Anyone else sick of the weird adverts, e.g. child abuse adverts, in the cinema?

AARRRGH

Every time I go to Cineworld now I am bombarded with anti-abortion adverts, really creepy poor taste child abuse adverts, and drink driving adverts.

WTF?

I am certain if I was sexually abused or recently had an abortion those adverts would ruin the experience for me.

It's not like TV where you can change channel; I'm forced to watch a huge screen with some creepy voice and camera work talking about your fathers and brothers sexual abusing family members.

Anyone else sick of this ****?

Driver 8

I understand the importance of their message, but yeah, it does rather dampen the atmosphere. Especially that weird pro-life ad.

Deliverance

The pro life ad is very imposing and biased. Why is it shown in the cinema and not on TV? That to me is a little disturbing. The whole debate of Pro life is far to complex with so many different situations involved in so many ways (I feel) so to just put it across like this through one medium such as cinema suggests that it is aimed at a specific audience. I'm not sure which audience it is aimed at but I can guess. So it is creepy in that way, kind of like looking for a more vulnerable audience perhaps?

Kintarō Hattori

God damnit they pliss me off no end. OK I know they deal with important issues but I don't go to the cinema to deal with important issues. I go there to relax and for some escapism. What the fluck these adverts are doing there I have no idea.

They really shouldn't be there. I don't think they are appropriate and they certainly help to ruin the experiance of the cinema. Do you think it'd be worth writing a letter to management?

Gauge

It's annoying- they showed that pro-life ad before the matinee showing Spiderman 3 and 90% of the audience were kids who didn't have a clue- I heard many of the ones around me asking what the ad meant. They're inappropriate, I go to the cinema to be entertained, not to have someone's agenda pushed on me.

Deliverance

They do show the pro life ads at certain times. I have never seen them shown at late shows to a more life educated audiences, like I said earlier 'creepy'. I would like to know who is sponsoring these ads, possibly some well known religious groups?

Stargal

Deliverance wrote: »

The pro life ad is very imposing and biased. Why is it shown in the cinema and not on TV? That to me is a little disturbing. The whole debate of Pro life is far to complex with so many different situations involved in so many ways (I feel) so to just put it across like this through one medium such as cinema suggests that it is aimed at a specific audience. I'm not sure which audience it is aimed at but I can guess. So it is creepy in that way, kind of like looking for a more vulnerable audience perhaps?

I would have thought that the only reason the ad is being shown in cinemas is because it's cheaper than tv? Although having said that, the website of the group responsible for the ad (Family and Life) looks kinda flash. And the anti-abortion lobby is traditionally pretty flush with cash. Hmm...

To be honest the first time I saw it I was really angry that it was being shown in the cinema but since then I've changed my mind about it. There is still a very strong anti-abortion sentiment in Ireland and as such groups like that have a right to be allowed to put forward their side of the argument in the same way that pro-choice ads are also shown in the cinema. However it does kinda put a dampner on things for a few minutes whenever they show the ad.

There was an article about it in the Irish Examiner a couple of weeks ago, I'll see if I can dig it up.

AARRRGH

I would consider myself anti-abortion (not extreme or religious or nutty though), and there's a time and place for abortion talk, but the cinema isn't one of them...

Deliverance

Hmmm... the ad is food for thought which is not a bad thing. But to have more credibility it should be shown on more mediums like dvd and tv? How much reaction would it get then? But like you said maybe expense is the thing, maybe not? The ad made me angry as well as it definately seemed out of place to me for some reason which still leaves me a little disturbed. The article in the Examiner would be interesting to read if you find it.

The link you provided was interesting, and the pro abortionists made their own points which were true: the ad only showed a limited view, yet used very emotive material and clever video editing which could be construed as manipulation rather than education ie: one side.

Like I said earlier this debate is to complex for me, I wouldn't dare go there without a clear view and proper research on both sides views. The ad fails to do this in a none biased way but I guess it is up to the opposing folks to put up their views in contrast, therefore one has to think is the cinema a proper place with which to bring this debate too. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. I guess it should be up to the patrons at the end of the day.

