politically incorrect

[divrack]

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2...s-tv-ad-banned-political-greenpeace-orangutan

on the subject of politically correct society,i thought it interesting to see the systemic political bias of society.
one could argue that in a hyper capitalist consumerist world all advertising is equally or just as political.
or what about public health ads, or charity ads?

we're doomed i tell you. when corporations are legally obliged to pollute and destroy the environment and economy if it will benefit the shareholders short term interest there is no hope

 

[simon12]

I don't understand why the add was banned but I don't think its political correctness.

 

[jceg316]

It was banned because it was seen as political and therefore goes against advertising standards.

I don't think it's political at all, I think it's educational.

 

[divrack]

I don't understand why the add was banned but I don't think its political correctness.

It is political correctness in a sense. My point is that everything is a political issue really.
The fact that it's systemically illegal to use an ad that celebrates moving away from an ecocidally produced product while bp can spout nonsense about its green credentials while encouraging the consumption of products that will very likely end advanced civilisation speaks to the kind of inherent bias we take as normal. Who defines a 'political' aim from a common sense necessity?
In the same way white guys that murder kids or Jews or whomever because they believe in 'racial purity' are dismissed only as troubled shooter, whereas a brown schizophrenic goes crazy with a knife and it's immediately classed as terrorism, Ie a "politically motivated" attack.
Frankly it's a stupid rule to have. If it were exclusively about not being an advert for a specific political party then fine, but this is just flagrant consumerism Vs the planet.

 

[simon12]

I don't think political correctness is political. I assume this is a UK thing since ben and Jerrys did the anti trump ice creams and got away with it.

 

[jceg316]

Political correctness is something old white men shout whenever a marginalised group wants to be less marginalised, or there's any kind of social/legal change which helps people in general. Stewart Lee actually has a really funny joke about political correctness.

 

[Oneiroi]

It's a load of b******, it's not a partisan issue, it's not near an election. What incentive to companies have to practice better standards, if they're then not allowed to fully advertise the fact and benefit from the PR? It's not like their going to do it just because it's the right thing to do.

I also don't see the difference between that and kenco or nestle plugging their 'Rainforest alliance' etc. credentials in every advert. Or loo roll companies advertising about the trees they plant to replace those they cut down etc.

 

[Slid]

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2...s-tv-ad-banned-political-greenpeace-orangutan

on the subject of politically correct society,i thought it interesting to see the systemic political bias of society.
one could argue that in a hyper capitalist consumerist world all advertising is equally or just as political.
or what about public health ads, or charity ads?

we're doomed i tell you. when corporations are legally obliged to pollute and destroy the environment and economy if it will benefit the shareholders short term interest there is no hope

Do you really not understand that all fault lies ultimately with the consumer and that the manufacturer reacts in accordance with the consumers' wishes?

 

[DavidDetroit]

Just so we're on the same page, I got this off of Wiki: PC " ...used to describe language, policies, or measures that are intended to avoid offense or disadvantage to members of particular groups in society."
The above is what I think of when hearing "politically correct." I'm not thinking, literally, "something that is politically correct or the right thing to do politically."

If OP is saying that corporations are making the decisions in place of elected officials, then I can see the removal of the advert as political.

It's not like their going to do it just because it's the right thing to do.

And I think that is at the heart of any political issue--elected officials absolutely should do the right thing solely because it is the right thing to do. It's a mind-numbingly effective solution and beyond frustrating to me that, that this isn't the case.

I don't discuss politics with relatives (who love discussing politics whenever they get together). Why would I? No complete truth is being presented by either side, so no agreement or solution can ever to be reached. Why spend time arguing about it?

Any sane person, presented with provable information, acts on that information for the benefit of all.

 

[divrack]

Do you really not understand that all fault lies ultimately with the consumer and that the manufacturer reacts in accordance with the consumers' wishes?

On the assumption that you weren't being ironic:
Do you use that argument when talking about drug dealers or sex trafficers or child porn dealers or meth labs or gun runners or etc etc ad infinitum?
Oh but that's against the law... Yes exactly. The law and politics decides what is acceptable, largely in accordance with the interests of the elite. Therefore it is dangerous political ideology to celebrate a reduction in rainforest murder but it's fine to promote unrestrained consumerism/capitalism. Because we have decided the only allowable law is the law of "free markets" TM.
Of course the consumer bears a strong responsibility, but for the average person, beset by thousands of advertisements telling them everything is fine all day, where possibly could be the harm in buying a couple of bottles of shampoo and exfoliating scrub, some elaborately wrapped stuff and she processed food with a hundred five syllable ingredients... Right, because it's basically illegal to tell them.
Sure we get some designated moment of 'scientist being worried on the news' but when it's sandwiched by fifty ads telling you to buy more stuff to be happy by sexy people, where is that libidinal energy going do you think?
It's completely astounding. The same group of people that took us to the moon, explored deep space and gave us all personal fantasy devices that answer all questions are telling us we have literally no time to save civilisation as we know it, and the current political system is obviously not fit for purpose and still these magical thinking principles of the market are what everyone is pinning their hopes on.

