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Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Truth in Advertising or Poor Taste?


A recent billboard put up in the "viagra triangle" in Chicago (named for three a trendy, affluent singles bars in the Gold Coast area). Read more about it here. As far as the firm that put it up is concerned, "it's a lighthearted splash of color in an otherwise dreary area of legal advertisement. "It promotes happiness, it promotes happiness and personal integrity.""

How do you react to this?

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posted by Julie at 2:44 PM ¤ Permalink ¤


19 Comments:


  • At 5/08/2007 03:18:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous

    Hi! Yes. You may link from my blog about Maddy.

     

  • At 5/08/2007 03:21:00 PM, Blogger Lydia

    Well, it definitely doesn't make me want to recommend that law firm to anyone or to use their services myself (hypothetically speaking.)

     

  • At 5/08/2007 04:42:00 PM, Blogger Amy

    "light-hearted splash of color" sounds oddly innocent when compared to the picture...

    And the message..well, again, doesn't quite line up.

     

  • At 5/08/2007 05:49:00 PM, Blogger Jemila Kwon

    How about an alternative billboard next door: Life is Short; Love your Parter."

     

  • At 5/08/2007 05:52:00 PM, Blogger Unknown

    I think it is the typical "sex sells" crap. They knew it would draw attention, and figured any attention is good.

    Personally, I think it looks pretty stupid. I would be surprised if many people really considered them because of it.

    It's sad to see what usually is sunk to for money and business.

     

  • At 5/08/2007 10:06:00 PM, Blogger Mike Clawson

    So the basic message is "Life is short, so ditch the person you're with so you can have sex with someone more attractive"?

     

  • At 5/09/2007 01:00:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous

    it's a pretty sad and pathetic message, not to mention advertising stunt. i like jemila's alternative message :-)

     

  • At 5/09/2007 07:02:00 AM, Blogger Kim

    I heard this joke the other day: A bunch of lawyers have created a new doll: divorced Barbie. It comes with half of Kens things, and alimony...I know!..sad. Interesting that I am just reading Sex God by Rob Bell in prep for the book club and this ad is a good example of the opposite of true sexuality. What is hard to believe is that a group of supposed "professionals" got together and agreed to put this billboard up in Chicago--thinking it would help their revenue....wonder if it did?

     

  • At 5/09/2007 08:03:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous

    Yeah, that is poor taste. I like Jemila'a alternative. Sadly it's a reflection of the world now - move on, you can get something/someone better, you deserve it etc. In some ways who can blame them, we live in a world where a lot of people idolise celebrities, and let's face it, most of them are an advertisement for multiple marriages, nip and tucks etc! It's very sad.

    The city I used to live in had a bus which was sponsored by a law firm, which was known as the divorce bus, same sort of advertising - we can make your divorce quick and smooth, you deserve a better life etc.

     

  • At 5/09/2007 08:53:00 AM, Blogger gerbmom

    the billboard was removed yesterday.....

     

  • At 5/09/2007 10:00:00 AM, Blogger Di

    Sorry, no intelligent answer, because the only thing I can think is, "ick."

     

  • At 5/09/2007 12:28:00 PM, Blogger gerbmom

    Um... here's the reason they took the sign down, and the reaction from the law firm.....

     

  • At 5/09/2007 06:52:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous

    I agree with the "ick" comment!
    c.hill

     

  • At 5/09/2007 06:57:00 PM, Blogger Heather

    A case of "any publicity is good publicity". As long as that principle exists, advertisers will continue to try to shock in the hope of getting on the news or in the papers.

     

  • At 5/10/2007 06:49:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous

    The last page of every Ms. magazine is titled "No Comment." Readers are encouraged to send in exactly such ads, which are reprinted with the company's contact info. Many companies have pulled their ads after being deluged with complaints about their advertising degrading women.

     

  • At 5/10/2007 09:30:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous

    From a marketing/ad perspective, it's working great, isn't it? It drew a lot of attention, and it put that law firm's name in the spot light. Sex does sell. If it didn't work so well ad agencies would have to use a different concept. Fortunately, some people will look at that and see it in bad taste, remember that firm's name to be distasteful and use a different firm. That's the risk in using sex as a marketing strategy.

     

  • At 5/10/2007 11:14:00 PM, Blogger Tiffanie Lloyd

    To add- remember what audience they are targeting too. They don't care about the ones who are opposed to their billboard- because they aren't the ones most likely to get a divorce anyway.

     

  • At 5/11/2007 04:13:00 AM, Blogger Kathryn

    Oh, for heaven's sake! They post something like that and then, when it is taken down, go all precious about art and claim to feel"violated". What about the way they've presented woman and man ...
    Not sure if it would work as an ad, either, in that the images and strap line shout so loudly, 2 minutes afterwards I can't remember the name of the firm. Which has to be a good thing, if that's their approach ;-)

     

  • At 5/11/2007 06:53:00 AM, Blogger Marcia

    "I feel violated.”

    Okay, look, sweetie, obviously you’ve never had anything happen to you in your life that could actually fit that definition, or you wouldn’t be tossing it around in that manner.

    I mean, come on. Violated?

    And I was a little surprised to read that it was two women attorneys. I don't know why I have higher expectations as far as women not using sexualization to make money, but I guess I'm just silly.

     
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