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From: chabot@amber.DEC (L S Chabot)
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Re: Re: Advertising with bikini-bait
Message-ID: <4030@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 28-Oct-84 17:12:49 EST
Article-I.D.: decwrl.4030
Posted: Sun Oct 28 17:12:49 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 30-Oct-84 01:30:27 EST
Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP
Organization: DEC Engineering Network
Lines: 43

>>> It seems to me ... that if I were a man I'd be pretty insulted
>>> by the bikini-clad bait posing next to a box of bolts.  It's
>>> like saying: here you animal you--we know we can
>>> fool you into not thinking about the real quality of our product.
>>> 	L S Chabot
>> 
>> Well, Lisssssa, you're right, some of us *are* insulted
>> by these ridiculous ads.  These ads are written by and for
>> the lower IQ types. (there, *that* should get some flames started :-)  )
>> Snoopy
>
> Well, Snoopy, I'm not insulted, because I know that the ads AREN'T aimed at
> me.  You must have a very low opinion of yourself.
> Jeff Sonntag

Actually, they are aimed at Jeff and Snoopy--the ads are aimed at men.  Red-
blooded, Real men with a built in brain-override switch :-) [not at vulcans].
The insult is that these ads are intended to catch your eye if you're male, and
that it's a pretty cheap trick, having nothing to do with the purpose of the
advertised item (admittedly, if the ads were for condoms or vitamin-e (teehee)
then sexy women in the picture might make sense, but in an ad for ICs?  yes,
buy from us and sexy, scantily clad women will rush to turn blue in your 
computer room).

If Jeff says that the ads aren't aimed at him, then what about me: I'm not 
attracted by women in bikinis.  Should I be complimented, since I can tell that
this advertiser knows they don't have to attract me with sex since they're 
obviously not trying?  Should I be insulted, since they're not looking for
women customers?  Should I wonder about the advertiser's stereotype of women
reading the magazine in which their ad is placed, since if they want to attract
me with the ad, they must be assuming I *do* like women in bikinis?  And what
about the stereotype of men?

My usual assumption is that they're not looking for women customers, or 
discriminating customers of any sex, for that matter, and therefore I don't
bother to give them any more consideration.

Owner of smiling cameras,
L S Chabot
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