The Wrong Message?

[justontime]

I had to go to our local shopping centre this morning and when I went to the Ladies there was an advert for bingo on the inside of the cubicle door. This one was for wink bingo and it made me feel so cross. It was a picture of a hairdresser who had just won online bingo while her client's head was burning under the dryer. We were expected to believe that she was playing on her laptop while neglecting her customer. What sort of message does that give? As far as I am concerned yet again it is stereotyping bingo as only for women, but it also suggests that people who play online bingo are irresponsible 'air heads'. No wonder people don't want to admit that they enjoy bingo!

[mollyL]

That would make me cross as well! I notice in adverts that women are beginning to call themselves "girls" or "gals"; I thought we were over that. I've also begun to notice when I watch the shopping channels that corseting and girdles are coming back into style! I couldn't believe it!

[tater03]

I don't get to see to many advertisements for bingos but I would agree with you on this one. It does not give a very good message about the people that choose to play bingo.

[Green-Moo]

Yet another in the long line of Bingo ads that irritate or offend at the moment. Do you think the marketing gurus take any notice of what their customers think of their ads?

[justontime]

Originally Posted by Green-Moo

Yet another in the long line of Bingo ads that irritate or offend at the moment. Do you think the marketing gurus take any notice of what their customers think of their ads?

I suspect that the 'marketing gurus' haven't got a clue about bingo! I find it surprising that Bingo companies are prepared to pay for advertising that offends their customers on so many levels.

[mollyL]

Perhaps the "powers that be" figure that women are such "bingo addicts" that they can advertise however they like. I wonder if there is the same advert in the gents'?

[justontime]

Originally Posted by mollyL

Perhaps the "powers that be" figure that women are such "bingo addicts" that they can advertise however they like. I wonder if there is the same advert in the gents'?

The Gents is designed differently so probably not. I wonder who they are aiming the advertising at? Presumably it is aimed at women since the ads were in the Ladies, but if that is the case they are getting it wrong big style. My daughter 19 said that anything which portrayed young women as 'bimbos' would get a very negative response from her. My mum 76 agreed and addrd that it was very insulting to older women too, because it shows the older woman burning undre the dryer. My mum said she may be old, but she is not stupid and she would have complained (and moved) long before she burned!

[Green-Moo]

Originally Posted by mollyL

I wonder if there is the same advert in the gents'?

I doubt there is *any* advert in the gents. Bingo advertising seems to be aimed all at women.

[tater03]

It does seem to be more directed toward women. I don't think that they really know how people feel unless they have been contacted about it.

[mollyL]

That does sound like a total crap advert now that you've described it. And as to what ads they'd have in the gents' (when they're sitting down and craving a bit of reading material?) maybe the "wash your hands" sign counts...?