Mr. Jones: "And we, as adults, are supposed to be wise and compassionate with these young people, and not lie to them. It is lying to them to say that sex is easy and cheap."
On this we totally agree. Here is what we disagree on:
THIS AD DOES NOT TELL THEM THAT SEX IS EASY AND CHEAP. THIS IS ONLY A JOKE, AND COLLEGE STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THAT.
I can't make it any clearer than that. You seem to think that college students are stupid enough to believe that a giant calendar showing a different sexual "conquest" for every day of the month is real. I disagree. I give them more credit than that.
They may laugh at it. Heck, if I saw this on a building I'd probably laugh at it too. But laughing at it is not the same as believing that it represents reality.
smallerdemon: Thanks for that link! I grew up in Atlanta in the 70s, and my parents took me to the world of Sid & Marty Krofft during its brief run. I don't remember much (I was maybe four years old), but I know got my face painted, and there was some kind of giant spider with a woman's head that scared the heck out of me.
Mr. Jones: "There may be idiotic adults who think that we are being 'hip' and 'edgy' by endorsing this behavior to today’s generation. But all we’re doing is enslaving them to cheap sex."
"Enslaving"? What? You have got to be either kidding or succumbing to blind paranoia.
The ad does not control what people think or do. It cannot "enslave" anyone. It relies upon a false stereotype in order to make a cheap joke and get attention. It does not reflect reality, any more than a joke implying that blondes are dumb or Southerners are racist reflects reality.
More to the point, the college students who see this ad KNOW that it doesn't reflect reality. Seriously, give them a little credit. It's a stupid ad, but it doesn't "enslave" anyone. The boys will laugh at it, but it's not going to make anyone go on a date-rape spree.
Advertising works by preying on insecurity. It can do this by creating insecurity and then offering to assuage it, or by promising to get rid of an insecurity that's already in place. And college-aged man-boys are RIFE with sexual insecurity; the ad people who came up with this are well aware of that.
As for this: "College is awash in hormones. Trust me. I know it."
Thanks for the condescension. I have three university degrees; I am well aware that college is awash in hormones.
I still can't believe you actually used the word "enslave" in this context.
Good grief, Mr. Jones, you react as though they're handing out roofies and advertising these women as potential rape victims. Show a little faith in your daughter's ability to look after herself.
One of very few celebrity deaths that have ever made me shed a tear. That documentary mentioned in the last bullet point is fantastic for fans, by the way; definitely worth checking out.
Parts of the speech are shown in the 2007 documentary "In the Shadow of the Moon," which is an absolute must-see for anyone interested in the space program: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0925248/
Seefish: No, it's not on paper. It's film of Nixon delivering a prerecorded speech.
My first thought was to suggest Memphis's Prince Mongo, but it turns out I was beaten to it; he's the second person mentioned in the first of these posts.
I have one of his old City Council campaign posters on my wall. It reads:
All the pit bulls I've known have been smart, sweet, loving, friendly dogs. Well, not quite; one of them is dumb as a brick. But he's still sweet, loving, and friendly.
Mr. Jones: "And we, as adults, are supposed to be wise and compassionate with these young people, and not lie to them. It is lying to them to say that sex is easy and cheap."
On this we totally agree. Here is what we disagree on:
THIS AD DOES NOT TELL THEM THAT SEX IS EASY AND CHEAP. THIS IS ONLY A JOKE, AND COLLEGE STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THAT.
I can't make it any clearer than that. You seem to think that college students are stupid enough to believe that a giant calendar showing a different sexual "conquest" for every day of the month is real. I disagree. I give them more credit than that.
They may laugh at it. Heck, if I saw this on a building I'd probably laugh at it too. But laughing at it is not the same as believing that it represents reality.
"Enslaving"? What? You have got to be either kidding or succumbing to blind paranoia.
The ad does not control what people think or do. It cannot "enslave" anyone. It relies upon a false stereotype in order to make a cheap joke and get attention. It does not reflect reality, any more than a joke implying that blondes are dumb or Southerners are racist reflects reality.
More to the point, the college students who see this ad KNOW that it doesn't reflect reality. Seriously, give them a little credit. It's a stupid ad, but it doesn't "enslave" anyone. The boys will laugh at it, but it's not going to make anyone go on a date-rape spree.
Advertising works by preying on insecurity. It can do this by creating insecurity and then offering to assuage it, or by promising to get rid of an insecurity that's already in place. And college-aged man-boys are RIFE with sexual insecurity; the ad people who came up with this are well aware of that.
As for this: "College is awash in hormones. Trust me. I know it."
Thanks for the condescension. I have three university degrees; I am well aware that college is awash in hormones.
I still can't believe you actually used the word "enslave" in this context.
("Borrowed" from my brother.)
Seefish: No, it's not on paper. It's film of Nixon delivering a prerecorded speech.
I have one of his old City Council campaign posters on my wall. It reads:
DIGNITY NOW
Prince Mongo
City Council