Do you find these billboards offensive?

LisaLee

I've spotted these billboard ads for Youth Defence popping up around the city centre, and personally find them offensive.

http://www.youthdefence.ie/am_cms_media/tears-billboard-mk2.jpg

Anyone I've spoken to about them doesn't like them, finds them offensive or emotionally manipulative and I've reported it to the ASAI (The Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland).

I wondered what the general public thought about these ads?

I Heart Internet

No. They don't offend me.

But to each their own. I support (in principle) your complaint to the ASAI...if you think it beaches their guidelines.

PS: difference between "not liking" and being "offended" by an ad. And then of course the most important question - did it set out to CAUSE offence? Can't really see that it did tbh.

Sleepy

Anti-abortion groups tend to offend me in general tbh...

And don't get me started on the utter moronity of the term "pro-lfe" :rolleyes:

Crooked Jack

I disagree with it but it doesnt offend me. People are far too eager to be offended.

smash

that's a photoshop, she shadows are all wrong :pac:

Washington Irving

Doesn't offend me personally but I can see why others would feel differently

frag420

Why is that guy wearing a hood, it aint even raining!!

LisaLee

smash wrote: »

that's a photoshop, she shadows are all wrong :pac:

I got it from the Youth Defence website, it's probably a proof before the campaign was launched.:)

Run_to_da_hills

Edit Poster title:

"Abortion tears the unborn child apart"..... literally.

Africa

Yes. Pro choice.

Feeona

Who is this ad aimed at? ...... at men who demand abortions

Fizzlesque

I don't know if I find them offensive, still trying to decide how I feel about them, but I don't agree with their slogan. Sometimes, there isn't a better answer.

To claim there's always a better answer isn't always true.

Irish Guitarist

No I don't.

delta_bravo

You seem easily offended. If you are so offended and against the ad why didn't you simply complain to the asai and not whinge about it here? Most people wouldn't have seen the ad if you hadn't posted it here.

LisaLee

Fizzlesque wrote: »

I don't know if I find them offensive, still trying to decide how I feel about them, but I don't agree with their slogan. Sometimes, there isn't a better answer.

To claim there's always a better answer isn't always true.

This is what I find most offensive about it, the use of the word 'Always', it just doesn't sit well with me.

I've never complained about an ad before, but this one is such an emotionally manipulative piece of advertising that I wanted to do something about it.

Ickle Magoo

No - it doesn't offend me.

I think anti-abortion messages seem to be unfair because you aren't going to have the same number or volume of groups motivated to post their opposite number so for those who are aren't anti-choice, they generate a feeling of bias or not getting the full spectrum of views/choices out there so that women/people can make an informed choice...but I wouldn't consider them offensive, no.

LisaLee

delta_bravo wrote: »

You seem easily offended. If you are so offended and against the ad why didn't you simply complain to the asai and not whinge about it here? Most people wouldn't have seen the ad if you hadn't posted it here.

Those based in Dublin probably see these billboards every day, there's one in busaras, in train stations, buses and apparently the luas. This is a national campaign so it will be advertised on billboards or as posters elsewhere in time.

I'm not an easily offended sort of person at all, I've never complained to the ASAI or similar before, but this particular campaign made me want to act.

xsiborg

LisaLee wrote: »

I've spotted these billboard ads for Youth Defence popping up around the city centre, and personally find them offensive.

http://www.youthdefence.ie/am_cms_media/tears-billboard-mk2.jpg

Anyone I've spoken to about them doesn't like them, finds them offensive or emotionally manipulative and I've reported it to the ASAI (The Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland).

I wondered what the general public thought about these ads?

they're intended to provoke that reaction, they want people to complain, because it means they got notice.

i coulnt give two fiddlers nowadays tbh, sick of hearing about abortion pro-life, pro-choice, they can all go and pro-fúck off, people will make up their own minds, regardless of a shítty ad campaign! :rolleyes:

earpiece

frag420 wrote: »

Why is that guy wearing a hood, it aint even raining!!

What's he got in the bag?????????

FatherLen

i find all billboards offensive

pickarooney

No, all ads offend me to the exact same degree. That slogan is the same one used for suicide, isn't it?

thebostoncrab

It highlights an issue that always bothers me; why is it these type of ads, using emotional manipulation to speak out against abortion, are out on display but you never see one saying "It's your decision, don't let anyone else make your mind up for you"?

We only ever see one side of arguments, usually with a religious backing, out in force. I guarantee that if a pro choice billboard was placed in Dublin there would be outrage, just like any form of atheist promotion gets vilanised.

So yes, I find it offensive. There are was to get an anti abortion message across without being emotional manipulative or insensitive.

LisaLee

xsiborg wrote: »

they're intended to provoke that reaction, they want people to complain, because it means they got notice.

i coulnt give two fiddlers nowadays tbh, sick of hearing about abortion pro-life, pro-choice, they can all go and pro-fúck off, people will make up their own minds, regardless of a shítty ad campaign! :rolleyes:

That's it though, they're meant to provoke a reaction, but I personally don't want to have to see this sort of thing every day so some group can push their personal agenda at me.

It's totally up to people to make their own minds up on a sensitive subject such as abortion, but if they wanted to read about it, then they would do it on their own time.

biko

I'm not even offended by prolifers calling themselves "Youth Defence".

davet82

hunky dory crisps

im invisible

Theres probably a better answer

Lollipops23

Vocal pro-lifers offend me in general, so yep I'm not a fan of the billboards. Only saw it for the first time yesterday.

I don't like them at all and I'd rather not have to see them

prinz

thebostoncrab wrote: »

....you never see one saying "It's your decision, don't let anyone else make your mind up for you"?

You mean like this...

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/22/cpadontbemanipulated.jpg/

It's been around a long time now.

LisaLee wrote: »

That's it though, they're meant to provoke a reaction, but I personally don't want to have to see this sort of thing every day so some group can push their personal agenda at me..

Have you ever complained about ads about littering, anti-racism, responsible drinking etc etc.?

eviltwin

Not offensive to me either but I don't really see what the point is...surely they would have been better off putting the money this campaign cost to produce into services for women in crisis pregnancy.

I see a lot of the pro-life stuff now is focusing on the aftermath of abortion rather than on the abortion itself. Now I am pro-choice but pro informed choice, I do think women need to know that they might not bounce back after an abortion and that it may have impact on their emotional health but when you are in the midst of a crisis pregnancy the last thing you will take notice of is a billboard.

xsiborg

LisaLee wrote: »

That's it though, they're meant to provoke a reaction, but I personally don't want to have to see this sort of thing every day so some group can push their personal agenda at me.

It's totally up to people to make their own minds up on a sensitive subject such as abortion, but if they wanted to read about it, then they would do it on their own time.

my thoughts on it exactly!

the reason i say this is because around the time of the last abortion debate, i was after getting off a bus in nenagh and heading up to supermacs, when i saw a bunch gathered outside supermacs with posters up on lamp-posts of graphic images of aborted foetuses. it turned my stomach, so i went up to the local garda station and asked had they sought permission to stick up these posters. the garda told me that all they needed was one complaint, twenty minutes later the posters were taken down and the group were moved on.

csi vegas

LisaLee wrote: »

I've spotted these billboard ads for Youth Defence popping up around the city centre, and personally find them offensive.

http://www.youthdefence.ie/am_cms_media/tears-billboard-mk2.jpg

Anyone I've spoken to about them doesn't like them, finds them offensive or emotionally manipulative and I've reported it to the ASAI (The Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland).

I wondered what the general public thought about these ads?

Personally, yeah I do.
I guess because I am a woman.
And the majority of replies from posters who are not I could bet are men.

Maybe add to your original post and poll choices the questions
'I am offended as a woman' 'I am not offended as a woman' 'I am offended as a man' etc?

thebostoncrab

prinz wrote: »

thebostoncrab wrote: »

....you never see one saying "It's your decision, don't let anyone else make your mind up for you"?

You mean like this...

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/22/cpadontbemanipulated.jpg/

It's been around a long time now.

LisaLee wrote: »

That's it though, they're meant to provoke a reaction, but I personally don't want to have to see this sort of thing every day so some group can push their personal agenda at me..

Have you ever complained about ads about littering, anti-racism, responsible drinking etc etc.?

That advertisement jumped to me the second I hit the post button, but I have only ever seen it in one or two bus shelters, never on a massive billboard in Dublin city centre.

It would be refreshing to see a large alternative billboard on display, simular to the "There is probably no God" ones in England.

csi vegas

xsiborg wrote: »

my thoughts on it exactly!

the reason i say this is because around the time of the last abortion debate, i was after getting off a bus in nenagh and heading up to supermacs, when i saw a bunch gathered outside supermacs with posters up on lamp-posts of graphic images of aborted foetuses. it turned my stomach, so i went up to the local garda station and asked had they sought permission to stick up these posters. the garda told me that all they needed was one complaint, twenty minutes later the posters were taken down and the group were moved on.

Fair play to you. And to the Gardaí (for once).

eth0

Billboards of any kind offend me. Fooking american advertising culture making its way in. Good there are relatively few in Ireland at the minute

pickarooney

prinz wrote: »

You mean like this...

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/22/cpadontbemanipulated.jpg/

It's been around a long time now.

An ad telling you not to let yourself be manipulated. The periodic table doesn't have an element heavy enough for me to add -ic to and use as an adjective to describe that

LisaLee

prinz wrote: »

You mean like this...

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/22/cpadontbemanipulated.jpg/

It's been around a long time now.

Have you ever complained about ads about littering, anti-racism, responsible drinking etc etc.?

I have never lodged a complaint about any other ad before this. I can't remember any advertisement that has offended me on a personal level. I just find this particular campaign offensive and don't want to have to deal with blatant agenda pushing on my way in and out to work.

Zulu

LisaLee wrote: »

This is what I find most offensive about it, the use of the word 'Always', it just doesn't sit well with me.

Wow, you're offended because of the use of "always"? ...so you wouldn't have been as offended if it said "sometimes"?

I get the impression that you are really offended because there is an anti-abortion bill board erected, regardless of it's slogan.

That particular bill board doesn't offend me at all. Had it been like the images they tend to adorn their stands though, the ones with the "graphic pictures" - well that would offend the socks off me. They're offensive.

csi vegas

delta_bravo wrote: »

You seem easily offended. If you are so offended and against the ad why didn't you simply complain to the asai and not whinge about it here? Most people wouldn't have seen the ad if you hadn't posted it here.

LisaLee wrote: »

I've reported it to the ASAI (The Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland)

:rolleyes:

pickarooney

pickarooney wrote: »

An ad telling you not to let yourself be manipulated. The periodic table doesn't have an element heavy enough for me to add -ic to and use as an adjective to describe that

lol, classic

Zulu

csi vegas wrote: »

Personally, yeah I do.
I guess because I am a woman.
And the majority of replies from posters who are not I could bet are men.

Maybe add to your original post and poll choices the questions
'I am offended as a woman' 'I am not offended as a woman' 'I am offended as a man' etc?

I hope you are not implying that men have any less of a say on the matter or that their opinions are some how of less regard? If you'd kindly clear that up, I as a father (to-be), would appreciate it.

prinz

LisaLee wrote: »

I have never lodged a complaint about any other ad before this. I can't remember any advertisement that has offended me on a personal level..

You haven't really explained why you are offended though? It's not graphic, no bad language, not insulting, etc etc.

LisaLee wrote: »

I just find this particular campaign offensive and don't want to have to deal with blatant agenda pushing on my way in and out to work.

Trying to get you to buy product X is agenda pushing.

It strikes me as odd that some of the posters "offended" by this would be the first to take the mickey out of someone offended by any other sort of advert.

eviltwin

prinz wrote: »

You haven't really explained why you are offended though? It's not graphic, no bad language, not insulting, etc etc.



Trying to get you to buy product X is agenda pushing.

It strikes me as odd that some of the posters "offended" by this would be the first to take the mickey out of someone offended by any other sort of advert.

Its scaremongering...that's offensive to some people. The idea that a woman who has an abortion will end up "torn apart" is untrue in a lot of cases. Many women have abortions and go on to live their lives as before, its unfair to suggest that having an abortion means you will be a basket case.

Scanlas The 2nd

LisaLee wrote: »

Fizzlesque wrote: »

I don't know if I find them offensive, still trying to decide how I feel about them, but I don't agree with their slogan. Sometimes, there isn't a better answer.

To claim there's always a better answer isn't always true.

This is what I find most offensive about it, the use of the word 'Always', it just doesn't sit well with me.

I've never complained about an ad before, but this one is such an emotionally manipulative piece of advertising that I wanted to do something about it.

If by "offensive" you mean you disagree with the message then you have a point.

what do you mean when you say offensive, is the poster attacking you?

Herb Powell

Not really offensive, just emotionally manipulative bolllocks with no grounding in reason (as usual from pro-lifers)

LisaLee

Zulu wrote: »

Wow, you're offended because of the use of "always"? ...so you wouldn't have been as offended if it said "sometimes"?

I get the impression that you are really offended because there is an anti-abortion bill board erected, regardless of it's slogan.

That particular bill board doesn't offend me at all. Had it been like the images they tend to adorn their stands though, the ones with the "graphic pictures" - well that would offend the socks off me. They're offensive.

By saying that "There's ALWAYS a better answer" pushes the idea that abortion is completely wrong, which their oganisation preaches. If it was changed to 'sometimes' then it completely changes the argument.

I have seen anti-abortion campaigns, protests etc. But they are not there every day, and I'm not stuck looking at them. Whereas by launching an advertising campaign which is advertised in buses, the luas and Busaras, you are stuck looking at them.

That's only one of the posters/billboards in this campaign, on their site they have this one too.
http://www.youthdefence.ie/am_cms_media/babillboard-launch07.jpg

I don't like being targeted on my commute for some group's personal agenda, I find the wording offensive and the way in which it is emotionally manipulative. So to me, that is offensive. I know it may not offend everyone, c'est la vie!

geeky

To be honest, they're entitled to advance the view that abortion is a traumatic thing and try to say to people that there are better options. And I say that as someone who thinks it should be safe and legal.

thebostoncrab

Zulu wrote: »

LisaLee wrote: »

This is what I find most offensive about it, the use of the word 'Always', it just doesn't sit well with me.

Wow, you're offended because of the use of "always"? ...so you wouldn't have been as offended if it said "sometimes"?

I get the impression that you are really offended because there is an anti-abortion bill board erected, regardless of it's slogan.

That particular bill board doesn't offend me at all. Had it been like the images they tend to adorn their stands though, the ones with the "graphic pictures" - well that would offend the socks off me. They're offensive.

The word "always" is a massive tipping point with the presentation of these ads. By sticking that word in, you're essentially telling any woman that was raped and had an abortion that she is wrong. You're telling any woman who was told that giving birth could have a large chance of killing her and her child and had an abortion is wrong. You are telling any woman who had an abortion that had a falling out with a family member or friend is wrong no matter what the circumstance.

That one word changes the tone and the focus of the billboard greatly. If a group want to advertise their views then they have my support, once they word and display in a fair way. I may disagree with a billboard like that but I wouldnt look to have it removed. But by using a strong level of emotional manipulation I would look for it to be removed.

Zulu

eviltwin wrote: »

Its scaremongering...that's offensive to some people. The idea that a woman who has an abortion will end up "torn apart" is untrue in a lot of cases. Many women have abortions and go on to live their lives as before, its unfair to suggest that having an abortion means you will be a basket case.

One womans scaremongering is another public safety message.
It's equally untrue to suggest the many women breeze through the abortion process with little or no consequences!

I reckon it's disingenuous to suggest that the process isn't at least somewhat traumatic for most people.

pickarooney

I think it's generally accepted that what companies and organisations put across in ads is not 100% reliable.

eviltwin

Zulu wrote: »

One womans scaremongering is another public safety message.
It's equally untrue to suggest the many women breeze through the abortion process with little or no consequences!

I reckon it's disingenuous to suggest that the process isn't at least somewhat traumatic for most people.

I'm not saying its not but a woman in a crisis pregnancy doesn't need the message that she is going to end up a basket case if she has an abortion. Many women have abortions and come out the other side of it just fine. To say otherwise is wrong.