Oh, something else at the cinema

[karohemd]

There was an advert that started with a girl throwing up and then back in time to her with a positive pregnancy test and then to a party where she'd got it on with a bloke and both had gotten excessively drunk before. Now I thought this would be about responsible drinking but no, it turned out being for the "If you want respect, use a condom" safe sex campaign, not about irresponsible drinking. Not a word about drinking excessively being wrong, not a single one. :o(

Comments

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

I saw that ad too, and whispered to Mike that it offended me on so many levels. So women can be expected to be treated like crap because they drink? That's all I got from that stupid ad.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

That as well. Condoms were the last message I thought of when seeing that. :o(

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

Me too. Given how creepy that ad started out, I was actually preparing myself for them to say something as stupid as "If you ladies don't drink, men won't take advantage of you."

SNARL.

[davegodfrey.livejournal.com]

There are ads in that campaign that are more clearly aimed at men too. Though I wasn't expecting condoms based on seeing this particular ad either. I was expecting it to be part of the similar "when drinking don't go too far" ones that tend to end up with a scene in A&E or the police station.

[pinkapplejam.livejournal.com]

Well of course not, it wasn't funded by any anti-alcohol scheme. However most of such problems would be helped solved a bit more if there was a "respect yourself and stop shoving everything up your pussy/shoving your cock into everything and stop letting people use you" campaign.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Exactly. What I get from this is "it's alright to get drunk and shag random people you meet at parties as long as you use a condom". Rubbish.

[pinkapplejam.livejournal.com]

Yarr, it's a sad fact that some people think that that is automatically what young people will do anyway, i.e. it is OK to assume some people will first, most will treat their body like a funfair, and second, that others will treat it like a temple. So the best thing to do is assume the first thing but as long as they use a condom it will help reduce the overall risk of STDs, pregnancy etc. Is it really so uncool to say/think "just respect yourself first", instead of relying on other people to do the right thing and hope that they use a condom?

I find it bewildering that people will shove their bits in anyone/have anyone shoved in them at any party. At least, this is the impression that people can, do and will do this according to this advert. I mean where have these people been? Their sexual past? Trust issues? People lie to get a fuck. Why ride the risk of catching stuff? Why put yourself at risk? Is it really worth it?

Personally I think the Frank adverts have been very eye catching, funny, but also scary and quite truthful, in a TV advertising watchdog friendly way. If only STD-warning adverts would do the same thing.

"Respec'~"? No-one has it - for themselves or anyone else - what's the point of using a condom, according to this.

/bugbear rant

[davegodfrey.livejournal.com]

Actually the STD ones (the ones with the "Gonorrhoea" branded jewellery, etc) haven't been too bad- even if it made me want to start up a "Chlamydia" clothing line...

[pinkapplejam.livejournal.com]

Agreed there, the chunky belt buckles looked quite hardcore. XD

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

But I LIKE shagging random people (especially when my other half joins in)! And I like getting drunk! OK, so I tend to do the two at different times...

[whiskeylover.livejournal.com]

Hmm- Your argument is a bit like the pope's argument that condoms help spread HIV. Yes, ideally people would not get horrendously drunk & shag random strangers. However, people do and will. If one can at least drill the message home that one should use precautions, then to my mind that is already a step forward.

I remember when I grew up the Aids epidemic was all over the news, apocalyptic scenarios about how many millions would die abounded, and all the advertising drilled it into us that sex without a condom was virtual suicide.

Today people seem to be more blase about it again, so I actually approve of adverts that help to bring safe sex to people's attention again (be it that they want to avoid catching STDs or getting pregnant).

[pinkapplejam.livejournal.com]

Hmm- Yes, ideally people would not get horrendously drunk & shag random strangers. However, people do and will. If one can at least drill the message home that one should use precautions, then to my mind that is already a step forward.

Agreed here, though it's just really sad that this is the damage control in the first place. If people took more responsibility for themselves and didn't have the "poor me, shag me, rescue me, oh actually you used me" attitude, drunk or not, a lot of problems would be reduced in the first place ;__;

[whiskeylover.livejournal.com]

I don't think one excludes the other (or at least it shouldn't). It is simply unrealistic to take the Vatican/George W Bush/ Puritan America approach of "We're against condoms, because if we allow those, people will be fornicating all over the place & infect themselves, or worse, get pregnant with an extra-marital child, whereas if we don't distribute condoms they will all be weel-behaved & attend Sunday school every week".

Respect, prevention, not getting horrendously drunk, etc. all good- but don't let that stop the protection of those who, for whatever reason, do dance the horizontal tango with random strangers. And not all of them have a 'poor me / I've been used' attitude. Some people actually enjoy having no-strings random hey nonnie nonnie (or so I'm told).

[pinkapplejam.livejournal.com]

It's the situation I am criticising because I don't understand the culture of irresponsible drunken party pity-fucking.

I think it's sad how a lot of people don't have self-respect for themselves, I'm not saying using condoms is bad.

Handily... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7950671.stm

but don't let that stop the protection of those who, for whatever reason, do dance the horizontal tango with random strangers.

I agree, I never meant otherwise :) Condoms are ace! It's just that to get so smashed you/the other person does not remember, that's a real problem, not to mention just fucking stupid.

[whiskeylover.livejournal.com]

"...that's a real problem, not to mention just fucking stupid"

literally... ;)

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know they do and I know there's little anyone can do about it but it's not right to (silently) condone it, either. I just felt the ad didn't bring across the message it was supposed to bring across.

[vyvyan.livejournal.com]

I think it is alright to get drunk and shag random people you meet at parties! Most of my long-term relationships have been the result of such encounters. What's inherently wrong with it?

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

It doesn't comply with my view. Drinking excessively is one of those things that really bug me because many people just lose it (of course, there are exceptions).
I'm in now way opposed to casual sex but it should be a conscious decision, not something you regret afterwards.

[vyvyan.livejournal.com]

Well, to each their own, I guess :-)

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Yep.

[eryx-uk.livejournal.com]

It bugs me on the whole respect issue. Condom use is nothing to do with respect, its about common sense.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

*nods*
Respect would be not to take advantage of a drunk girl who probably wouldn't even look at you if she was sober.

[pinkapplejam.livejournal.com]

Or drunk boy, to be fair :)

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Heh

[eryx-uk.livejournal.com]

True, but thats not what I see the ad (or the others in the series) aiming at.

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

Trouble is, "common sense" sounds like "eat your greens", "get to bed early", "do your homework" and so on. The ad is aiming to promote the idea of condom use.

[technotom.livejournal.com]

Yeah exactly. Common Sense sounds like a boring man in a suit whining about rules and mithering the disenchanted youth and getting them to move on and stop making so much noise and that, whereas Respect is more like the cool trendy guy at school swaggering down the corridor with all girls on his arms and a Vespa outside.

after reading all the comments...

[ikkleruby.livejournal.com]

I thought this ad was a good ad for detering drinking excessively &, much like you, was a lil confused when it turned out to be a condom ad.

But, as someone else said- its true that while it would be best to not get that drunk in the first place- people still do. i do it myself! & yes, often drink makes you horny & you do things that you wouldnt do sober. So the fact that its saying 'if you must do it, wear a condom' means its not so bad.

This particular one is aimed at girls because its the pregnancy aspect. There are other ones aimed at both guys and gals, to do with STDs- so i dont deem this as offensive towards women- the sad fact is, its women who are the ones lumbered with the kids if they get pregnant on a one night stand! to ignore the pregnancy issue related to not using a condom would be more offensive.

good advert, in my opinion. but yes- seems more geared towards excessive drinking.

[pmoodie.livejournal.com]

Trouble is, when one is drunk, one's judgement and capacity to behave sensibly go right out the window.

How many young people are going to be at parties, pissed out of their heads, on the point of stumbling into the bedroom for a quickie, then think "But wait! I remember that ad I saw in the cinema! I shall not engage in intercourse without adequate protection!"

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Exactly. That's why the advert as it was should be a warning about excessive drinking. "If you don't get shitfaced, you might remember to use a condom."

[technotom.livejournal.com]

It's not condoms which are at fault, it's God. He doesn't like condoms, and smites those who uses them.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Don't get me started on *that* discussion.