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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think Thomson's should have just called their new advert 'The Ogre' and not 'Simon the Ogre'?

24 replies

Sunnymeg · 30/12/2013 12:51

DS is a Simon and was very upset to see the advert and is now convinced he will be teased when he goes back to school next week.

OP posts:

CunningAtBothEnds · 30/12/2013 13:01

ive not seen the advert. but id probably tell my DS not to worry..unless your Ds is already being bullied or anxious id say this is a storm in a teacup

Skogkatter · 30/12/2013 13:04

Does it say Simon the Ogre on the ad?

Original poster

Sunnymeg · 30/12/2013 13:09

Yes it does say that. DS gets anxious about this sort of stuff.

OP posts:

whois · 30/12/2013 13:10

Uh, right. Yeah, no one should ever name anything because it might offend someone. You need to help your DS rather than be cross at Thompson.

HankyScore · 30/12/2013 13:12

I absolutely hate this advert. Men are ogres unless they have an expensive family holiday? Just such an awful message on so many levels.

Bleurgh.

RandyRudolf · 30/12/2013 13:12

This is a joke isn't it? Lighthearted thread? I hope so

DaddyPigsMistress · 30/12/2013 13:13

Prehaps the ogre is cross theres human boys with the same name as him.

Poor ogre

Onesleeptillwembley · 30/12/2013 13:15

I don't know the advert, but you need to deal with your son being so touchy. Imagine if everyone was line that, no books would be written, no films, no tv.

Caitlin17 · 30/12/2013 13:16

I don’t know what advert you mean but I think you'd do better addressing why a reference to his name is going to make him anxious rather than thinking the name shouldn't have been used.

It's a common enough name. Will the rhyme Simple Simon or Simon Says or Simon Smith and his amazing dancing bear also upset him?

manticlimactic · 30/12/2013 13:19

Doesn't seem like a horrible ogre. Just one that needs a holiday. What should they have called him?

Topaz25 · 30/12/2013 13:20

Surely you're not serious? TV shows, authors and advertisers have to call their characters after someone. Why don't you rant at the writer of Simple Simon? Anyway the whole point of the ad is that Simon isn't actually an ogre, he's a man who feels like an ogre because of the stresses of everyday life then relaxes and goes back to being himself after a Thomson's holiday. Also, although he is called Simon, the name isn't actually mentioned in the ad, I doubt kids will even pick up on it. If your son is over sensitive or being picked on, that's what you need to deal with, rather than worrying about an advert.

Topaz25 · 30/12/2013 13:25

HankyScore I don't think the ad was saying all men are ogres, just that people sometimes don't feel themselves because of stress and feel better when they relax. Of course the advert would show them relaxing with a family holiday because it is an advert for holidays. Would it make you feel better if they had a female ogre? Because I've felt that way before!

HankyScore · 30/12/2013 13:40

Family of ogres would have sat better with me. I just found the whole thing very dodgy. Don't mind daddy with the foul temper because he's just an ogre who needs a holiday. Yuck.

WooWooOwl · 30/12/2013 14:39

I think you are being a bit silly.

You need to find out why something so harmless causes your son to be very upset and anxious.

PTFO · 30/12/2013 14:50

I quite like that advert as its really what my dh is like. He needs sun and a good four days to become human again!

As for the name...well kids will be kids but I think your ds needs to learn that its not real and theres nothing bad about simon he's just de-stressing, be light hearted and get him to laugh at the advert if you can. After all it cant be changed now and life is just like that.

FredFredGeorge · 30/12/2013 15:11

YABU for choosing Simon as your DS's name, had you chosen something more exotic this would've never happened.

whois · 30/12/2013 15:51

I think it's a really nice advert actually. Simon isn't grumpy and mean and bad tempered, the add just shows him being tired, stress dreams of work and being clumsy. I felt sorry for simon the ogre, he obviously needed a holiday!

Original poster

Sunnymeg · 30/12/2013 18:02

Yes, this is meant to be lighthearted!

OP posts:

OpalTourmaline · 31/12/2013 01:42

I suppose there are all sorts of examples of this, such as Horrid Henry, Perfect Peter, Casper the Friendly Ghost etc. Could you think of a comeback he could have ready to say if he was very upset and convinced he will be teased?

enthusiasmcurbed · 31/12/2013 02:11

My son is a Simon...he is a very confident young man and if anyone had called him simple or what not, he would h

enthusiasmcurbed · 31/12/2013 02:13

"have thought they were plain stupid. Advert or no advert. 'Tis all about confidence. You can give him that.

enthusiasmcurbed · 31/12/2013 02:15

Sorry,Sunny, teach me to read full thread in future!

OpalMoonstone · 31/12/2013 02:30

I'm assuming you mean that you were being lighthearted about Thomson needing to change the ad, but not about your son being anxious/very upset/worried about being teased?

revivingsnowshower · 31/12/2013 08:54

If he is anxious about something like this it shows he has a bit of a problem. Other young Simons would not pick up on this. Either he is generally anxious or he has already had some problems being teased at school. Of course one can lead to the other as well. But now is a good time to start looking in to this before it gets more serious and finding ways to boost his confidence, help him deal with school mates etc.

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