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AIBU?

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Original poster

Is a baby ultrasound scan disgusting? One shopping centre thinks so.

119 replies

KateyKool · 02/04/2011 00:00

A friend of mine is trying to get a commercial run on a big screen at a well known shopping centre. It shows a live baby scan and is designed to highlight how the baby ultrasound scanner was created in the UK and how it's one of many inventions that have changed and saved lives. The idea is both brilliant and lovely and very sensitively done. It will also help benefit charities researching into pre birth conditions. So much would come from this.
This well know shopping centre is obviously 'more into money than mummies' and have refused to run the ad , they think a baby scan is disgusting. But are happy to take the ad dollar and run ads showing stick women, retouched images and the rest - you get the drift. Hypocritical?
All my friends now have boycotted the place.

OP posts:
Bucharest · 02/04/2011 06:51

I wasn't that interested in looking at my own, I certainly can't be arsed looking at anyone elses.

And I agree with everyone else who says what an odd thing to want to do in the first place unless there is an ulterior pro-lifey thing going on.

StealthPolarBear · 02/04/2011 07:04

OP you are right that you're not a logical thinker
Your posts make little sense and then when people ask sensible questions you make comments about them being accountants not mums and start talking about how you picked your name Hmm
What exactly is the ad designed to achieve? Is it to increase the uptake of antenatal scanning? To appeal for donations on behalf of baby charities?

Sirzy · 02/04/2011 07:08

Surely the vast majority of adults in this country are more than aware of the benefits of scans, and know they are used routinely in all pregnancies so I really can't see what the aim of this is. I am sure the op must be missing out a, rather important, chunk of story!

nooka · 02/04/2011 07:14

I think it's a bit of an invasion of privacy too. It's one thing for parents to see their child and for health professionals to check that everything is OK, but I'm a bit uncomfortable for the images to be shown to a whole load of shoppers. I wouldn't have wanted anyone I didn't know to see my babies, I think it's a fairly intimate experience really and not one very appropriate for broadcasting.

SpringFollows · 02/04/2011 07:24

This is just screaming pro-life campaign to me too.

activate · 02/04/2011 07:28

Well immediately I would assume that screening an ultrasound in a public shopping centre is inapprorpriate becuase:

  1. A proportion of the clientelle may be extremely upset by having
    a) fertility issues
    b) experience of a miscarriage

  2. If it is a first trimester scan then there are enormous abortion inferences which means it falls right into the abortion / right to life debate and hence is utterly inappropriate

Blatherskite · 02/04/2011 07:29

Scans are routine at 12 and 20 weeks - plus extras if needs be, is there really such a gap in uptake that advertising them in a shopping center is going to make such a difference? I'm not sure.

Agree this is probably a pro-life campaign in which case there is a time and a place and the local shopping center is not it.

activate · 02/04/2011 07:30

should've read the thread as other people got there first with the pro-lifer comment

I think the shopping centre team are being highly sensitive and the "ad" makers highly insensitive (or have an anti-abortion agenda of course)

EmmaBemma · 02/04/2011 07:46

Some people are a bit funny about ultrasound pictures though. I remember my FIL really didn't want to look at ours when I was pregnant with my first child - I don't think he'd have used the word "disgusting" but he was definitely quite icked out by the idea.

LoveBeingKnockedUp · 02/04/2011 07:54

So people are not agreeing with you and giving the answers you want so therefore we are accounts nit my
s and everyone who reads and doesn't post agrees with you but doesn't want to say so Confused WTF?

Triggles · 02/04/2011 07:55

Yes, have to admit, I wondered about whether or not was an anti-abortion/pro-lifer thing... rather suspect it is, as the OP is pretty cagey about the whole thing. Even if it is not, I can't imagine the shopping centre wanting to risk upsetting women who are having infertility problems or a recent m/c that might see it.

deardoctor · 02/04/2011 07:56

Which 'pre-birth' charities? I can't think of any that would come under this heading...unless it is Tommies or ARC?

CelebratedMonkey · 02/04/2011 07:58

Is your friend actually offering to pay to run the ad, or expecting it to be done for free?

onlion · 02/04/2011 08:00

I dont fancy watching a scan while Im shopping ybh

Bunbaker · 02/04/2011 08:06

Which shopping centre is it?

Prunnhilda · 02/04/2011 08:07

Nonononono
Think of all those people who have had bad news via scan (I am one of them) - I can't even LOOK at a scan now. It would totally floor me to see one on the big screen. I have to change page/hide posts when I see them on the internet (which is the only place you're likely to see them in any number).
(As an aside, I wish people who put them as their avatar or profile pic just wouldn't, you don't know who you're upsetting.)

TandB · 02/04/2011 08:08

And prize for weirdest thread of the day goes to.....

Thoroughly cagey explanation about the background followed by philosophical rant about the state of the world we live in, strange references to mysterious, shadowy people who agree with the OP but haven't commented. And then accusations of cold-heartedness.

Yes. I am coming down on the side of MrsTerryPratchett and this being an anti-abortion issue.

Prunnhilda · 02/04/2011 08:10

Damn I didn't read the thread through, wish I hadn't posted if that's what it is, I have no wish to be involved in giving any attention to pro-lifers.

Tee2072 · 02/04/2011 08:10

I have to agree that there has got to be an abortion angle to this. There is no other reason to show early scans in an advert considering that everyone gets them these days.

Notice the OP hasn't been back since that was pointed out?

slartybartfast · 02/04/2011 08:13

someone i knew was underwhelmed by our ds scan pictures - her words Shock

i am sure other people feel the same.
if it is your scan, that is fine, other people's scans i must admit are underwhelming

LoveBeingKnockedUp · 02/04/2011 08:14

Pmsl @ kingfu

GrendelsMum · 02/04/2011 08:14

Also, other people's scans are boring. They all look the same.

Bucharest · 02/04/2011 08:16

Hell, my own scan was boring.
Can you see, that's the head.
Me: looks like a potato
Can you see, those are the feet.
Me: look like little potatoes
Can you see the kidneys?
Me: Even littler potatoes.

Was terrified was going to give birth to a Maris Piper tbh.

slartybartfast · 02/04/2011 08:17
Grin
Rapaccioli · 02/04/2011 08:22

I have a feeling that MrsTerryPratchett is spot on. I wonder if the OP will come back to tell is who the well-known dinic and leading doctor are that she speaks of as being behind this promotion?

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