quit smoking ads

[Legolas]

boy oh boy they are getting under my skin.

Normally, if an ad isn't relevant you can tune it out, but when you're sitting in a cinema full of kids waiting for Madagascar 2 to start, there are few ways to distract little people from emaciated dying smokers.

I absolutely do not see how pushing these images in the faces of little kids is acceptable in the education of smokers. The ads play on the conscience of smokers who are perhaps sitting watching a movie with their kids (but really...smokers aren't stupid, they already know their own responsibility to their kids). It plays on the children of smokers who then go on to have nightmares that their parents will turn out that way. And it plays on the children of non-smokers who just shouldn't be subject to any more death and sadness than life already holds in store.

rant over :(

[Dr D]

So, how was the movie?

[Legolas]

hmmmm. Kids enjoyed it. It was simple enough.

I thought the untertones of adult humour were a bit too much, and some of the characters and relationships were a bit above the target age group. Kids should just be allowed to enjoy some kids stuff.

I think that as a society we seem to be expecting sophistication of our kids that they just shouldn't have to step up for yet. The hidden messages on individuality, friendship, love in the face of adversity, and seeing a character for who they really are...dunno, kind of made me wanna puke a bit.

But as I say, the kids liked it.

I think I might have been in the wrong frame of mind given that we arrived in the theater before the show to be greeted by background music with language that would offend the toughest of adults. Mr Legs raced out of the theatre and grabbed an usher , who changed it, but not soon enough for Snowbrat, who has not stopped asking why someone would call someone a mother ...er, and what does f... mean and why do mother do it...etc etc.

then the smoking ad.

[Legolas]

suffice to say, Hoyts copped a firey email :mad:

[Legolas]

and they make carp coffee

[HelsSA]

Thats terrible. I really enjoyed madagascar 2 and didn't get any ads before it started. We also saw Bedtime stories which was good but not as good as I thought. I can honestly say that out cinema only plays music without lyrics thank goodness for that.

[Legolas]

yes...bring back Richard Clayderman and Kenny G I say!!! graemlins/outtahere.gif

[Jahoota]

thank gawd for illegal downloading. No ads. :D

[SnowSnow]

I know what ur saying Legs. But these adds aren't just aimed at making people quit. They are also aimed at discouraging young people from taking it up in the first place. And by the sounds of things it's worked for you. But i still see were your coming from.

[Legolas]

I think pushing images of dying people on four year olds is beyond the call SnowSnow.

If they are that serious about it, why not make it illegal for anyone born after 2000 (for want of a date) to smoke? Why not? because there is too much money to be made from smoking and the ongoing medical research and costs associated with smoking.

Therefore, I would suggest they are not serious about it and therefore targeting four year olds is just unfair on a child.

[SnowSnow]

That's why I said I see where you're coming from at the end Legs.

[Vet]

The smokeless cigarette, which delivered nicotine without the 40 other chemicals, has been banned in Victoria. Go figure. Now you can only chose the government-taxed poison cigs or buy gst-d nicotine patches. Why on earth can't we just grow untreated natural tobacco??

[Bear]

The reason the e-cigarette has been banned is because it contains a vial of almost pure nicotine. It is enough to kill a small child if they swallowed it. :(

[Vet]

Ahhh, so the safe cigs are the ones that are chemical-laced passive smoking and taxed. How many rats and kids did the researchers feed this stuff too?

[spaz]

Smoking SHOULD be illegal!
The adds only remind smokers they're not smoking, it triggers the addiction and makes you want one.
Many smokers don't choose to smoke, sure many have quit but many can't.
I know how bad it is for me, I watch the adds hoping they'll convince me to stop, I read the warnings on the pack, I've done the gum/patches-cold turkey... it's a stupid stupid stupid thing to allow in society. If I couldn't buy it I couldn't smoke it!

[karen97]

Unfortunately it's a big part in your industry. I am a minority in the kitchen being a non smoker

[Bear]

It's a way to sneak a 5 min break more often Kaz. :(

[karen97]

I know! One of my boys would spend over 1.5 hrs smoking each week :eek: Glad I gave it up years ago ;)

[SnowFlake]

As some parents smoke it is a good that kids get the anti smoking message (might save their lives one day) but in an appropriate (eg cartoon) format. If a lot of advertising today is aimed at the kids to lean on the parents to buy this or not buy that, may be the right kind of anti smoking promos might work on the grown ups through the kids?

[SDJ]

i am so sick of seeing these ads. I figure with all the info available these days and the government still allowing it the people that choose to smoke can suffer the consequences. I may sound harsh but life is all about choices and if they choose to ignore the FACTS about smoking than they suffer theconsequences. Dont subject us to all the images of throat cancer and people dying theres enough images of death on the news and in most tvs shows and movies these day without the need for more in ads.

unprotected sex runs the risks of sexually transmitted diseases including aids which can kill you but u dont see hundreds of ads about that do you. Crossing the road you may get hit by a car or bus or truck and may kill you but you dont see hundreds of ads on that either do u.

Im with u LEGS
NO MORE SMOKING ADS otherwise invent some sort of patch that helps us ignore them ;)

[HelsSA]

Legolas did you every recieve a reply email from the cinema?

[D-Dog]

i recon it would be cheaper to run these adds now than pay the medical costs of smokers when they come down with lung cancer later on.

[Legolas]

I can't believe the length of the rant I just accidentally deleted.

Clearly it was better out of my system, but not in yours.

In short though, I received a cursory "your letter has been forwarded, thankyou for you feedback" email.

bah...I give up. I clearly care waaaaaaay too much about what my kids are being exposed to.

[Podlettte]

I think it's highly inappropriate that it was shown at a movie like madagascar, any movie where people under 16 are likely to be is also inappropriate IMO.

I agree legs, kids are forced by marketing to be far more sophisticated than they need be at earlier and earlier ages.

Madagascar isn't aimed purely at kids, it's aimed at everyone.

I really hate the form reply without further response, I've had that from several places, a couple were just enquiries, then nothing! Hope you have better success with a reply. If you haven't already, I'd also speak with the manager of that particular hoyts, not just leave it to the head office. It'll get watered down and washed aside

[HelsSA]

I think you can make a complaint to the advertising industry if you feel that strongly about it.