***This post contains vulgar material that appeared on television. Consider yourself warned. No complaints afterward.***
Honestly folks, I’m not a guy who is easily offended. Nope. I even enjoy off color humor from time to time. But what offends me is when my children are exposed to something vulgar when I am not expecting it. However, even if my children didn’t see this, I would still be offended on behalf of all women. This is really saying something.
Last night I saw an ad for a ladies razor, the Schick Quattro for Women, during prime time television and had to quickly change the channel. Actually, I was so upset that I turned the TV off and sent the kids to bed early. What offended me so? Well the ad which can be viewed at the bottom of this post.
I intended to write a post about the degradation of our culture and the totally inappropriate material that is allowed on TV during regular viewing hours. While searching for the ad, I came across the UK version of the ad and I must say that my jaw hit the ground. It was much, much worse than even the US ad about which I was already offended.
I post the ad here, but please consider yourself forewarned. It is vulgar. The ad is called “Mow the lawn.” I kid you not.
The US version of the ad, while slightly less explicit is in the same vain. I saw this ad during prime time on a cable channel. It boggles the mind how any network would accept an ad like this during prime time, or any time for that matter. This one is called “Bushes.”
Women are obviously the target audience for these vulgar and disgusting ads. I highly recommend that if you are currently a Schick customer that you immediately cease purchasing their products and that you let them know why. Ads like this have no place on television. If you see one of these ads, I also suggest that you contact the network responsible and complain.
August 11, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Yet another reason I only use my TV to watch DVDs, not actual television.
August 11, 2009 at 5:42 pm
We're not allowed to get pro-life ads showing cute little babies on television but they can put ads on about trimming their nether regions into heart shapes?
August 11, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Anyone else notice what ethnicity the woman is they have trimming the bonsai trees?
August 11, 2009 at 5:54 pm
I don't watch much TV and will probably never see the Schick ads, thank God. They are trash. Pundette, I'm with you, I saw the Levi's 501 ad last fall before the main feature at a movie theater, and I was absolutely shocked. I still am.
August 11, 2009 at 6:30 pm
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August 11, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Sex sells. Money talks. Let our money walk. If all who are morally outraged called Schick & told them that they can schtick their blades where the sun don't shine, then maybe they'll pull the ads & have a touch of class next time.
August 11, 2009 at 7:09 pm
"Sex sells. Money talks. Let our money walk. If all who are morally outraged called Schick…"
…they would do what the networks do. For every one complaint they get, the rule of thumb is that one thousand dissatisfied viewers are out there. So, if one thousand people complain, that reads as one million dissatisfied customers.
Money talks, but so does market research.
August 11, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Typical 1970's commercial break had ads for:
1) Car
2) Detergent
3) Washing machine
4) Department store
5) Gasoline
6) Aspirin
2000's commercial break includes ads for:
1) Oral contraceptive that also treats acne
2) Prescription for pill that makes male organs work.
3) Feminine hygiene product to prevent leaking
4) Over the counter product claiming to make men bigger
5) Oral contraceptive that limit periods to 1 per quarter
6) Website to connect you with someone to commit adultery with "when divorce is not an option"
7) Fingertip vibrator
8) Feminine product to make women feel "fresher"
Oy!
August 11, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Glad you posted on it. Vulgar is the new normal. Everything on TV is worse than it ever was.
August 11, 2009 at 10:17 pm
Oy vey.
Nothing wrong with meds that treat conditions like low T. Recent church teachings confirm the goodness of sex. (Adultery is definitely out unless one wants an eternity in hell.)
It's just the presentation that needs work to not trivialize sex
and the timing to not scandalize the young.
August 11, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Here's what bothers me about it. It seems that more women are bothered by how the "hair down there" looks. I want a razor to shave my legs! This just wreaks. I hate it. What "shape" I'm in is not up for discussion. Gross. But….they advertise to the market. Young women today actually care about this–that tells me something. I'm glad my children go to bed before this stuff comes on.