Deliverance

dublindude wrote: »

I would consider myself anti-abortion (not extreme or religious or nutty though), and there's a time and place for abortion talk, but the cinema isn't one of them...

I kind of agree with that, but at the same time I wonder is this the kind of thinking that avoids conclusions on issues, should people be forced to have issues pushed at them constantly because these issues need to be pushed all the time?

Or should people be allowed escapism now and again? If one is allowed to much escapism though, then maybe illusion and inaction on serious happenings will creep in and make it very easy for folks to not want to see the wrong things in the world, or even on more localised issues and as a consequence prefer to escape because they can and not do anything conscious about the wrongs?
Ok I'm getting carried away with this am I right or am I wrong in my thinking?

AARRRGH

I know (sadly) loads of girls who've had abortions, and for quite a few of them it's an upsetting subject. A couple of these girls have been sexually abused too...

To be hit by both adverts on a huge screen when you can't change channel, that's just messed up.

So my main problem with the adverts is that they are potentially upsetting.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

which is exactly why they are put there in the first place...

AARRRGH

Mordeth wrote: »

which is exactly why they are put there in the first place...

If that really is the point of them, then it's the cinemas who are the greedy spas for allowing those adverts in a place of entertainment...

Deliverance

dublindude wrote: »

If that really is the point of them, then it's the cinemas who are the greedy spas for allowing those adverts in a place of entertainment...

At the end of the day I have to agree that these ads are irresponsible to a degree as they are pretty much one way and don't give much thought to the individual.

I personally found them upsetting initially in an unnecessary way as the views were forced upon me, which I really did not appreciate. I can't say that cinemas are wrong in showing them but in the nature in which they are shown is in the same nature that any commercial lifestyle ad might be shown. Which in my view is morally wrong. The 'greedy spas' need to take a course in ethics possibly.

Karl Hungus

I'm sick of all ads in cinemas. I remember the days when we'd only see a few trailers before a film, which was something I'd enjoy viewing, but it's just more and more ads that are ruining the experience, and I'd hope cinemas would have a little more cop on that they're driving off customers like this.

It's part of the reason I rarely go to the cinema any more, despite rarely seeing any hassle or interuptions from scumbags.

Wacker

Those pro-life ads strike me as a logical response to the ads for the Crisis Pregnancy Agency (or at least I think it was them) that have been showing in cinemas for ages. The CPA ads don't come across as offensive to me, but the line "Last year over 7,000 Irish women dealt with an unwanted pregnancy" could be massively offensive to someone of a pro-life viewpoint (which does not include myself, for the record). I think that ad was highly dishonest - a lot more then 7,000 people dealt with crisis pregnancies - just 7,000 or so dealt with the situation by travelling to the UK and having abortions (as I believe should be their choice). The CPA claims that their sole intention is to dispense accurate information - in that ad alone they have already failed to do so.

Basically, the pro-choice lobby can't really complain about the pro-life side getting their ads in the cinemas. They started it.
I very much echo previous sentiments about keeping such ads for a situation in which one has the option of switching them off. But then, I'm against most ads in the cinemas.

Earthhorse

Went to see Michael Clayton last night and after seeing an ad for the Rape Crisis Centre and the Samaritans I turned to my mate and said, "This is the most depressing start to a cinema experience I've ever had."

Please don't get me wrong. I think both these organisations provide an invaluable service but it was quite shocking to sit through five minutes of that kind of information.

The weird thing about the Rape Crisis Centre ad is that it had the most sinister voice in the world narrating it. This is probably to get your attention; it was the kind of voice you couldn't tune out. It was a little incongruous however, almost as dramatic a voice as they use on action films.

