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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:
Sparrowlegs248 · 15/01/2014 22:20

I dislike it too. Its just not right somehow. I do think its sexist at the very least.

PollyPutTheKettle · 15/01/2014 22:51

Yanbu. Its a bucket of shite.

Sexist to both genders and successfully put me off Thomsons holidays.

PollyPutTheKettle · 15/01/2014 22:52

Yanbu. Its a bucket of shite.

Sexist to both genders and successfully put me off Thomsons holidays.

Jackthebodiless · 15/01/2014 23:32

Glad it's not just me. I just hate it. For the reasons above plus it's long, boring, stupid, childish and not funny.

mollypup · 15/01/2014 23:43

YABU.

Sexist? Offensive to people with facial deformities?

Lighten up!

GoshAnneGorilla · 15/01/2014 23:50

YANBU, hate it, hate it, hate it.

Hate that it is sexist.

Hate the depressing thought that it's ok to have a crap, miserable life as long as you get your two weeks in the sun - he has what appears to be a loving wife and daughter and a decent roof over his head, so why isn't he happy?

Also, reminds me of that other advert (I think it's First Choice), where the husband is treated like a celebrity and the wife is just some background figure, as if women don't deserve holidays as much.

Merrylegs · 15/01/2014 23:57

He takes far too long to de-ogre. Agree, is v tedious. Someone should have called cut.

Havingagoodny · 16/01/2014 07:53

I quite like it because it's just like my DH who always starts holidays grumpy and stressed and then chills out. In fact the first thing he said when he saw it was, "that's me". Maybe it is sexist but we always have a laugh whenever it is on.

melika · 16/01/2014 08:08

I agree with Merrylegs he takes too long to change, and he is quite gorgeous! How could he be grumpy?

I just love First Choice ad with the family being greeted by everyone as they go with 'I getta good feeling' as the background music.

I wish my holidays were like that!

Pron4Yvonne · 16/01/2014 08:19

This is Mumsnet - of course it has to be ist Hmm

You could just hate it because it's crap, not sure why people have to make up reasons (Uglist, Sexist, Ogrist)....

NewtRipley · 16/01/2014 08:21

This is Mumsnet

People like to analyse why they don't like things or think they are crap

mrsjay · 16/01/2014 08:57

what that Ad is saying is simon is a horrible man and horrible to his ffamily until he goes for a dip in the pool, what cant the mum be an ogre why the man , I know it is only an advert trying to sell a holiday so you can relax blah blah but it gets on my nerves

mrsjay · 16/01/2014 08:58

why can't*

ENormaSnob · 16/01/2014 09:04

I look like that after a holiday with my lot Grin

Plus, i think hes pretty fit as an ogre.

Fakebook · 16/01/2014 09:12

I like the music. I stopped what I was doing to watch the ad the first time I saw it. I did go a bit Hmm when I saw his family weren't ogres but I do like it. It's like a mini film.

The Park debt free Christmas ad must be pissing people off these days. The whole family get what they want, and the Mum just gets a "stress free" Christmas. No presents. That's nice. Hmm.

GirlsonFilm · 16/01/2014 09:16

Aimed at Dads who book the family holiday......oh how we laughed!

BertieBowtiesAreCool · 16/01/2014 09:25

It reminds me of a children's book DS brought home from school once about how dad is a big grumpy bear but after spending time with his son alone was kind, calm and fun. And then reverted to a bear again when mum got home :(

It upset me because i felt it was giving the message " It's ok for dads to be horrible, grumpy and mean as long as they are nice sometimes."

I know it's just a book/advert and I shouldn't be overthinking it but it reminded me massively of my ex and I felt it was wrong.

happystory · 16/01/2014 09:31

Ha, thought it was just us! Dh hardly ever watches ads, or takes any notice but even he (at the same time as teenage dd) said 'That's not very nice to dads.'

Vixxxen · 16/01/2014 09:33

My take on the dad is that he is very tired and needs to relax.
Perhaps mum is a sahm, the child is healthy and well behaved, goes to a good school and the family don't have money problems, that is why only dad is more stressed.

Oh no, wait! This isn't real life, isn't?

Every mum work full time and is also stressed, every child is hard work and stressed...

Oh and just because he is a good looking guy, with a gorgeous wife, nice house and beautiful kid, he isn't allowed to feel burnt out?

He doesn't display any abusive behaviour in the add, in fact mum and daughter seem happy enough in his companion. It is only him not enjoying himself as much.

People here over think too much sometimes.

It is aimed at the mums who book their holidays (and their hair appointments/facials/personal shopping/gym/luncheon with friends) while their husband are working a lot to fund the lifestyle.

Simple.

Merrylegs · 16/01/2014 09:45

His ogreness is enabled though isn't it? When is it the mum's turn to be an ogre? And would the dad be so amenable if she was? And actually, he isn't a grumpy ogre, he's just a fugly creature. So actually the ad is saying 'ugly people, go on holiday and you will become beautiful!'

(Not overthinking it at all. And it is just about preferable to the Redknapp's 'we dream abou'it.' Just.)

mrsjay · 16/01/2014 09:49

oh god are the REdnapps still advertising holidays they were heavetastic hated those

ThursdayLast · 16/01/2014 09:52

I agree with you entirely OP.
And also with posters who question it's length.
It really is just a badly thought out and patronising piece of work.

But...we're all talking about it...

Vixxxen · 16/01/2014 09:53

Maybe mum's turn to be an ogre is when dad asks her to be careful with the credit card.

MomsStiffler · 16/01/2014 09:55

This is the first ad, maybe the next one will be about the wife or the kids (hopefully there won't be any more!) - it's obviously doing it's job because, as Thursday says, we're all talking about it!!

kali110 · 16/01/2014 09:57

This its great.