The Afterschool Alliance (www.afterschoolnow.org), supported by the Ad Council and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, are running a public service ad campaign that appears to ridicule Masters swimmers. According to Alliance’s website, “These PSAs use humor to communicate the importance of taking action to support afterschool programs. The campaign includes TV and radio spots, newspaper ads, billboards, web banners and more.”
One print ad has a facial portrait of a smiling, senior gentleman in a pool, obviously a happy swimmer, with swimming goggles on. Superimposed over the portrait are the following words: “There’s nothing more REFRESHING than neglecting our nation’s YOUTH.” At the bottom, the ad continues to say: “When I don’t support afterschool programs, I feel so relaxed and carefree. It’s like I’m doing nothing at all! Unless you call depriving 15 million kids something…”
You can download a copy of the ad from the following website:
www.afterschoolnow.org/print_ads.cfm
Is there not a more interesting topic than TV ads? My goodness, the last time I took a TV ad seriously was, well, never. We shouldn't take ourselves so seriously. Imagine how silly we will look if someone finds out we are protesting a TV ad. On the other hand, maybe it would bring in more swimmers.
I hear PETA is protesting the name of a town in NY called Hamburg where the hamburger was allegedly discovered or founded or something. Let's not turn into a band of loonies over a commercial. Older guys in Speedos will never be a topic of great reverence no matter how much we tell ourselves it's a good look.
Is there not a more interesting topic than TV ads? My goodness, the last time I took a TV ad seriously was, well, never. We shouldn't take ourselves so seriously. Imagine how silly we will look if someone finds out we are protesting a TV ad. On the other hand, maybe it would bring in more swimmers.
I hear PETA is protesting the name of a town in NY called Hamburg where the hamburger was allegedly discovered or founded or something. Let's not turn into a band of loonies over a commercial. Older guys in Speedos will never be a topic of great reverence no matter how much we tell ourselves it's a good look.