I also wonder if they show these things in cinemas because it's more public. As someone said at home you can just switch it off or change channel, but in the cinema you have no such choice. Also, whilst you're on your own at home seeing it in public might be that one step closer to coming clean about it if the ad is relevant to you. I don't know and I highly doubt it but maybe that is the logic.

alienhead

agree, they're pretty grim and unsettling.

i don't think adverts should be allowed at all, they make enough from ticket sales and overpriced popcorn........ i mean, could you imagine you had to sit through 10 min of ads with your xtravision dvd.

trailers are ok.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

cinemas are greed spas?

really?

how much does adrink and a popcorn cost these days? or a cinema ticket? do you have to pay to use the bathrooms yet?

Stargal

Wacker wrote: »

Those pro-life ads strike me as a logical response to the ads for the Crisis Pregnancy Agency (or at least I think it was them) that have been showing in cinemas for ages. The CPA ads don't come across as offensive to me, but the line "Last year over 7,000 Irish women dealt with an unwanted pregnancy" could be massively offensive to someone of a pro-life viewpoint (which does not include myself, for the record). I think that ad was highly dishonest - a lot more then 7,000 people dealt with crisis pregnancies - just 7,000 or so dealt with the situation by travelling to the UK and having abortions (as I believe should be their choice). The CPA claims that their sole intention is to dispense accurate information - in that ad alone they have already failed to do so.

Just to note, when the CPA ad says how 7,000 Irish women last year 'dealt' with a crisis pregnancy, I would assume that this means how many women went to it for advice on what to do - not all would automatically have had an abortion so it's not inaccurate information.

However I agree with you that if pro-abortion ads are shown then it's only fair that anti-abortion ads get a chance to be aired too. I still don't think the cinema is the best place to be showing either of them but meh.

And to be fair, the ad itself could be a lot worse. It's pretty innocuous, it's just that the subject matter is so controversial that any ad that they put out would be criticised and debated.

Incidentally the article about it from Sept 26th isn't up on the Irish Examiner website and the Examiner isn't on LexisNexis so can't find it.

Running Bing

A rape victim on the joe duffy show now apparently complaining about how hurtful an add being shown in cinemas by the rape crisis centre is. Didnt catch it just heard the intro.

This stuff is shocking tbh.

Wacker

Stargal wrote: »

Just to note, when the CPA ad says how 7,000 Irish women last year 'dealt' with a crisis pregnancy, I would assume that this means how many women went to it for advice on what to do - not all would automatically have had an abortion so it's not inaccurate information.

Well 7,000 or so is the figure of abortions every year. I am fairly sure that's what they're referring to.

Stargal

Wacker wrote: »

Well 7,000 or so is the figure of abortions every year. I am fairly sure that's what they're referring to.

The CPA actually estimates it to be just over 5000 (see here). I know this may seem a bit pedantic but I think it's somewhat disingenuous to portray the CPA ad as being solely pushing abortion. There are several options for women facing crisis pregnancies, not just abortion, and the CPA gives information on all of them.

AARRRGH

God I forgot about the Samaritans one.

€10 for a ticket, €5 for pop corn, €4 for a drink... and I get to watch adverts about depression, child abuse, drink driving and abortion. Followed by what will probably be a crap movie

I think I will e-mail Cineworld...

PS I think the figures for abortions are much higher, especially with the amount of non-nationals in Ireland now (who might still talk to the CPA). I know a lot of girls who've had abortions. In particular a lot of the foreign girls I know, most (all?) have had abortions.

Stargal

dublindude wrote: »

God I forgot about the Samaritans one.

€10 for a ticket, €5 for pop corn, €4 for a drink... and I get to watch adverts about depression, child abuse, drink driving and abortion. Followed by what will probably be a crap movie

I think I will e-mail Cineworld...

PS I think the figures for abortions are much higher, especially with the amount of non-nationals in Ireland now. I know a lot of girls who've had abortions. In particular a lot of the foreign girls I know, most (all?) have had abortions.

Yeah I'd be interested to know what Cineworld and other cinemas have to say about it cos I know of at least two people who've complained about the anti-abortion ads but I don't know what the outcome was. I'd imagine very few have complained about the Rape Crisis, Samaritans or drink-driving ads though - can't imagine people being ideologically opposed to any of them (!) so complaining because an ad is depressing probably isn't going to change anything!

And just on your second point dublindude - that's the number of women who gave Irish addresses in British clinics in 2006 so it would actually include non-nationals who live here. The number itself is bigger because some women don't want to give their real Irish addresses but that doesn't negate the gist of the CPA ad, which is that a lot of women come to them for advice and a high proportion (but not all) get abortions.

Plus you can't really expect to get accurate statistical info from doing a quick survey of a few people that you know...

Wacker

Stargal wrote: »

The CPA actually estimates it to be just over 5000 (see here).

Yeah, there was a large drop off from the previous year, if I remember correctly. The previous figure was about 7,000, I think. Remember, the ad I'm referring to has been running for a few years.

I know this may seem a bit pedantic but I think it's somewhat disingenuous to portray the CPA ad as being solely pushing abortion. There are several options for women facing crisis pregnancies, not just abortion, and the CPA gives information on all of them.

I never accused them of solely pushing abortion. I don't believe for a second that that is what they do. I can only imagine how hard a situation many young women may find themselves in, and I applaud any organization that attempts to help them out.
What I am on about is purely that the way they phrased their ad. Really, I have no idea how many people dealt with crisis pregnancies, but I would imagine it was way more than 7,000. That was just the number that had abortions (at the time of the ad). They should be honest and just say what they mean, in my opninion.

homah_7ft

I've said it before here, in a thread that was almost exactly the same as this one, that we need a choice. I for one would be willing to pay a bit extra for my ticket so that I didn't have to sit through ads of any kind. Then the film could also be shown on time :mad:

Wacker

Actually Stargal, I should have followed your link! The figure was right there. I'm still sure the figure of 7,000 refers to abortions as opposed to people who merely consulted the CPA. The difference could be made up by people who travelled to countries other than the UK, as well as it being rounded up to the nearest thousand.

billy the squid

Just to answer a question earlier in the thread. you don't see the pro-life adverts on TV because as they are promoting a political cause, they are therefore banned by the BCI. so you won't see it on TV3. remember the trocaire advert being banned last year?

RTE may have their own policy on political advertisements. They continued to show the trocaire advert after the BCI banned it, even though they are licenced by the BCI to broadcast on the Astra Satelite.

My local cinema shows very few ads, but last Tuesday I travelled to see DayWatch in a neighbouring town and there was 15 minutes of ads before the trailers. The trailers were all about drink driving and pro life, which I fid highly inappropriate to be shown in a cinema.

When I pay 9 euro to see a film, I want to lose myself in 90 odd minutes of cinema not recieve a lecture on what someone else deems to be right and wrong.

JC 2K3

Personally, I always head into the screen 20 mins after the time on my ticket.

Galvasean

Went to see Haloween, they were asking me if i had been raped.
Went to see the Kingdom they tell me how to deal with a crisis pregnancy.
Daywatch, they tell you not to have an abortion.

Is it so much to ask to be entertained without having to get all serious!

NunianVonFuch

Personally I think the ads are just a bit off. The only people they're effecting are those who are younger and more vulnerable to the one-sided arguments. What happened to the ads for snacks and drinks eh? Things that actually have a place in the cinema because you can buy them outside? Or booze?
Rather than anti-this, depression that. Some people go to the cinema for entertainment you know. :rolleyes:

Nevyn

Deliverance wrote: »

The pro life ad is very imposing and biased. Why is it shown in the cinema and not on TV?

Because the broadcasting act makes it illegal for it to be shown on tv or aired on radio.

What you are watching in the cinema are legally defined as short films and not advertisements, screwy I know but that is how it is.

If you are not happy with any of the 'shortfilms' then I suggest that you complain in writing to the cinema, the film censor and the agency that handles the placement of such 'shortfilms'.

Stargal wrote: »

However I agree with you that if pro-abortion ads are shown then it's only fair that anti-abortion ads get a chance to be aired too.

There have never been pro abortion advertisement in this country ever,
promoting an illegal act would not be tolerated and those doing so would be investigated.

