Plus net Beakdancing Postman Advert

[DGP1]

Light hearted fun my arse!

What it is is a very visible message to our customers that it is acceptable behaviour.

If you were to check out the information on how many postmen are injured by dogs and look at the current reforms were fighting to get through parliament you may find it less light hearted!

Perhaps you can do a sequel where a soldier cartwheels through a field full of IED's then ask our boys returning from Afghanistan if they find it fun!

That seems a bit extreme and I don't think it's the same.

[POSTMAN]

Hi there,

Not too keen on it, definitely not funny making a joke about a dog attack also looks like someone is trying to nick the mail out of his bag, doesn't look like he is on park and loop or has he abandoned his trolley

Certainly isn't intended to offend! Bit of light-hearted fun is all it's intended to be.

I had reservations when they asked me to do it.

Well I'm glad you did!

Best regards,

Oi ya cheeky sod,here's my price list...
Link on home page: £250.00 per month
Link on forum page: £150.00 per month
Dodgy link in signature: A night in the naughty room and £100.00 per month

[POSTMAN]

Ok my thoughts,i'm not a killjoy but i think the days of a postie being attacked by dogs in the name of entertainment is kinda not funny anymore.
One wonders about these ad agencies and where their creativeness is.

[Himaggen]

Well I've made an official complaint to the ASA about the advert.

[Lounge Lizard]

Light hearted fun my arse!

What it is is a very visible message to our customers that it is acceptable behaviour.

If you were to check out the information on how many postmen are injured by dogs and look at the current reforms were fighting to get through parliament you may find it less light hearted!

Perhaps you can do a sequel where a soldier cartwheels through a field full of IED's then ask our boys returning from Afghanistan if they find it fun!

That seems a bit extreme and I don't think it's the same.

It's the same in that it's well known hazards involved with a particular occupation, not extreme at all.

[DGP1]

Light hearted fun my arse!

What it is is a very visible message to our customers that it is acceptable behaviour.

If you were to check out the information on how many postmen are injured by dogs and look at the current reforms were fighting to get through parliament you may find it less light hearted!

Perhaps you can do a sequel where a soldier cartwheels through a field full of IED's then ask our boys returning from Afghanistan if they find it fun!

That seems a bit extreme and I don't think it's the same.

It's the same in that it's well known hazards involved with a particular occupation, not extreme at all.

Don't know, I think I'd rather have a dog humping my leg rather than losing my legs because of an IED

[Himaggen]

Don't know, I think I'd rather have a dog humping my leg rather than losing my legs because of an IED

The dog begins with a friendly humping but quickly takes on a more dominant position, (it is that which I object to)!

[DGP1]

Don't know, I think I'd rather have a dog humping my leg rather than losing my legs because of an IED

The dog begins with a friendly humping but quickly takes on a more dominant position, (it is that which I object to)!

The dog was just getting into his ahhhh, stroke, so would you want to be interrupted at that point

[TrueBlueTerrier]

CWU bites back at Plusnet ‘humour’ (Shouldn't that read RMC bite back at Plusnet Humour )

http://www.cwu.org/news/archive/cwu-bit ... umour.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

CWU national health, safety and environment officer Dave Joyce has written to communications company Plusnet sharply criticising its latest advert which seeks to make a joke out of dog attacks on postal workers.

The TV advert features an actor in postal workers uniform firstly "breakdancing" and then being attacked by a small dog, which both he and comedian Craig Murray try but are unable to shake off.

In his letter to Plusnet chief executive Jamie Ford, Dave Joyce describes the advert as "irresponsible" and adds: "The age-old cartoon image of a postman being attacked and bitten by a dog is in real life no laughing matter.

"Today in the UK, it's a very serious and dangerous issue confronting Royal Mail postal delivery workers every day."

Dave goes on to explain how the union's 'bite-back' campaign has worked hard to change attitudes to this issue and is seeking changes in the law to protect not only postal workers, but telecom engineers and other public-service workers.

"Our cause and campaign to change attitudes is not helped and in fact is damaged by adverts like this one, which creates the misleading impression of a dangerous situation being nothing other than fun," he points out and concludes his letter: "I therefore respectfully request that your company ceases to televise this advert."

After sending the letter, Dave also wrote to BT chief executive Ian Livingstone and Royal Mail Group chairman Donald Brydon, who has already given his full support to Dave's complaint, stating: "I totally support this letter of complaint from the CWU. Dog attacks on postal workers are not funny."

Dave said: "I'm pleased that Mr Brydon has responded so quickly and I'm hoping Mr Livingstone will also support our complaint, as Plusnet is a BT-owned company."

[brothermagrew]

If my memory serves me correctly we went down this sort of scenario back in 2009 with Southeastern trains. As i recall Southeastern trains has agreed not to repeat advertising posters featuring an image of a postal worker being chased by a dog after complaints that the campaign made a joke of a serious issue. Dave Joyce CWU National health and safety officer wrote to the train company after its posters urging passengers to buy season tickets by post were brought to his attention.

