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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to dislike the Thomson 'Simon the Ogre' ad?

90 replies

iammrsnesbitt · 15/01/2014 19:57

I keep seeing it on TV and it's annoying me.

Dad of the family is an ogre except when he gets an expensive Thomson holiday. Just seems so wrong in so many different ways.

Gorgeously beautiful mum with her perfect peachy backside isn't an ogre. Is that because she doesn't 'work as hard' as Simon? Or because she's a mum and just has to suck it up?

Is Simon the ogre really just an abusive ogery arse when he's not on holiday? Poor Simon's wife and daughter. Does Mrs Simon need to LTB? Sad

It would make more sense if the whole family were ogres who needed to de-stress on a expensive Thomson holiday. As it is it just leaves me wondering what hell their ordinary lives must be.

DH thinks the ad is aimed at the men who book their family holidays - it gives out the message to them that 'yes I do work very hard and need a holiday'. Which is fair enough.

But what about ogre mums? And ogre children?

OP posts:
sublimecorpse · 15/01/2014 19:59

The beginning of that ad is filmed near me Smile

I don't mind it tbh

RobinSparkles · 15/01/2014 19:59

I think that every time I see the advert. Why is she not an Ogre? Does she live the life of Riley?

everydayaschoolday · 15/01/2014 20:02

I agree, usually all the family need a holiday, so it should have been a family of ogres. I also think it's sexist: if the implication is that it's men who book the holidays, and therefore the ad it targeted at them, then that doesn't fit with our family dynamics (usually I am the one who books with fair consultation of course Wink); and sexist in that it is only the man who 'needs' the holiday, as if he's the only one doing any 'work' or feeling any stress.

Cluelessat30 · 15/01/2014 20:02

I'm mostly annoyed that the ad is so bloody long, it really doesn't take that long for their (screwed up) message to get through.

callamia · 15/01/2014 20:03

It makes me feel sad for the dad, that his family see him like that.
It just doesn't work as a good commercial.

SofaKing · 15/01/2014 20:04

I hate it too. It's pushing the idea that a holiday is essential, otherwise work will turn you into a horrible creature who will ruin everything for your family.

If you can't afford a holiday, clearly you are an awful husband/wife and parent. Except you won't be an awful wife of course, because it was filmed in the 50's when only men went to work, so clearly you have nothing to worry your pretty little head about, other than de-ogreising your husband on holiday and looking Fab in a bikini Envy

Can you tell I don't like it Grin

WitchWay · 15/01/2014 20:05

Agree they all ought to be ogres. Perhaps they could be normal people at the beginning & turn into their proper ogres selves during the holiday, a bit like Shrek's wife...

Vixxxen · 15/01/2014 20:06

He is a little meh when an ogre but sure not abusive?
I think you are overthinking it too much.

CoffeeTea103 · 15/01/2014 20:07

No need to over analyze it. Yabu.

MrsDeVere · 15/01/2014 20:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
iammrsnesbitt · 15/01/2014 20:09

Well ogres arent exactly supposed to be nice creatures. Vixxxen its not like he turns from a unicorn or other pretty mythical beast into his real self.

Its a shit advert.

OP posts:
monicalewinski · 15/01/2014 20:10

I hate it too. Someone got paid for that shit concept.

EatingAllTheCrumpets · 15/01/2014 20:10

I'm with you on this, I cannot stand it. I turn it over as soon as it comes on, both mum and dad should be portrayed as ogres not just the dad.

NewtRipley · 15/01/2014 20:12

I agree. It makes me uncomfortable

BookroomRed · 15/01/2014 20:14

It is sexist. Clearly pert, peachy Mummy's life is a garden of roses, and she just drifts about fragrantly in a Cath Kidston apron. Or is insanely, miserably stressed at work, but plasters a smile on her face because women aren't allowed to be ogres when life doesn't go their way, because we're all nurturing and serene and stuff. Or because women displaying even the most justifiable anger are not seen as needing a holiday, but as 'strident'.

Not that it surprises me. TV advertising appears to be made by dinosaurs. All those women who are really, really worried about getting stains out of their son's entire rugby team's strip.

Kveta · 15/01/2014 20:16

Charlie Brooker picked it apart in week wipe last week. I'm also not a fan of it, find it very dated and sexist.

NewtRipley · 15/01/2014 20:18

Bookroom

I agree, but advertising does men no favours either

Portrayed as feckless idiots

There's a new yoghurt advert with a life-guard type described as "thick" for tripping over on the beach

BooRadders · 15/01/2014 20:19

Yeah I hate it too...and I don't think the holiday can be that good anyway as it takes ages for him to change from being an ogre

NewtRipley · 15/01/2014 20:20

Ogres are cruel - that's the problem with the premise

Original poster
iammrsnesbitt · 15/01/2014 20:22

The plinky plonky music gets on my nerves too.

So glad I'm not alone on this.

OP posts:
KareKare · 15/01/2014 20:24

I agree. I have said the same. If the entire family were ogres, it would be more palatable.

diabolo · 15/01/2014 20:24

Sorry YABU - I love it, makes me sob! Love the music, glad that it features a family with one child ( a rarity these days).

This is how we feel at the start of our summer holiday every year.

OldBagWantsNewBag · 15/01/2014 20:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

catgirl1976 · 15/01/2014 20:26

I saw this ffor the first time tonight and thought the same

CaptainCunt · 15/01/2014 20:27

Yanbu. It's sexist.