to think that Billy Bob and Zak Make a Porno (or whatever their names are) is quite an offensive title?

[surprise]

Saw this advertised in huge letters on the side of a bus today, and thought it quite offensive. Am I getting old?

Sex and the city had posters up all over the place. Sex is far easier to sound out when using phonic

fair point. did any of you complain about the advertising for "sex and the city"

But the word sex is inoffensive. It can be used to describe gender as in the 'sex of a baby' for example. If my 5 YO DD asked me what sex, as in making love, was I would happily explain to her in appropriate language.

I would prefer not to have to explain what pornography is though. Pornography is a complex phenomenon which touches sexual politics, exploitation, objectification and many other distinctly adult issues. My kids are too young for this.

Sex and reproduction are natural, healthy life functions and kids are naturally inquisitive about this.

Porn is not natural, it is a synthetic repesentation of sex.

How can anybody say that kids are naturally going to ask questions about porn? Porn is for adults. Little kids shouldn't be exposed to it or even know the name for it imo.

I agree that it is utterly depressing that we're just supposed to accept that words like porn are some kind of natural part of life and shouldn't be complained about.

The point has been made that this film isn't actually a porno, it's a fairly mainstream comedy. In a way that makes it worse. It tags the word porn onto something fun and harmless that many of the cool looking teenagers in school will be allowed to watch. Thus making it even harder for adults to say no to. The little kids all know what films are on in the cinema and will at least know the name of this one, and have some vague idea that it's fun for older kids.

My 9yr old DD asked me what porno meant when she saw the ad for this film, Same child who asked me what a condom was while watching friends. Answered her questions as best I could.

here's where to complain to
Quick and easy.

of course it is offensive,

of course nobody wants their young children to ask about it.

Plus from a grammatical point of view it is dimwitted- what exactly is 'a porno'?

duh.

"Also would Kevin Smith have made a film called "Zack and Miri make a porno" ten years ago or did group dynamics and the normalisation of the porn culture get him all het up so he felt it would be acceptable?"

well in fairness he's no stranger to protesters targeting his movies, especially before anyone has even seen them as is the case of some on this thread, and 10 years ago to use your example he was being lambasted for his religious comedy "dogma" by all and sundry. ditto with clerks revolving around a necrophilia story line. so i don't think he's too worried about social trends and pandering to them.

"although they probably wouldn't be so happy if the film was called "Zack and Miri sell a House-N**ger"

probably not because he's white.but if it was chris rock making it it would be labeled satire and a brave attempt at reclaiming a word.

have all the complainants seen the bus billboard material?or has this thread galvanised interest and volition to complain

out of interest what is the basis of complaint?

aw for Gods sake!!.

Yeah, you are getting old - sorry!

I seen the ad the other night and though.. well nothing to be honest..

I have to admit, I giggle to myself at people who go off complaining to this and that authority over every tiny little thing because they find it offensive.

Silly carry on imo. Bit Hyacinth Bucket (Bouquet?! ) to me..

These are the grounds:
DECENCY
(ie avoiding serious or widespread offence)

5.1 Marketing communications should contain nothing that is likely to cause serious or widespread offence. Particular care should be taken to avoid causing offence on the grounds of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or disability. Compliance with the Code will be judged on the context, medium, audience, product and prevailing standards of decency.

5.2 Marketing communications may be distasteful without necessarily conflicting with 5.1 above. Marketers are urged to consider public sensitivities before using potentially offensive material.

I actually feel a bit sorry for the kids of anyone who thinks discussing porn with a 5/6/7/8 year old is a good thing.

i dont think this constitutes serious or Widespread offence.however we all see things differently

i dont think other parents need your pity if they chose to acknowledge porn.if asked a direct question yes i would answer it

actually think the ability to calmly and appropriately acknowledge a question (yes even porn) is required to build robust thinking and inquisitive mind.

Children of these ages should not be coming across porn or needing to have this repellent industry explained to them. It should not be pushed in any of our faces, ideally, and certainly should be avoidable. If this film is going to be advertised it should be in magazines with an adult readership, not on buses where it is impossible to avoid it.
Anyway, if you find it offensive, as I do, then do complain. The ASA takes complaints very seriously. If you don't, then don't be surprised when real porn films start advertising on the sides of buses and on billboards.

but how are the children coming across porn through promotion of this particular movie?it isnt a 3d experiential poster,it is a word on a bus

out of interst have you all seen it then?have all complainants seen the maechandising on the bus

"Sorry, I must have missed the part where men were in relation to women the same way black people are in relation to white people. "

i never made that point or attempted to claim that they were the same. you said some people wouldn't be happy with it if he made such a movie and i was simply pointing out that different people find different things offensive.

"he's making use of pornography and male sexual exploitation of women in order to sell his film."

have you seen the movie already?or are you just assuming this is what he has done? because based on most of kevin smiths movies women normally play a strong dominant clued in role while males are often portrayed as fairly dim and missing the point most of the time

Who cares if it's been seen by the complainants or not? It is a current ad campaign, in big letters, on buses.

You don't have to have seen one to have an opinion on it or to find it offensive.

I've seem loads but I live and work in a busy city centre. Some will only see one or may not see it at all. Should small children in a city or who use public transport etc have to be aquainted with the term 'porno' before their country or car using cousins?

"he'll have plenty of defenders because most people think woman-hatred is fine"

that's not not hyprerbolic at all is it?if you defend this film or pornography you hate women.

I think the mere fact that we now apparently live in a society where it is considered utterly unremarkable that primary school children should discuss pornography with their parents is horrible and depressing. I winced when I first saw this ad. I don't want to see it, and I certainly don't think is an appropriate mode of advertising as it is so unavoidable.