Southestern trains head of communications Sarah Boundy insisted that the advert was "not produced with any malice," and "wasn't intended to cause offence," but she promised: "As we replace the adverts at our stations we'll make sure that this particular one isn't used again."

[Himaggen]

Just in case anyone wondered the ASA did not wish to take action here's some of what they said.

The themes of ads are a creative decision for the advertisers, and are something over which we have no control or influence. However, we intervene when we consider there is evidence of a breach of our rules. In cases relating to taste, decency or offence, the ASA has to make decisions in the knowledge that what may be profoundly offensive and entirely unacceptable to one person will not perturb another in the slightest. Our assessments must consider whether the ad has breached the Code by being likely either to offend the majority of people who encounter it or a minority of them so deeply that their interests should outweigh both the advertiser’s right to expression and the freedom of the unoffended majority to receive the advertiser’s message.

I understand you object to the ad because it makes light of dogs attacking postmen. While I appreciate your concern, we noted that the ad was unrealistic and clearly intended as slapstick comedy. We consider it unlikely that viewers would interpret it as suggesting that a real attack would be humorous or acceptable, or that it would cause serious or widespread offence as a result.

[fishtank]

It reminds me of an old episode of Eastenders when Pauline smacks old Arthur upside the head with a frying pan,obviously added to the story for "comic effect".
How funny it is to be smacked on the head by a lump of metal i have no idea but i can guess...not very.
Maybe we are failing to see the funny side but if you spend a lot of time seeing the desperately unfunny side of dog attacks it's hardly surprising.

[Lounge Lizard]

Just in case anyone wondered the ASA did not wish to take action here's some of what they said.

The themes of ads are a creative decision for the advertisers, and are something over which we have no control or influence. However, we intervene when we consider there is evidence of a breach of our rules. In cases relating to taste, decency or offence, the ASA has to make decisions in the knowledge that what may be profoundly offensive and entirely unacceptable to one person will not perturb another in the slightest. Our assessments must consider whether the ad has breached the Code by being likely either to offend the majority of people who encounter it or a minority of them so deeply that their interests should outweigh both the advertiser’s right to expression and the freedom of the unoffended majority to receive the advertiser’s message.

I understand you object to the ad because it makes light of dogs attacking postmen. While I appreciate your concern, we noted that the ad was unrealistic and clearly intended as slapstick comedy. We consider it unlikely that viewers would interpret it as suggesting that a real attack would be humorous or acceptable, or that it would cause serious or widespread offence as a result.

So if you can suggest it's 'unrealistic' and 'slapstick' then anything goes. Pathetic.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.cwu.org/news/archive/cwu-get ... ulled.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

CWU gets Plusnet dog advert pulled

5th July 2012

The CWU has today (Thursday) secured a retraction of communications company Plusnet's TV advert, which seeks to make a joke out of dog attacks on postal workers.

Earlier in the week CWU national health, safety and environment officer Dave Joyce wrote to Plusnet CEO Jamie Ford, describing the advert as "irresponsible" and outlining the union's complaint.

"The age-old cartoon image of a postman being attacked and bitten by a dog is in real life no laughing matter," Dave Joyce stated in his letter, and added: "Today in the UK, it's a very serious and dangerous issue confronting Royal Mail postal delivery workers every day."

The TV advert featured an actor in postal workers uniform firstly "breakdancing" and then being attacked by a small dog, which both he and comedian Craig Murray try but are unable to shake off.

Dave also explained how the union's 'bite-back' campaign has worked hard to change attitudes to this issue and is seeking changes in the law to protect not only postal workers, but telecom engineers and other public-service workers.

"Our cause and campaign to change attitudes is not helped and in fact is damaged by adverts like this one, which creates the misleading impression of a dangerous situation being nothing other than fun," he pointed out and concluded his letter: "I therefore respectfully request that your company ceases to televise this advert."

In his response, Mr. Ford, apologised for causing offence and pledged to withdraw the advert, telling Dave: "We would never want our advertising to offend and we take seriously your feedback on this particular advert.

"We are in no way aiming to deliver morally misleading advertising."

Dave Joyce has welcomed this development, which follows a statement of support for the CWU's stance from Royal Mail Group chairman, Donald Brydon, who stated: "I totally support this letter of complaint from the CWU. Dog attacks on postal workers are not funny."

Dave said that the removal of the advert represents a "small moral victory for the thousands of victims of dog attacks.

"It's about time the Government showed the same level of responsibility as Plusnet have by strengthening the laws governing dangerous dogs," he added.

[Himaggen]

I've just been watching the ITV4 and that advert has been shown on each of the last three 'ad breaks'!

Is there any indication of when the advert will be pulled?