Want to help highlight the silly complainers?
October 26th, 2012 at 11:00 am by David FarrarJust been looking at all the complaints that the Advertising Standards Authority has had to deal with this year. There are a staggering 523 complaints, and reading through many of them, you see so many people with a total lack of sense of humour. For example:
The direct mail flyer showed a picture of a cow that had attempted to jump over a steel gate, but had got stuck half way. The position of the cow over the gate appears uncomfortable. Above the image is the heading “Rural broad band… no more obstacles”. Further information about the broadband packages is listed next to the image. …
Complainant, C. Bateman, said: in part “This image is disrespectful to animals, is offensive to anyone concerned about animal welfare and even if it’s meant to be “tongue in cheek” it is not even remotely humourous.”
Oh Good God. And that is one of the more sane complaints.
Anyway this has given me an idea for a regular feature – focusing on the idiotic complaints people send to to various regulatory bodies.
But I need some help to do this.
What I’m after is one or two people who will say once a week on alternate weeks go to the websites of the ASA, BSA and Press Council and have a quick skim of complaints. Then all you have to do is send me a link and/or an extract of the ones which are basically seriously demented or show someone totally lacking in humour.
If this appeals to you, just e-mail me. I think we’ll be doing a public service by highlighting the inanity of some of our serial complainers.
Probably looking to do one post a week highlighting no more than six inane complaints. I suspect a few names will reoccur!
Tags: ASA, BSA, Kiwiblog, Press Council
October 26th, 2012 at 11:07 am
So now you want to shame people who use their right to free speech?
If you want a laugh you could start with some of the crap people say on this website.
[DPF: Speech has consequences. And these people are all in fact trying to get something someone else has said removed from print, the airwaves etc. I'm not trying to get anything they say removed. I just want to mock them for a lack of a sense of humour]
Vote:October 26th, 2012 at 11:19 am
The pot calling the kettle black.
Vote:October 26th, 2012 at 11:24 am
No he’s just trying to show the ludicrousity inherent in the system. You have to laugh sometimes, especially at politicians.
Wasn’t there an ice cream advert that got taken off because it featured women in bikinis?
I also remember the AUT or Unitec had an advert to get an education featuring the Aussie radio clip of the guy who could not spell acdc. That advert lasted less than a week I think.
Vote:October 26th, 2012 at 11:26 am
Oooh, this sounds like fun! Count me in. I wonder if Barbara Faithful, the SPCS or Bob McCrockofshite have made any more complaints lately…?
[DPF: Ta. Probably would make a good regular Friday feature so if you have time on Thursdays to take a quick look through and highlight the more ridiculous complaints, that would be great.]
Vote:October 26th, 2012 at 11:27 am
I hear the Commerce Commission also gets some pretty hilarious advertising complaints, though I’m not sure if they’re archived online.
Vote:October 26th, 2012 at 11:31 am
Wowsers. Well, most of them. I thought all the complaints about the controversial ‘Skins’ ad that was taken off air a few years ago were pretty much justified..
Vote:October 26th, 2012 at 11:34 am
interesting ,this follows a post on free speech. I think it is important that citizens have a forum for airing grievances ,real or imagined. Afterall parliament no longer represents us.
Vote:October 26th, 2012 at 11:51 am
So now you want to shame people who use their right to free speech?
This:
Complaint: The television advertisement for Mr Muscle shows a woman standing in front of a vanity unit where two appliances are positioned and seen plugged into the electricity.
Complainant, [NAME DELETED], said: “My problem with this ad is they are showing a hair dryer and a set of hair straightners plugged in to the power supply on the wall, this is clearly a safety hazard and safety tags on the appliances clearly state not to have the appliance close to water”.
may be utilizing free speech, but I too am free to laugh my arse off at the guy who sent it in!
Vote:October 26th, 2012 at 11:52 am
@kowtow
Vote:But some people are complete tossers and need feedback to that effect.
Like the fuckwits that talk or use cellphones during movies.
I know it just plain doesn’t worth with some people, pointing out their short comings like some persistent link whores on this blog but some might get the hint.
October 26th, 2012 at 12:15 pm
Only stupid socialists would consider there is a need for a place for people to complain.
