Advertisers not popular with men. Or indeed women.
Here’s a poster currently ‘gracing’ the London Underground:
‘Men have status. Boys are busy updating theirs’?
Seriously?
In 2015?
1.3bn people use Facebook. Is Schweppes really suggesting that it’s more mature not be one of the, say, 500m ‘boys’ who update their statuses? It’s not as if it’s 2007 and Facebook is a niche thing used by little kids. EVERYONE is on Facebook; that means a lot people update their status at some point or another; that means lots of ‘men’ are among those people (including Lee Goulding, who is by far the most manly fella I know).
I’d also question calling out ‘status’ as something to aspire to, like it’s 1987 and we’re all clamouring to be Gordon Gekko. Even if we can get past the outdated bling-craving that feels so 2005, I don’t think 35p worth of tonic water is the best way to denote status, at least not when there’s a Nebuchadnezzar of Cristal to be had.
And it’s fucking Schweppes. Here’s some news for the Dr. Pepper Snapple group who own the esteemed drinks mixer brand: a G’n’T ain’t the most masculine of drinks. I’m a big fan, but it doesn’t separate me from the boys like a straight shot of rye or a pint of bitter might.
One last thing: the model looks like an utter bell.
But it’s not just the guys who are getting it in the neck. Here’s another poster causing controversy on the Tube:
So far over 55,000 people have signed a petition asking for its removal on the grounds that…
‘Perhaps not everyone’s priority is having a ‘beach body’ (by the way, what is that?), and making somebody feel guilty for not prioritising it by questioning their personal choices is a step too far. A body’s function is far more intricate and important than looking ‘beach ready’, so in fact it is Protein World who have confused their priorities, if anyone.’
And many women have been taking their distaste into their own hands:
Personally, I don’t see why this has annoyed people so much more than any other ads that ‘make women feel guilty’ (by the way, only you can make yourself feel guilty. Remember that, kids!). I guess it’s a bit more explicit than the other images of idealised women that have featured in ads for decades, but I think the posters that make women feel unattractive/inadequate in a subtler way are more dangerous because there is no open dialogue about the damage they do:
I also think that all this furore will have put Protein World’s Weight Loss collection at the top of any insecure girl’s shopping list. ‘Women’ (whatever that actually means) can object all they want, but this anger isn’t going to undo hundreds of years of aesthetic fascism, and the ladies who are still under its powerful thumb will still want to be ‘Beach Body Ready’.
So, two good reasons why I’m delighted not to be in London right now.
And good luck with that General Election, everyone! From where I’m standing it doesn’t look anything like a giant fucking mess!
Schweppes, the brand young men look to for life counseling and guidance. that is sooo embarrassing. Presumably it’s tonic water too. just like your mom drank!
I largely agree.
The Schweppes stuff is utter nonsense. Utter nonsense can be great advertising… but this isn’t. (I just tweeted you the ‘ladies’ execution of this campaign. It’s poop.)
And I also don’t understand why the Protein World ad has everyone quite so vexed. Maybe it’s a victim of the nation’s love of being extremely offended by everything, amplified by social media? Dunno.
Punchy art direction, though.
I like the Schweppes thing. I’m not on Facebook and it rewards me with a feeling of smug superiority over the herds of sheep posting pictures of their food or their stupid babies looking confused on social networks.
Let’s face it, they are alienating no one. Facebook users are hardly likely to order a Gin and Tonic. More likely a lager top or a JD and coke or perhaps a Rum and runny poo with ice and lemon (and then post a picture of it).
I am of the opinion that Facebook is for cunts. I’m sure I’m wrong and there are some normal people on it but really it’s vacuous bollocks isn’t it?
We’re on the same page. Only unfortunately I am a user – not a very heavy one – but still a user. I’m trying to figure out which part of my psyche is lacking that I need to keep returning to it. I’m already aware that I don’t need to know:
– what some person did next that will amaze me
– someone young has an illness
– which foods producers casue the most suffering to animals
– that I am supposed to be charlie / gay / muslim / french / whatever…
In fact, really the only thing I enjoy looking at are clips my friend posts of baby animals doing cute things
The bloke in the poster does look like a shitcunt of the first water.
They should have used a picture of someone who looks like me. George Clooney or someone like that.
Some men have no status.
Some women have bodies that are not beach ready.
They tend to date one another.
Ben, why do you bother moderating posts?
The Schweppes ad made me smile.
It didn’t offend me as a Facebook user.
It simply suggested that it’s merely a more mature or refined choice of drink.
Get over yourselves, you all sound like a focus group from a rival agency.
I had fuck all to do with this work, by the way.
I’ve actually stopped updating my status as much and started doing more real world things like fixing up the garden or the house. I’m thankful to Schweppes for slut-shaming me in such a manner. It reminded me that I can do much more than just press keys and also that there are still a lot of practical things out there in the world that need to be done.
ProteinWorld has drawn ire for the way they dealt (or haven’t dealt) with the ad. Instead of admitting it may be offensive, they’ve gone on the attack and ended up putting themselves in a worse position. Interestingly, many who already use them are now defending them. You could postulate that they’ve got a stronger customer base now and the 50,000 that signed against them probably wouldn’t use them anyway.
@Anon6: because I sleep when most of my readers are awake and I don’t want to get up and find that the comments section is full of personal attacks or libel.
The Protein World ad has just got an ASA ban over the weight loss claims. Plus an investigation into wether it’s offensive. 360 complaints.
Fuck it Ben. Leave a few in to add some controversy.
I’ll never look like that no matter how much of that I drink. I’m not 6 ft, i’m not blonde and i don’t have massive boobs. And the tone of that copy make me want to punch the writer in the face. The answer to their question is no for everyone, making people feel shit.
Carlsberg makes probably the best ad placement in the world…
https://twitter.com/ProteinWorld/status/593764278227881984