Revisiting Queen Advert That Was Pulled

[Guest guest]

In another forum in which I participated, I responded to the following snippet from a post made on the subject of the Queen advertisement that was pulled after 4 adults filed complaints against it. I thought it may be of interest to some of our members in this forum and so I'm posting it here as well for others to comment on.

Raven

********************************************

The individual wrote: " ... <snip> ... I wonder if most parents who buy these albums just think because it has "Kid's" in the title and its sung by kids think its OK and look no further ... <snip> ... "

I hate to say this but you're bang on the money with wondering if most parents see certain words and automatically think, "It's safe because it has [word] in the title."

You wouldn't believe the number of parents and caregivers I've met over the years who don't think twice if they see the word "kids" or "9 out of 10 pediatricians agree" or some other such drivel. What's more, most parents and caregivers don't take the time to really check things out before giving the go ahead to their children.

The way most parents and caregivers look at what's being marketed to their children usually looks like this (using an adult example for impact's sake).

Back in 2006, Hell Pizza delivered sealed foil condoms in a cardboard box to households across New Zealand. On the outside of the box were the words: "Our pizza for meat lovers!" and the restaurant logo. Here's how most parents and caregivers would process that information if it was something marketed to their children.

1. It's from a well-known nationwide pizza chain ergo whatever this is, it's probably OK for the kids.

2. The packaging is a cute little cardboard box ergo whatever this is, it's probably OK for the kids.

3. The message on the box reads: "Our pizza for meat lovers!" The kids love meat and so do the adults. In fact, the kids and the adults love pepperoni on pizza ergo whatever this is, it's probably OK for the kids.

4. It has the restaurant chain's logo on the top of the box. Surely a well-known restaurant chain wouldn't put their logo on something that wasn't good for business ergo whatever this is, it's probably OK for the kids.

5. Yes, the restaurant chain is named "Hell Pizza" and Hell has certain undeniable connotations, but what the hell, it's not like the kids don't hear that word -- and worse -- on television, at school, etc., so whatever this is, it's probably OK for the kids.

And so, they let their kids open the box with whatever it is inside, having convinced themselves it's probably OK for the kids and the kids get a neat surprise ... a sealed foil condom with which they can play.

It's almost criminal how most parents and caregivers don't bother to invest any time checking things out before passing something on to their children on the basis of "whatever this is, it's probably OK for the kids" because it's too much bother for the parents and caregivers to invest time investigating what they're passing along to their kids.

Raven