That’s one of NZ’s abiding hallmarks.
Full of whinners and complainers.
Pomme heritage.
Vote:October 26th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
wouldn’t it be fun to put up a wailing wall in in Wellywood, say at Cuba mall and they could all go and wail away their day.
That would release all these waste of space public servants to join them.
Vote:FFs we pay for this shit.
October 26th, 2012 at 12:36 pm
>> So now you want to shame people who use their right to free speech?
This is exactly how free speech works. If you say something stupid or hateful you don’t have the state coming in and saying “you cannot say that” you have other people coming in and saying “you are a massive cock”. Ridicule is an important part of the self-governing system supporting free speech.
Vote:October 26th, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Well, let’s say that there are equally stupid sock con statists out there who equally complain about something that they find equally ‘objectionable’ to their version of ideological purity, V2.
Vote:October 26th, 2012 at 1:07 pm
YesWeDid (798) Says:
October 26th, 2012 at 11:07 am
Oh – you raving moron….
The right to free speech comes with some conditions – you have the right to say stupid things and write stupid things and in general to appear as though one has rather reduced brain power. But everyone else has free speech too – and that includes the right to call someone an idiot or moron if – in the opinion of the opinionater – they are acting like an idiot or a moron or like a spoilt 5 year old.
The right to free speech doesnt hold one free from other peoples opinion. In fact the right to free speech encourages others to opine as well.
get used to it.
Vote:October 26th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
I’d tread a bit carefully with this one.
a) as this thread shows, people can have very different views. One person may see a complaint as work making, another may see it as silly.
b) it would be very easy to come across as a bully. These are members of the general public we’re talking about here, not public figures.
Doesn’t mean you can’t have fun, just don’t be a bully.
Vote:October 26th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
When you have the MSM scouring the community for ‘outrage’ and giving it excessive air time it sort of gives license to individuals to make a hobby of complaining about anything and everything.
Vote:October 26th, 2012 at 1:32 pm
I, for one, like the idea. I will be able to read it regularly, just as I read notalwaysright.com (based on the old adage “The customer is always right”), and its associated websites. The things people say and do are hilarious but also scary.
Vote:October 26th, 2012 at 1:34 pm
I think it’s outrageous that DPF thinks he can publish whatever he likes on his own blog. This is a gross invasion of other people’s rights.
Vote:October 26th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
Great idea DPF. It is everyones right to complain about things, but some people like to complain just for a ride on the high horse and probably don’t care much about the issue. Others like to put themselves in a position where they *can* complain ie. people moving in next to speedways or airports and then hounding the council about the noise.
I wonder how many people would complain if there was a fee, refundable upon the complaint actually being found to be valid??
Vote:October 26th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
Why?
Vote:October 26th, 2012 at 2:53 pm
Well, here is another bunch of complainers.
I’m sure you will all support them.
Council demands permit for Franklin Rd lights
Friday, 26, Oct, 2012 9:48AM
Franklin Road residents are determined to go ahead with lighting up their houses, despite the Auckland Council’s demand for a permit.
They are planning on holding a street party and sausage sizzle outside the Rob Roy Hotel when the lights are lit on December 1.
Resident Hamish Keith says it will coincide with the lighting of the Telecom Christmas tree.
He says the council is suffocating the spontaneity of the event.
Hamish Keith says the residents don’t do this because they have to – they do it because they like the kids’ reaction when they see the lights.
———–super city super moaners and of course rorters and funds collectors as well.
Vote:And lets face it that’s all these outfits are really all about. making money for themselves at others expense so they can justify their miserable fucking lives and attitudes.
October 26th, 2012 at 8:21 pm
Let’s hope this does not turn into links to Americas funniest home videos.
WhaleOil has been posting about stupid people, so this is the same, the fuckwits need exposing. In day to day life or in govt/public service/teachers/unions whatever – they need the publicity.
Now I hijack – the best this week is Donna the Deer Lady
Vote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFCrJleggrI
I guess some people can’t live without some form of Govt control, so as to blame Govt when their life turns to shit
October 26th, 2012 at 10:31 pm
I’ve been enjoying this web site that has a similar theme… people looking angry about nothing in local (UK) newspapers…
http://apiln.blogspot.com.au/
Vote: