Sorry from Beta...

[SorryBeta]

Robert and I would like to apologise to anyone we've offended with one of the posters we created for the OAA.

The reason we've waited until now to apologise is that the strength and nature of the reaction to the poster, specifically on mumsnet, shocked us. At first we were not sure what to do.

It had not been our intention to cause such offence, nor to attract such abuse.

Our intention was to provoke discussion. We believed that both the poster and the content of the Britainthinks website reflected this. We accept we got this wrong.

It has been suggested that we are about to commence legal proceedings against mumsnet. This is categorically not the case.

We have asked that they operate within their own editorial guidelines which they now are doing.

We are profoundly sorry. We hope our apology is accepted.

Garry and Robert.

By StewieGriffinsMum: "Demanding someone remove a post because it makes fun of your penis is silly"

lolol

I love Mumsnet. Where else could you type that sentence?

Well I accept your apology as I'm just happy you're not going to sue me.

And I also accept that our reaction did shock and surprise you. In a very sexist industry in a sexist society, unless you're pretty aware of feminist issues, I don't suppose you have much idea of what real women think. Your colleagues aren't going to tell you because um... you're the boss, and no-one wants to be labelled the strident feminist.

I don't suppose this will make much difference - the industry will keep churning out the 2Cs in a K type bollocks only they pretend it's irony nowadays and we're all supposed to give a knowing snigger because women are equal aren't they. (Although funnily enough there aren't many mothers on the boards of advertising agencies, so not that equal then.) And they'll patronise us and call us humourless hairy lesbians and tell us we've misunderstood and haven't got the joke, if we don't snigger along with it. But we haven't misunderstood: you have.

At least you know where to come if you want to know what a large cross section of very well-informed women think. Welcome to Mumsnet, Garry and Robert. And thanks for the apology.

Well I accept your apology as I'm just happy you're not going to sue me.

And I also accept that our reaction did shock and surprise you. In a very sexist industry in a sexist society, unless you're pretty aware of feminist issues, I don't suppose you have much idea of what real women think. Your colleagues aren't going to tell you because um... you're the boss, and no-one wants to be labelled the strident feminist.

I don't suppose this will make much difference - the industry will keep churning out the 2Cs in a K type bollocks only they pretend it's irony nowadays and we're all supposed to give a knowing snigger because women are equal aren't they. (Although funnily enough there aren't many mothers on the boards of advertising agencies, so not that equal then.) And they'll patronise us and call us humourless hairy lesbians and tell us we've misunderstood and haven't got the joke, if we don't snigger along with it. But we haven't misunderstood: you have.

At least you know where to come if you want to know what a large cross section of very well-informed women think. Welcome to Mumsnet, Garry and Robert. And thanks for the apology.

LOL I needed to say that twice.

Wow the result of this is publicity they would never have got in 2 weeks (how long it was to run for). Think how many more people will be aware of this now after running for just a few days. Makes me think it was planned from the off.

I don't think so isnowssoonenough - you are crediting them with foresight/intelligence

Good gracious, MN is so ungracious. How about we say thanks for the apology and draw a line in the sand...just like my seven year old has to .

sheepish: Or have I missed something very huge?

No, it wasn't.

Yes the furore was planned. But they didn't like the direction the furore was going in - they expected the puerile penis jokes, that's par for the course, no-one takes them seriously or thinks they are damaging really (after all, none of us, I trust, are familiar with Beta penises, so it's obvious that sort of comment is not seriously damaging).

But people were wanting to debate why sexism and racism are not treated by the media as moral equivalents, how many mothers are on the boards of directors in Adland, what the work-life balance of parents in agencies is like - all related to the campaign, but certainly not issues that Beta (or anyone else in Adland, except the women) necessarily want put under scrutiny.

Sorry that was in answer to Isnowsoonenough.

Agencies want controversy, but only the right sort of controversy.

Advertising agencies are a crafty lot and not always in the creative sense.

Well yes I won't argue with you on that one!

But the direction of the furore is pretty difficult if you know this subject like most of us here do - what exactly did they want to debate???? What argument were they provoking?

Whether woman should all give up work?
Or whether we should just make them feel shit for doing so??

Which brings me to the conclusion there was absolutely no understanding of the situation AT ALL.

Excellent posts from HerBeautitude and from Edam.
I've only watched this from afar but I read this and personally I dont see an apology, I see an "apology".

because a forced apology or one you don't really mean is akin to another 37 minutes on the naughty step.....it looks like the right steps have been taken and all the boxes are ticked but underneath it all, have any lesson been learned or behaviour changed?

probably not

again imvho

Thank you, Jeremy.

I got a nice email from that Nottingham student website where they were discussing it, too. Thanking me for being less aggressive than some of their own posters.

See Garry, that's how to make friends and influence people. Send them nice messages that are friendly and neither patronising nor passive aggressive.

LOL, nice tie-in with the Supernanny thread Ronaldinho!

would bow but on step still....

I agree with edam.

Patronising and passive-aggresive 'apology'.

Nah, Shrieking, MNers aren't passive 1950s perfect housewives with no opinions beyond 'my husband says'. And neither have we any interest in being that kind of outmoded stereotype.