August 11, 2009 at 11:19 pm
I agree with Rachel. (for the US ad) And Cindy, I'm guessing it's obviously a personal care issue. I don't shave my legs every day – maybe once a week – because it simply doesn't bother me or my husband. I know several friends who shave their legs every day, because it does bother them. So what may be 'wrong' for you is 'right' for me. It doesn't make it wrong period. So young women today care about the upkeep (so to speak) in that area, so what? It's not wrong to care about that 'area'.
August 12, 2009 at 1:43 am
To me this is total crappola.
There is only one person responsible for that ad coming into your home and scandalizing your children and leading to this miserable discussion. It isn't the director of advertising at Schick.
How can you be surprised at that ad or anything like it suddenly being thrust in your face? It never happened before? It never happened a thousand times before? A million times? What's it going to take for you to wake up, Dad?
The producer, the ad men are not Catholics or even Christians. They get paid by how many people they draw to the ad. They often do that by breaking taboos. You didn't know that?
Maybe you expected something to raise your minds and hearts to God, a passage from the gospels, a life of a saint?
They are "edgy" in the sense that they can put you and your family on the edge of a moral abyss in a flash. Why do you leave yourself and them in that position? Throw the damn thing out.
It is almost never an occasion of grace. It is very frequently the occasion of sin or temptation to sin.
Mainstream media is the world, the flesh and the devil. To use the language of the Fathers, it is the haunt of demons, period.
Well, put it to the test. Keep being "surprised" and see what the fruits of that policy are in the lives of your children.
If you are not going to do all, ALL, to keep the world, the flesh and the devil out of your home, how can you expect God to do ALL to protect your children?
With the Schick ad the network pushed it a little too far, but they have been pushing right along. If you watch mainstream TV in your home day after day, day after day they are pushing the envelope, inuring you and them to things that are truly wicked. There is always something a little more vulgar, pornographic, blasphemous than yesterday. There is the constant walkdown of our morals that began a long, long time ago. It's deliberate, constant and demonic.
You are the gatekeeper. Shut the gate.
August 12, 2009 at 1:56 am
I agree. Throw the TV out. We did it years ago–and haven't regretted it once. TV is not much better, and quite possibly worse, than soft porn, and has no place in our home. Most Americans (and apparently the rest of the world) are simply frogs in a boiling pot, slowly boiling to death.
August 12, 2009 at 2:21 am
With the exception of the 2004 Presidential debates, I've not watched television since Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction".
Thanks for reminding me why.
August 12, 2009 at 2:54 am
Honestly, I regret that post. I'm in no position to lecture anyone about anything. If I could figure out how to delete it, it would be gone.
August 12, 2009 at 3:53 am
For the first time ever, I find myself disagreeing with a post on CMR – my all time favourite blog.
I thought these ads were cute. Ok a very risque double entendre – but ultimately no obscenity. I admit I would want my kids seeing it – but reckon I could explain my way out anyway.
Anyway keep up the great work CMR on all the big issues of the day.
Oh and I'm a new fan of Dymphna, thanks to this comments page.
Pax.
August 12, 2009 at 3:54 am
Should have said "wouldn't" want my kids seeing it in the last post.
Talk about Freudian slips.
August 12, 2009 at 1:53 pm
While women have shaved or waxed their bikini lines for decades, the trend of shaving and shaping their pubes is certainly an indicator of how mainstream porn has become, as such was almost exclusively the domain of performers in that industry.
By the way, its not just women. Gillette has a whole section of their website teaching guys how to perform their own "lawn care," in addition to removing all other body hair. They even have a slogan "Trees look taller when there's no underbrush."
August 13, 2009 at 12:18 am
Can I just point out: shaving, trimming or otherwise maintaining pubic hair is NOT a sin. Nor is it an indication that someone watches, had watched or is influenced in any way by the porn industry. To many many women shaving/trimming (which this product GREATLY assists in) is a comfort issue, not a vanity issue. And I have never had a girlfriend tell me they shaved in order to look like a porn star or to please their husband/boyfriend/whatever.
What is bothering me most is the response that is so against the idea of shaving down there! Please, explain to me how that is a sin.