Offensive billboard removed

[spidey07]

Too soon, or just too funny? You be the judge.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110222/ap_on_fe_st/us_odd_billboard_flap_jonestown_3

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – A northern Indiana restaurant that erected billboards referring to the 1978 Jonestown cult massacre in which more than 900 people died has removed the signs following complaints that the signs were offensive.

Jeff Leslie, vice president of sales and marketing at Hacienda, acknowledged that the billboards were a mistake. He said the South Bend-based company ordered the signs removed less than two weeks into Hacienda's new advertising campaign.

 

[OCGuy]

Oh I thought that was an Obama follower advertisement for a minute.

 

[Platypus]

lol

 

[chorb]

Oh I thought that was an Obama follower advertisement for a minute.

:hmm:

 

[Amused]

Oh I thought that was an Obama follower advertisement for a minute.

:awe:

 

[zinfamous]

offensive to whom? Scientologists?

 

[HAL9000]

offensive to whom? Scientologists?

And Christians :awe:

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Oh I thought that was an Obama follower advertisement for a minute.

heh, same here

 

[zinfamous]

Oh I thought that was an Obama follower advertisement for a minute.

heh, i was thinking GOP/dittoheads--except they would have been advertising oxycontin.

:\

 

[Amused]

heh, i was thinking GOP/dittoheads--except they would have been advertising oxycontin.

:\

Naw, Koolaid would work for them too.

 

[CallMeJoe]

Naw, Koolaid would work for them too.

The Ronnie flavor is especially popular these days.

 

[Amused]

The Ronnie flavor is especially popular these days.

As are the Clinton and Obama flavors. Craig seems to dig the Carter.

 

[Kadarin]

That billboard is funny, not offensive. Fer chrissake the Jonestown thing happened 33 years ago, and "drinking the kool-aid" has become a generic expression.

 

[cardiac]

I dang near drove off the road laughing when I saw this billboard. There is one about 7 miles from my house. Hacienda is a decent restaurant, too.....

 

[runzwithsizorz]

Note to self, move brother in law,(Jeff Leslie) to another part of company.

 

[Eli]

1978? Too soon? lol.

"Drink the kool-aid" has become a pop culture saying. The billboard is amusing, and not out of line.

 

[MrDudeMan]

The billboard isn't really that funny. It is on the border of what would be considered socially acceptable. I'm not offended but it was tasteless.

 

[spidey07]

The billboard isn't really that funny. It is on the border of what would be considered socially acceptable. I'm not offended but it was tasteless.

Describe how. It's topical, it's funny and frankly it's ingenious. There would be a very small minority of sand in their vagina people that could even possibly consider it socially unacceptable and as such that means it's TOTALLY socially acceptable.

 

[MrDudeMan]

Describe how.

Not everyone finds people killing themselves to be amusing regardless of the circumstances. It's not the most deplorable sign I've ever seen, but it was a stupid decision.

 

[MrDudeMan]

Describe how. It's topical, it's funny and frankly it's ingenious. There would be a very small minority of sand in their vagina people that could even possibly consider it socially unacceptable and as such that means it's TOTALLY socially acceptable.

Why are you trying to sell me on the idea that the billboard is fine? I don't agree with you. Get over it.

I wouldn't have complained about it because I would have just ignored it, but I'm not at all surprised that someone did complain about it. And no, not because they had sand in their vagina.

 

[spidey07]

Not everyone finds people killing themselves to be amusing regardless of the circumstances. It's not the most deplorable sign I've ever seen, but it was a stupid decision.

The phrase has been around for a long time and it's roots are vested directly to that event. "drink the cool-aid" means one is so enamored by something that it may not be good for them or that by drinking it one has lost better judgment.

It's a perfect fit for food that is so good, you know it's bad for you, and yet you want it. It's marketing brilliance IMHO. That a scant few people would be upset is a reflection on just how pussified we've become. That those few scant people could cause this kind of reaction in a free society is even more troublesome.

 

[MrDudeMan]

The phrase has been around for a long time and it's roots are vested directly to that event. "drink the cool-aid" means one is so enamored by something that it may not be good for them or that by drinking it one has lost better judgment.

It's a perfect fit for food that is so good, you know it's bad for you, and yet you want it. It's marketing brilliance IMHO. That a scant few people would be upset is a reflection on just how pussified we've become. That those few scant people could cause this kind of reaction in a free society is even more troublesome.

I'm not an idiot. I get what you are saying, but that doesn't mean it is not tasteless to put on a billboard. I explained to you that not everyone finds people being brainwashed and killing themselves as humorous. I've used the expression and understand why it could be considered amusing, but I wouldn't use it in a speech or as a way to convince people to give me their business.

 

[somethingsketchy]

Fer chrissake the Jonestown thing happened 33 years ago, and "drinking the kool-aid" has become a generic expression.

+1

 

[Malfeas]

I thought it was funny. But then again I am an asshole.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

That billboard is funny, not offensive. Fer chrissake the Jonestown thing happened 33 years ago, and "drinking the kool-aid" has become a generic expression.

+1

Gosh, that must make the holocaust a barrel of laughs.