Volvic axes advert with slogan 'orange and proud' over fears it could offend Catholic

duffman3833

When i seen the advert, this was the last thing that would have come to mind. Why would this offend anyone, its an advert trying to promote a company's product. Are we not aloud to use certain words now a days. Cant say black with out people been offended. Could this be orange is the new black.... not the show btw

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/drinks-firm-axes-advert-with-slogan-orange-and-proud-over-fears-it-could-offend-catholics-34972347.html

Alive1

duffman3833 wrote: »

When i seen the advert, this was the last thing that would have come to mind. Why would this offend anyone, its an advert trying to promote a company's product. Are we not aloud to use certain words now a days. Cant say black with out people been offended. Could this be orange is the new black.... not the show btw

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/drinks-firm-axes-advert-with-slogan-orange-and-proud-over-fears-it-could-offend-catholics-34972347.html

Seems some people just have an absolute need to find offence even where none exists.

The flying mouse

That's why I don't drink orange juice and only green tea, it keeps my nationlist blood pumping...

razorblunt

Catholic? Just the one?

Let them have lemons if they are so BIT-TER.

GBX

Fear of offending somebody now is the first thought before anybody opens their mouth or prints anything? FFS the place has gone too soft/PC.

andekwarhola

These interminable, highly public withdrawals of 'potentially offensive' adverts or other media actually work very well as an extended marketing strategy.

The Backwards Man

PC gone mad say the Orangemen, absolutely ridiculous they say.

Watch them change their tune if somebody tells them Volvic couldn't be any more Catholic if it was sourced in the Pope's cistern.

duffman3833

razorblunt wrote: »

Catholic? Just the one?

ran out of character in heading, but there should be an 's'

the groutch

That's very cheeky of them.

Smondie

Orange is the new black

seamus

To be fair, they've only removed the advertisement from the one place that it might be shooting themselves in the foot and lose potential customers. The advert has not been "axed", it has merely been strategically targetted.

It makes sense that you wouldn't use an "Orange and Proud" slogan across the North in the same way that you wouldn't release a product called a "Twin Tower" in the States.

You don't risk offending huge chunks of your target market because that's just dumb.

The flying mouse

The man from del monte says no surrender to pc ****

Is everything that's done in the name of being sensible met with a "I hate this PC crap"?

I can see why Orange and Proud might ruffle some feathers in the North, and why a company may decide not to run with it there. It's kinda common sense to me. Not another concession to this apparent PC army that we all seem intent on waging war against.

Alf Stewart.

seamus wrote: »

To be fair, they've only removed the advertisement from the one place that it might be shooting themselves in the foot and lose potential customers. The advert has not been "axed", it has merely been strategically targetted.

It makes sense that you wouldn't use an "Orange and Proud" slogan across the North in the same way that you wouldn't release a product called a "Twin Tower" in the States.

You don't risk offending huge chunks of your target market because that's just dumb.

Seamus as always speaks sense.

This is the North we're talking about, where the "orange" order is a pretty contentious and divisive organisation.

Why would they run with an advertisement, with a slogan that could potentially alienate +/- 50% of their targeted market?

seamus

Deleted User wrote: »

Not another concession to this apparent PC army that we all seem intent on waging war against.

Indeed it seems like the easiest people to offend these days are the ones who complain about how the "Generation Snowflake PC Brigade" are so easily offended.

silverharp

don't remember any hassle with the advert slogan "the future's bright the future's Orange"

silverharp

silverharp wrote: »

don't remember any hassle with the advert slogan "the future's bright the future's Orange"

But there was...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-futures-not-so-bright-as-orange-gets-the-red-light-in-ulster-1328424.html

Acc to a few references, like the one below, they decided to drop it altogether. Maybe that's why there was no hassle?

http://glantz.net/blog/campaigns-that-failed-to-translate

Atlantic Dawn

Also adding a lime flavour with the slogan Green & Proud would have would have been a better choice than getting rid of Orange & Proud.

Smondie

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Also adding a lime flavour with the slogan Green & Proud would have would have been a better choice than getting rid of Orange & Proud.

The orange lads would be green with envy if that campaign took off

silverharp

Deleted User wrote: »

But there was...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-futures-not-so-bright-as-orange-gets-the-red-light-in-ulster-1328424.html

Acc to a few references, like the one below, they decided to drop it altogether. Maybe that's why there was no hassle?

http://glantz.net/blog/campaigns-that-failed-to-translate

well there you go, I do remember a Nordie guy at a xmas party way back and he mentioned the slogan alright , I retorted that the hotel he was in was on Fenian st. :pac: , it was all good fun though

El Weirdo

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Also adding a lime flavour with the slogan Green & Proud would have would have been a better choice than getting rid of Orange & Proud.

Ah, I see Atlantic Dawn's going for the "inclusive" dollar with this line of thinking.

Irish Guitarist

Volvic is owned by the French multinational food company, Danone, which also produces Evian mineral water.

It's incredible that they produce such contrasting products. You can really taste the difference between them. The hint of volcano really gives Volvic a kick.

Not really. What I find most offensive is overpriced bottles of water that taste the same as what I would get from my tap.