Galvasean wrote: »

Went to see Haloween, they were asking me if i had been raped.
Went to see the Kingdom they tell me how to deal with a crisis pregnancy.
Daywatch, they tell you not to have an abortion.

Is it so much to ask to be entertained without having to get all serious!

Younger people those in thier teen and twenties dont' sit down to watch the sem program at the same time on the tv every week so advertised will use the loop holes in the law about short films in cinemas to try reach them.

Necronomicon

It's weird, I've never seen the pro-life ads, and I go to a good enough mix of cinemas down here. Anyone know if they're only shown in certain areas?

Though I do constantly see the drink/driving, STD, Crisis pregnancy and rape ads. They do carry an important message, but the cinema is not the place to deliver that message.

MooseJam

the rape crises ad appears before every flic I go to see, I'm sick of it

Nolanger

Not just the subject matter but these "ads" are rubbish and terribly made.

the_syco

alienhead wrote: »

i don't think adverts should be allowed at all, they make enough from ticket sales

Actually, they only make a few cents from the tickets. All of the revenue comes from the sweets, popcorn, and drinks.

Also, money is gained from the adverts, so it's a case of who pays for the ad time, rather than who doesn't. I have only been to the cinema twice in the last year (after working there for a while, you become sick of the place, knowing how much you get ripped off), and only saw the "nice" ad about "pregnancy crisis".

Mitch Connor

dublindude wrote: »

If that really is the point of them, then it's the cinemas who are the greedy spas for allowing those adverts in a place of entertainment...

spoken by someone who doesn't understand the irish cinema industry too well.

Mitch Connor

billy the squid wrote: »

Just to answer a question earlier in the thread. you don't see the pro-life adverts on TV because as they are promoting a political cause, they are therefore banned by the BCI

One cinema removed the ad (pro-life one) from their reels when they saw it was on there for that reason.

senordingdong

I am very sick of the R.C.C. ad in cineworld, it always dampens the mood and I personally find it to be quiet creepy.

Karl Hungus

Well, I went to the cinema last night, and thankfully there was none of these ads to be had. Maybe it's more of a Dublin thing?

MooseJam

what did you go to see, was it any good ?

Karl Hungus

MooseJam wrote: »

what did you go to see, was it any good ?

Ratatouille, and it was ok.

senordingdong

I wouldn't be surprised if it was just a Dublin thing. The are shown prior to the trailers and I can't imagine it would be shown at a film like Ratatouille, maybe?

Karl Hungus

senordingdong wrote: »

I wouldn't be surprised if it was just a Dublin thing. The are shown prior to the trailers and I can't imagine it would be shown at a film like Ratatouille, maybe?

It was a late evening showing, and there weren't any kids there.

Honestly, the worst I've seen here in Galway was an ad for Jesus. No joke, some ad came on and girls were chatting and then the voiceover came on and said "Got Jesus?"

It was odd.

NunianVonFuch

Karl Hungus wrote: »

Honestly, the worst I've seen here in Galway was an ad for Jesus. No joke, some ad came on and girls were chatting and then the voiceover came on and said "Got Jesus?"

That sounds classic but only if it's like the "Got milk?" ads and there's little Jesuses on their lips!

Loomis

I was at the cinema about 3 weeks ago and I'm not joking these were the only ads; 4 were for alcohol, 1 was to talk to the samaritans about suicide, 1 was for rape crisis, 1 for sexual abuse and 1 for unplanned pregnancy.
You could actually feel how down everyone was before the movie started.

Galvasean

Karl Hungus wrote: »

Well, I went to the cinema last night, and thankfully there was none of these ads to be had. Maybe it's more of a Dublin thing?

They show them in Dundalk... by the truck load!

senordingdong

Karl Hungus wrote: »

It was a late evening showing, and there weren't any kids there.

Honestly, the worst I've seen here in Galway was an ad for Jesus. No joke, some ad came on and girls were chatting and then the voiceover came on and said "Got Jesus?"

It was odd.

I wouldn't mind seeing that one actually.