OAA Apologise for "Career Women Make Bad Mothers" Campaign

[OAA]

The OAA are running a campaign to demonstrate the power of outdoor advertising to drive people online. This is being done in conjunction with a new website called ?Britainthinks.com? which encourages debate amongst the people of Britain.

We regret any misunderstanding that led to feelings of offence on the part of members of the Mumsnet community.

The intention of the website is to generate debate by posing questions that are deemed to be socially relevant by members of society.

We did not intend to cause any offence and we would stress that the questions posed were not the opinions of the OAA or any of its members.

Three posters were designed to initiate the debate using sport, life and politics and these are supported by dozens of other questions on the website itself.

Regrettably the question relating to ?career women? has caused offence and the OAA unreservedly apologises to anyone who has been offended. This was not our intention and, to ensure that this misunderstanding does not persist, instructions have been given to remove this poster.

Subject to the vagaries of the weather, all copy will be removed as soon as possible. The sites currently carrying this poster will be either blanked-out or carry one of the other designs. The poster will also be removed from the ?Britainthinks.com? website. All Digital posters have already been removed.

This is the man who a few hours ago sent Justine a lawyer's letter stating:

"I will now engage in a process to ensure that it never happens again for anyone and that we are compensated for the hurt,corporate loss and reputational damage that we have suffered as a result of your inability to moderate your medium properly."

and demanding the names and addresses of individual Mnetters.

He has now taken some serious crisis management advice, namely:

Step away from the shovel.

And I see no reason why we should all roll over and allow him to tickle our tummies.

As Sydney says, "This is about them saving face, not giving us a voice. Please, don't fall for it." Hear hear.

Can anyone tell me why the haiku thread was pulled though? I didn't see it to the end, but I thought it was really funny.

I know Swede... well the Beta guys must be able to come up with something. They do not need our help. The only reason they want our help is to try and make themselves look a little less silly than they do. C'mon Sharon, give them a hand, you're a mum aren't you?

He only mentions posters on digital sites. Would they also go to outdoor sites? I'd still say no either way, put I take your point swedes a leeeetle bit about the possibility of missing a chance to say something. I seriously doubt it would have any benefit beyong making MNers feel all excited and important -- and gving MN Limited a free publicity outing.

Well quite, MP. I think we should look at the potential greater good rather than the wrong that has already been done. And can't now be changed.

I suppose the trouble is that the wrong only happened about 14 minutes ago

I was my feecking haikus reinstated

I'm a great believer in "we are where we are" and let's move on. I think sometimes you have to engage with your enemy (I use that term loosely in Garry's case as I adore him really). It's the only way that things actually ever change.

I have a haikus hernia from laughing at my Haiku for Garry thread. I can't believe it's gone.

Your current idea, Beta, much like your original one, leaves me with about as much enthusiasm as going out and digging my car out of the snow with a teaspoon.

You're the adman, I'm sure you don't need a bunch of mere Women to think for you?

[smil e]

Just about sums yesterday up.

Bugger.

There's that rogue space again, messing up my pictorial haiku!

(In a homage to Swedes)

I can't believe the Haiku thread was pulled - I was reading it before lunch and it was funny. If one or two particular pieces overstepped the mark, couldn't they have been deleted rather than obliterating the whole thing?

i have some sympathy, swedes, and i would seriously consider it for a 'sexist advertising damages young girls' line but it wouldn't get through the process and he's only talking about a line in a site that will cease to exist the minute the OAA stop paying Beta to prop it up.

If we ask for absoute editorial control over the wording. Inclduing punctuation. Then what could go wrong?

You can't go through life thinking every man is going to roger you from behind when you turn your back. And wouldn't they look rather silly if they failed to deliver?

It's not about letting people off for the that last poster, it's about letting bygones be bygones and seizing the opportunity to say something important. Interesting even. Something that might just make a difference.

I'm hoping Sharon might appreciate my working practices suggestion

Which no other fucker appreciates.

I am going to repeat my Haiku for posterity

Bearded Mumsnetters
Depilashun isn't working
Hairy Harridans

I nodded with approval, Wilf. Sorry you didn't see that.

lolololollolololololol swedes. vg.

i too silently enjoyed your suggestion, wilf. much good it will do shazza, with gazza as a bozza.

Go on then Swedes, what would you like the posters to say?

(Actually we could get them to do a poster about the reform of the libel laws campaign, couldn't we? That would be rather apt.)

Swedes you are basing a lot on the magical ability of MNers to say something so remarkable that it couldn't be achieved without them. We are just punters on a website, and they will take a slogan from us only if it is one that it suits them to use. The only thing we actually contribute is the branding 'MN' to the slogan.

This is just an uber-sleazy version of the MN-Daily Mail collaboration. And that was sleazy enough.

Well I'd love it say Vote Tory. But I can see that might not be very popular with you hairy soshalists.