatever ways - that which normally would not be acceptable. I found the ad: " Save a whale; harpon a jap" - actually quite offensive even unde the banner of humour. Funny is good - being light and playful is good - but there is a threshold or boundary which should probably be considered in keeping humour at an intelligent level. Keep it smart!

Posted by: Meghan Smith, Vancouver

 
 

YOUR SAY




 


 

500 characters maximum. 500 characters left.


 

* Required field

 
Register to receive daily news and sports details

YOUR SAY

Couldn't they read the weather forecast? All the trouble people went to when they could have bought the CD and stayed at home. Big public... Opinionated JWH Party, Australia on Fans evacuate Andre Rieu Brisbane concert after severe storm

The trouble is that players come into first grade when they're 16, 17 years old and generally get put into a house away from their... Luke Roberts, Leumeah on NRL preparing to ban Reni Maitua

And once again we get treated like herd animals. The ISI in known to do bussiness with the "Terror cells" in the back lands of... Nick Again, maryborough on Grief turns to anger on the streets of Mumbai

Convict stock all of you, look at your own heritage..losers... D T, Surry Hills on Rolf Harris offends Aboriginal community with risque comments

What a bunch of typical aussie scum rednecks..your the ones who should be paying rent..get your heads out of your arses losers..... D T, Surry Hills on Rolf Harris offends Aboriginal community with risque comments