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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

... to find the new Virgin airlines "After 25 years we're still hot" commercial offensive?

45 replies

smellen · 07/02/2009 20:14

Apologies if this debate has already been had on MN, and maybe I've lost the whole post-modern "irony" of it - but WTF?!?

OP posts:
Ashantai · 07/02/2009 22:17

yab a bit u. Its just a bit of fun and obviously meant to take the mick out of itself. The ad with those kids and the eyebrows is just plain scary!

Kimi · 08/02/2009 17:33

Agree about the eyebrows AD

Rocky12 · 09/02/2009 18:03

Have you flown with Virgin??

We went to Antigua last year and the hotel was the cabin crew stop off hotel. The average age of the crew was about 22 and they spent the whole time at the bar and in the restaurant bitching about other crew members, their lack of love life etc etc. I have only flown economy sadly but I find they all have been chosen for 'that look', not because they are good with people.

I also found my last flight very unprofessional with stewardesses drawing the curtains and then complaining about various passengers. I nearly told them I could hear every word but what is it about curtains, it's the same in hospitals - it doesnt stop anyone from hearing what you are saying....

Frasersmum123 · 09/02/2009 18:08

Its just an advert- YABU!

Madmentalbint · 09/02/2009 18:12

I love the advert and don't find it offensive. To me it portrays the women as strong and powerful as well as hot. There was an airline advert quite a few years ago which showed these air hostesses pampering male customers and looking all submissive - now that advert I didn't like.

accordiongirl · 09/02/2009 21:35

Der. It's ironic.

ABetaDad · 09/02/2009 21:40

I find it offensive and I'm a bloke.

Monkeytrousers · 09/02/2009 21:42

Is there a difference between something being offensive to a woman and being sexist?

mrsruffallo · 09/02/2009 21:44

I don't find it offensive at all
Can someone explain to me how it is offensive?

VanessaParody · 09/02/2009 21:57

I like it.

The vibrant colour of Virgin against the rest of the mostly monochrome ad says more to me than just 'our girls are hot'. Virgin getting air slots was a big deal - glass in your dinner anyone?

The ludicrous high heels, bouncing hair and winking captain are extremely amusing. And it has FGTH soundtrack. [blows kiss]

minesacheeseandpicklesandwich · 09/02/2009 22:07

Sexism is mainly seen by those who are insecure. I used to be pleased when I attracted any attention (long, long ago). I always have a giggle at it. I remember when Virgin first started up and everyone laughed. Good luck to them celebrating 25 years in the 'current economic climate'..
And the eyebrow advert - imagine those children being yours... a bit too Midwitch Cuckoos for my liking.

RiaParkinson · 09/02/2009 22:20

'Sexism is mainly seen by those who are insecure'

Emmeline just rolled over

HolyGuacamole · 09/02/2009 22:21

"Sexism is mainly seen by those who are insecure."

That comment is so overwhelmingly untrue.

I am not offended by the advert, doesn't bother me, it's tongue in cheek...but....it does have a hint of sexism about it.

PictureThis · 09/02/2009 22:27

I don't find it in the least bit offensive. YABU IMO

minesacheeseandpicklesandwich · 09/02/2009 23:02

Sorry, I'm just not one of those people who see sexism (or any other kind of ism)everytime someone says or does something I don't like. I believe in free speech and 'will defend with my life' etc. and so forth.

NormaJeanBaker · 09/02/2009 23:18

I thought it was funny. I love the retro glam image of air travel and the glossy air crew - I found it more camp not sexist. Two gay male friends are air crew and they are only in it for the great stop overs and glamour.

I like high heels too and marvel at those girls doing that job looking like that. Surely that's part of the appeal of the job? It can't be the cramped conditions and arsey passengers.

Monkeytrousers · 10/02/2009 08:29

Well I don't know about insecurity, but it does seem that some feminists have had a bit of an itchy trigger finger about this in the past. That if it made women feel in any way confused, or uncomfotable, it had to be sexist. Not sure of its that simple really.

For women not in their 'prime' anymore, the endless celebration of nubileness might be a bit depressing. There are many studies that show that looking at fashion magazines makes women more unsatisfied with themselves, even if they are young. The avearge looking woman in beauty ad's is still over averagely beautiful and touched up to the eyeballs to boot. So the beauty industy feeds on our insecurity, but we want to emulate that beauty. It's like a moth to the flame.

But adverts like this are also a celebration of female beauty, which is a good thing, isn't it?

southeastastra · 10/02/2009 08:33

haha smellen don't see you moaning about nuts magazine and the like?

Oblomov · 10/02/2009 08:43

I love the advert. I think it is fab.
My dh says that it is wrong though, becasue it goes against everything Virgin ever stood for. I.e. that they used models for this advert. Previously they always used cabin crew - the particulalry beautiful ones, obviously - mind you have you ever seen an ugly one ? - so why the change to use models for this advert. That is all wrong.

LittleMissBliss · 10/02/2009 08:47

I like the advert, the musics great and it makes me want to be a trolly dolly those women are damn hot!

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