You know how we like to look back on our crazy racist fantasist ancestors and laugh at their incredible ignorance? I really hope there are people to do that to us in fifty years time.
Sorry, don't mean to be melodramatic. I've been reading a lot recently.

 

[divrack]

Any sane person, presented with provable information, acts on that information for the benefit of all.

That is a very optimistic perspective David, and I envy you it. However my reading of history is that it is almost universally wrong, depending on your definitions of sane and proveable of course...
My experience is that people are primarily geniuses at constructing a post hoc interpretation of the world that justifies their self image as essentially good and reasonably wise and justified in having the things they like.
Ask anyone to tell you what their life has been like and they will tell you one of a handful of stories that culminates in their current position, and they will essentially be the hero. And had you asked any slave holder they would have been the same, all doing the best they could, and confronting adversity, trying to make the world better. And we like to look back and tell ourselves the moral tale of beating slavery but forget the messy history of how this was in large part a ruse to consolidate power over Africa.
Stories, all stories. And so long as the dominant story people see is that hyper consumerism and the market is the principal or exclusive path to happiness then that is the story people will believe. I mean this isn't even going into the painful fact that this ad is explicitly a means of celebrating the non existent power of the consumer as a real means of change. Christ. It's for Iceland.

Oh and yes I'm aware of difference between the phrase politically correct and the designation incorrect due to politics, that was a play on words meant to hilight the farcical and essential arbitary nature of words as used commonly.

Anyway. Sorry for going off on one. It's not like I have any kids to worry about or savings. I should probably be cheering for the breakdown of society

 

[jceg316]

Forgot to add, getting banned is the best thing that could happen to the ad. Of course, because it's banned people want to watch it and support the underdog against the government bureaucracy (or whatever). Sure enough my Facebook feed has been filled with people sharing this ad, sharing stories on it being banned, stories on why it shouldn't be banned etc. The marketing manager in charge of this campaign probably wanted it to get banned and will receive some award at a gala dinner, possibly get a payrise, this campaign will plastered all over the agency's website and office.

 

[divrack]

Forgot to add, getting banned is the best thing that could happen to the ad. Of course, because it's banned people want to watch it and support the underdog against the government bureaucracy (or whatever). Sure enough my Facebook feed has been filled with people sharing this ad, sharing stories on it being banned, stories on why it shouldn't be banned etc. The marketing manager in charge of this campaign probably wanted it to get banned and will receive some award at a gala dinner, possibly get a payrise, this campaign will plastered all over the agency's website and office.

Maybe. I think however that the kind of people sharing it are already in that bubble, so yea it's good for Iceland, as those people turn up their noses at Iceland, but I doubt Joe public will come across it on their feeds.. dunno.

 

[Norfolk79]

To be fair on Iceland they do their bit for animals at Christmas. I mean they do those blankets for pigs!

I’ll get my coat!

 

[divrack]

To be fair on Iceland they do their bit for animals at Christmas. I mean they do those blankets for pigs!

I’ll get my coat!

That's a porcine hate crime sir

 

[Clint]

Yeah what's them porcupines ever done to anyone?!

 

[Slid]

On the assumption that you weren't being ironic:
Do you use that argument when talking about drug dealers or sex trafficers or child porn dealers or meth labs or gun runners or etc etc ad infinitum?
Oh but that's against the law... Yes exactly. The law and politics decides what is acceptable, largely in accordance with the interests of the elite. Therefore it is dangerous political ideology to celebrate a reduction in rainforest murder but it's fine to promote unrestrained consumerism/capitalism. Because we have decided the only allowable law is the law of "free markets" TM.
Of course the consumer bears a strong responsibility, but for the average person, beset by thousands of advertisements telling them everything is fine all day, where possibly could be the harm in buying a couple of bottles of shampoo and exfoliating scrub, some elaborately wrapped stuff and she processed food with a hundred five syllable ingredients... Right, because it's basically illegal to tell them.
Sure we get some designated moment of 'scientist being worried on the news' but when it's sandwiched by fifty ads telling you to buy more stuff to be happy by sexy people, where is that libidinal energy going do you think?
It's completely astounding. The same group of people that took us to the moon, explored deep space and gave us all personal fantasy devices that answer all questions are telling us we have literally no time to save civilisation as we know it, and the current political system is obviously not fit for purpose and still these magical thinking principles of the market are what everyone is pinning their hopes on.

You know how we like to look back on our crazy racist fantasist ancestors and laugh at their incredible ignorance? I really hope there are people to do that to us in fifty years time.
Sorry, don't mean to be melodramatic. I've been reading a lot recently.

How dare you suggest that ignorance can rationally be interpreted as innocence?
Have you any realistic alternative to our Western European kleptocratic socialism? None of our politicians have one, so how would you be any different.

 

[Oneiroi]

Forgot to add, getting banned is the best thing that could happen to the ad.

Very true, I hope it helps as I support the cause but it makes you wonder if that was the plan all along

 

[jceg316]

Very true, I hope it helps as I support the cause but it makes you wonder if that was the plan all along

I really wouldn't be surprised if it was!

 

[jceg316]

Turns out it wasn't banned after all https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...ed-clearcast-orangutan-palm-oil-a8634071.html

Nonetheless deforestation is still a big issue and if this stunt has helped highlight it then good.