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Father Christmas isn't allowed to advertise in S.A. this year!

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Fencer128

Platinum Member
Hi,

IMHO This article shows how not to "protect" children from disappointment.

Bad news for kids in South Africa.

Cheers,

Andy

Old thread bumped by spammer.
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🙁 I bet Bush sent one of his Grinchmen over there to push this 😛
rolleye.gif


CkG
 
Er, they haven't forbidded the kids from doing anything AFAICT. Their parents can encourage the behavior if they want to, the post office just isn't allowed to advertise to kids that their letters will actually get to "Santa Claus".
 
Originally posted by: rjain
Er, they haven't forbidded the kids from doing anything AFAICT. Their parents can encourage the behavior if they want to, the post office just isn't allowed to advertise to kids that their letters will actually get to "Santa Claus".
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I know. Maybe my title is misleading, I'll change it. Still, I think it's a grumpy over-protective attitude from the organisation that polices advertising.

Cheers,

Andy
 
They're using false advertising to generate personal profit. Should we be protecting that behavior in "special" cases? Should I come up with some "holiday festival" and lie to people in order to get them to give me money? I think your opinon would be different for that case.
 
Originally posted by: rjain
They're using false advertising to generate personal profit. Should we be protecting that behavior in "special" cases? Should I come up with some "holiday festival" and lie to people in order to get them to give me money? I think your opinon would be different for that case.
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I was under the impression that it would not require a stamp -> no cost.

The arguement giving for banning the advert isn't to manipulate youngsters to turn a profit, it's to protect them from disappointment

He said the Post Office's ad encouraged "a falsehood that could break the fragile spirits of the already disillusioned youth of South Africa".

Unless the Post Office was willing to give all the children who wrote to the address the presents they wished for, the ad should be banned, he added.

The ASA agreed with Mr October, and also noted that an additional aspect of the Father Christmas myth was the belief that only good children got presents on Christmas Day.

Any child who wrote to the address, but did not receive the presents they wished for, may feel they were being punished for naughtiness, the ASA found.
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I would have thought that children young enough to still believe in santa (waiting for posts from people going *shock* santa's not real!!! 😉) wouldn't be able to post a letter on their own -> need parent's help -> list is vetted by parents so as to avoid disappointment - I would expect.

Maybe I'm missing something?

Andy

This could prove "extremely upsetting" for them, it added.
 
Originally posted by: rjain
Originally posted by: Fencer128

I was under the impression that it would not require a stamp -> no cost.
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I don't see where it says that.
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I'll have to investigate...

Andy

EDIT: If you post a letter to santa *normally*, what postage would you use 😕?
 
Here we go.

ASA DIRECTORATE RULING
At a meeting held on 3 December 2003 the ASA Directorate considered all the relevant documentation submitted by the respective parties.

In considering this matter the Directorate had particular regard to Clause 14.3.1 which states that ?[a]dvertisements should not exploit the natural credulity of children or their lack of experience.? The Directorate was of the opinion that the commercial in question exploits in children the belief, or inclination to believe, in Santa Claus. It creates the impression, in the mind of the credulous child, that by writing to the given address s/he will be writing to Santa Claus, who, according to the Santa Claus myth, will then bring him/her the requested presents.

The Directorate noted in addition, that the Santa Claus myth includes the legend that children who do not get presents from Santa Claus have been naughty during the year. The Directorate was of the opinion that it could conceivably be extremely upsetting for a child who does not receive the requested presents to believe that s/he has been too naughty during the past year. Lastly, the Directorate noted that, as the letters to Santa Claus have to be stamped, the respondent is profiting from the natural credulity of children in this regard.

The commercial is therefore in breach of Clause 14 of Section II and must be removed in its current format with immediate effect within the deadlines stipulated by Clause 15.3 of the Procedural Guide.

It is unnecessary for the Directorate to consider Clause 4.2.1 of Section II at this time.

The complaint is upheld.
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It seems you are right - though it doesn't say what the value of the postage is. Interestingly the profit involved is the last reason mentioned for the ban - they spend more time discussing how it will damage the weak spirit of the vulnerable child.

If there was a case for the ban - it's your commercial viewpoint, not the fragility of the child IMHO. Having said that it's not as if the PO is inventing a new holiday "PO day" or the like, in order to exploit children, so I don't see it as the one sided PO wins all arguement. The child gets something out of the experience for the parents expenditure - Christmas fun.

Is this any worse as the thousands of toy adverts on our screens this time of year?

Cheers,

Andy
 
Originally posted by: rjain
They're using false advertising to generate personal profit. Should we be protecting that behavior in "special" cases? Should I come up with some "holiday festival" and lie to people in order to get them to give me money? I think your opinon would be different for that case.
Click to expand...

Money? Why not something else, become Prono Claus! Get people to send you pics in exchange for Virility(sp) in the coming year! 😉
 
Hi! too bad. But thanks for the information. Your post is informative. I am working on a research regarding Father Christmas and it's a good thing that I am able to collate information online.

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