Yes, I had this icon before. No, I didn't upload it just for this.

[xenologer]

Advertisers ban the V-word. American Public saved from indelicacy.

The venerable menstrual supply company Kotex recently decided it was time to shake things up with an ad campaign that used, gasp, the word vagina. Fortunately for us delicate Americans, according to the New York Times, all three major networks refused to run the ad, saying the word vagina is not suitable for broadcast. When the ad company, JWT, changed the wording to "down there"…only two networks turned it down.

Hilarity.

Comments

[a-tergo-lupi.livejournal.com]

OH NOES!!

Honestly, I know people who don't think menstrual products should be avertised at all.

Stupid.

[eac.livejournal.com]

A fellow mom looked askance at me a couple of months ago because I'd taught my daughter the words for vulva and vagina. All I thought was...right, when precisely do you think she's allowed to know the real words? Is it appropriate at 5? 7? 14?

...whatever.

[x-eleven.livejournal.com]

They should substitute the word "beaver" for "vagina". It's innocent-sounding, and brings up memories of that sweet, innocent 1950s sit-com: Leave it to Beaver

Problem solved.

:-D

[safenthecity.livejournal.com]

But Ashley, didn't you know that scientifically correct designations for the female body are unfit for public ears? It's because women are sinful, you see, and therefore references to their evil workings must be kept vieled for the sake of decency.

[x-eleven.livejournal.com]

Is that a "back to the future" moment or what?

Welcome to the 15^th Century. Yay!

[admnaismith.livejournal.com]

So much for new freedom.

[mothwentbad.livejournal.com]

Free speech doesn't mean it's ok to shout "vulva" in a crowded theater.

Or something.

[admnaismith.livejournal.com]

Or even while walking along the beach in soft-focus.

[mothwentbad.livejournal.com]

Especially not.

You know, maybe they should start making ads that are suggestive in the same way that throwing a football through a tire swing suggests getting a boner... somehow. Like, the roof could be leaking, and the woman could put a bucket under it and then smile with extra-special satisfaction. Or she could mop a floor, put up some of those yellow collapsible caution signs, and someone else could pat her on the shoulder and say, "way to go" or something.

Or... I don't know, it's hard to come up with these. Like, what would be a cramps euphemism, or an appropriate visual metaphor for getting knocked up vs not getting knocked up?

ooh, I know - she could be out pulling weeds with satisfaction. "That'll show you for trying to grow here... you opportunistic little bastard."

This is why I don't work in advertising.

[archmage-brian.livejournal.com]

I actually think the whole bucket under leaking roof commercial is fucking genius.

Also, this link is relevant. I promise.

Maybe this isn't oblique enough.

[mothwentbad.livejournal.com]

"As a gardener, I like to decide what foreign life grows in my personal space. That's why I use Ovublox. It keeps the babies out."

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Like, what would be a cramps euphemism

Since violence on TV is still acceptable, how about: Tying a thick rope tightly around the abdomen-midsection of someone, shoving them off the corner of a three-story building, and tying the rope off to let them dangle for a few hours ten feet above the sidewalk? That'd be similar.

[sorayuy.livejournal.com]

The part that amuses the heck out of me? They're banning that word, when worse has slowly and steadily made its' way onto our channels for the last several years. And they pick that one specific word? "Ha. Good show, boys. Way to protect us from vulga- ...Hmm. =P"

[archmage-brian.livejournal.com]

Especially since the word "vagina" isn't "bad" at all, it's the proper anatomical name for a part of the human body. It's as vulgar as the word "perineum," except that most people probably don't know what a perineum is.

I can understand if the tampon people were like, "yo, bitches, you bleedin' out today? Stuff this rag in yo' pussy and you good to go!"

[kingofdoma.livejournal.com]

VAGINA!!!!!

... sorry, had to be done.

[rainey-day.livejournal.com]

... but erectile dysfunction and penis envy are okay to say on TV... Consistency, please.

[mothwentbad.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm. "Erection" is a state of the penis, so the analog would be "period"*, or for "erectile dysfunction", maybe "menstrual cramps" or "yeast infection," which they do say. I'm not sure that there is such a thing as vulva envy, but there is pussy whipped, but I don't hear that one on TV much.

* - ok, so a period isn't arousal. As far as I know, they don't advertise on TV for lube or products/services intended to make it easier to get wet. Which... probably makes for even more hilarious potential commercials and vague metaphors. Like, a woman and her special friend are playing air hockey, but then the table breaks, and then they're like, "damn it, there has to be something we can do about this!" And then the KY woman happens to overhear, so she bumps the table and it starts running again, and she gives the thumbs up. "Ayyyy!" Suggestive winks are exchanged.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Hey, maybe we'll get to the point soon where we ban the word "abortion" - which means we can't argue about it anymore. We simply treat it like vaginas - it's there and there's nothing can be done to make it go away.

[virginia-fell.livejournal.com]

You know, that might not be so bad.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Hey, if it can't be discussed, it can't be argued about. Or prohibited.

[virginia-fell.livejournal.com]

I am totally comfortable halting a discussion once I have everything I want. Unfortunately issues of access still need to be talked about, but eh. Those are already transgressive, so I doubt the fact that they'd squick people under this hypothetical ban will probably not stop us anymore then than it does now. :)

[queenlyzard.livejournal.com]

Oy. 1950s much?