Just because you’re offended, doesn’t mean you’re right
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Samizdata quote of the day – offence taken editionJanuary 11th, 2023 |
 13 comments to Samizdata quote of the day – offence taken edition |
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I’m offended by the billboard, but only because of the sheer existence of artificial grass.
I don’t care or artificial grass+ (in politics or yards), but the bill board was funny. If they chickened out with a count anywhere near 4/40,000,000, they deserve to be out of business. Bye, bye.
I don’t like the government compulsion, but if I were raising my kids nearby, I’d not do business with them because they seem a bunch of coarse and impolite louts. Time, place and manner.
Manchester, so perfect match for time, place & manner. I’m guessing you’ve never been to Manchester 😀
A free society would not have a body such as the “Advertising Standards Authority” imposing its ideology on individuals and companies.
If the advertisement of a company offends you – do not buy their goods or services.
I often attack companies for following “Woke” (Frankfurt School) doctrine – so, to be fair, I have to commend this company for not following it.
Would I have produced an advertisement like this – most likely not, most likely I would have produced, say, an advertisement with people (fully clothed) playing croquet on this artificial grass – but I suppose that my sort of advertisement would also have offended some people – “classist” and so on.
There was also a seaside sort of humour in the companies original advertisement – naughty yes, but harmful – no.
As Paul Marks alludes, there may be a cultural disconnect here. I understand that from an American perspective, the original advertisement comes across as coarse and unedifying, pace bobby b. It’s not particularly to my taste either, but then I’m a sensitive plant. But this overlooks the long English tradition of more risque and bawdy advertising and public messaging – Paul Marks refers to ‘seaside humour’, as typified by the postcards of Donald McGill, and this ties in with a tradition of music-hall and pantomime, fat-mother-in-law and bathing-beauty jokes. In the city of Manchester, that billboard was likely not much out of place as to time, place and manner. In the alleged complaints of ‘offence’, I detect the presence of that small but vocal minority, the perpetual possessors of an endless grievance.
llater,
llamas
Community standards vary. I still well recall being brought up all standing on a Dutch railway platform, some 40 years ago, by a billboard for a road safety campaign. It featured a tastefully-photographed but completely-naked young woman, with the caption ‘Te snel rijen is net zo dom als te snel vrijen’ – ‘Driving too fast is just as silly as f**king too fast’. No question as to the demographic that was being aimed at there. I’m guessing that that same billboard would be grossly-unacceptable today, showing that standards are very malleable and can go all ways, sometimes quite-surprisingly.
llater,
llamas
I’ve noticed that the group-consensus standards vary by the week, but my own personal ones sort of got cemented in place right around the time we started having kids. I would also object if people were twerking in my kids’ classes. I am old and boring and set in my ways. 😉
It is telling that the Manchester Evening News article had zero qualms about showing the “offensive” billboard without pixelation.
What exactly was the problem? A nice bum in a bikini, the mildest of innuendos about getting laid or the word arse?
On the subject of offence and apologies. As is often the case I find the comments at least as informative as the article.
https://unherd.com/2023/01/the-art-of-empty-apologies/
John – the deal used to be “apologise and be forgiven” – now the situation is “apologise and we will continue to attack you – indeed we will hit you harder”. So apologies are, now, pointless.
llamas – yes there is a tradition of rude British (working class) humour that has been shocking Americans since the time of Benjamin Franklin.
Although as Mr Franklin was a nudist (“air bathing”) and had at least one child out of wedlock, how sincere his shock was is open to doubt.
Apologies are just the 21st century version of Struggle Sessions these days. The only difference is instead of the inherent violence they use the threat of destroying one’s livelihood as the lever.
The funniest part is the constantly shifting sands of outrage means one is never quite sure when the mob will be directed back at oneself.
Steven R. – quite correct Sir.