The less posters advertising crap the better in my opinion.

duffman3833

thing is, the ad wasn't created to offend anyone, just simply advertise their product. Its the people that take it wrong that cause situations like this and i think is a bit over the top.

It wouldn't offend me but the first thing to come to mind reading the slogan is some orange man in the north saying it.

Alf Stewart.

Brayan Hallowed Armor wrote: »

It wouldn't offend me but the first thing to come to mind reading the slogan is some orange man in the north saying it.

It would be like colgate introducing a new whitening formula toothpaste with the slogan "white power and proud" in Mississippi.

Wigglepuppy

duffman3833 wrote: »

When i seen the advert, this was the last thing that would have come to mind. Why would this offend anyone, its an advert trying to promote a company's product. Are we not aloud to use certain words now a days. Cant say black with out people been offended. Could this be orange is the new black.... not the show btw

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/drinks-firm-axes-advert-with-slogan-orange-and-proud-over-fears-it-could-offend-catholics-34972347.html

I don't think people are offended by use of the term black? Black people themselves use it.

Despite it being just in relation to the North, I still think this is an over-reaction, not considering intent, the usual (why do people concerned about conflict have to imbue innocuous things with conflict when they're the ones who are against conflict?) But I guess if there is a sufficient backlash they would have to withdraw the ad.

Was there any backlash though?

keano_afc

The difference here is that nobody actually got offended. The only people mouthing off are Unionist politicians.

Compare and contrast if you will the Unionist/Loyalist reaction to:

A car: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/unionists-hit-out-at-kia-provo-name-29111206.html

St Patricks day cards: http://www.colerainetimes.co.uk/news/coleraine-news/asda-remove-st-patrick-s-day-product-1-3591564

A manhole cover: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/irish-words-on-ballymenas-manhole-covers-sparks-unionists-demand-for-their-removal-34519140.html

The hypocrisy they exude is truly astounding.

Wigglepuppy

keano_afc wrote: »

The difference here is that nobody actually got offended. The only people mouthing off are Unionist politicians.

Compare and contrast if you will the Unionist/Loyalist reaction to:

A car: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/unionists-hit-out-at-kia-provo-name-29111206.html

St Patricks day cards: http://www.colerainetimes.co.uk/news/coleraine-news/asda-remove-st-patrick-s-day-product-1-3591564

The hypocrisy they exude is truly astounding.

Haha, hardcore loyalists in "being the most precious of all" shocker.

A Little Pony

Don't tell me the MOPE complained about it? They should hold a protest.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Is everything that's done in the name of being sensible met with a "I hate this PC crap"?

I can see why Orange and Proud might ruffle some feathers in the North, and why a company may decide not to run with it there. It's kinda common sense to me. Not another concession to this apparent PC army that we all seem intent on waging war against.

I know. You can't criticise anything without being labelled PC/SJW/'outraged'. AH in particular is riddled with this mind-set. It purports to support free speech but in reality just shuts down or ridicules any dissenting opinions

Letree

Well it seems to have annoyed Jim Allister so im OK with it being removed.

MeatTwoVeg

It reminds me of the time that fire kindling company launched their "it's time to burn all the ******s" campaign.

I believe they got into a spot of bother with the gay rights crowd.

The_Valeyard

I'll be he honest. first time I looked at the thing I didnt Protestant. Thought it was some "it's cool to be Ginger" promotion.

El Weirdo

Deleted User wrote: »

I know. You can't criticise anything without being labelled PC/SJW/'outraged'. AH in particular is riddled with this mind-set. It purports to support free speech but in reality just shuts down or ridicules any dissenting opinions

What?

sligojoek

The man from Del Monte says Yes

Ulster says No

dublinman1990

I'm very surprised that this ad campaign from Volvic will offend Catholics. I'm an Irish Catholic & it does not offend me because of what Volvic said about problems in the North.

The PC brigade strikes again with their overzealous bullsh1t. Well done to them all. Utter gobsh1tes. :rolleyes:

bobbysands81

seamus wrote: »

To be fair, they've only removed the advertisement from the one place that it might be shooting themselves in the foot and lose potential customers. The advert has not been "axed", it has merely been strategically targetted.

It makes sense that you wouldn't use an "Orange and Proud" slogan across the North in the same way that you wouldn't release a product called a "Twin Tower" in the States.

You don't risk offending huge chunks of your target market because that's just dumb.

Two places actually, Ireland and Scotland.

I'm offended at the thought of people being offended at this.

FreshTendrils

Yeah it's stupid but the other side's aversion to all things green can extend to changing the local Subway logo from green to blue or burning the grass and trees,smashing in the green traffic lights etc...

dublinman1990

dublinman1990 wrote: »

I'm very surprised that this ad campaign from Volvic will offend Catholics. I'm an Irish Catholic & it does not offend me because of what Volvic said about problems in the North.

The PC brigade strikes again with their overzealous bullsh1t. Well done to them all. Utter gobsh1tes. :rolleyes:

Ummmm, are you from Dublin and born in 1990?

If a 60 year old from the Falls Road had a different take on the phrase, would you allow him that or would he be one of those "overzealous PC gobsh1tes"?

Wigglepuppy

The unionist politician who said Asda has a green logo and they don't complain - legend. I love people who think crap comparisons and analogies are clever. :pac: