Barnado's 'Slap' ad receives record complaints

[andy-hughes]

It is announced that the recent Barnado's ad. showing a girl being slapped by her father as part of a cycle of crime and abuse has received a record 800 complaints from viewers.

The majority complained that the ad. was 'likely to cause distress ...'

Well call me naiive, but surely that is the general idea?

If every complainant gave a �10 donation to Barnados, maybe that would be a better way of confirming that domestic violence is an unpleasant concept, and there isn't really a pretty way of pointing that out.

[Bbbananas]

It's ridiculous isn't it Andy - the very impression & message Barnado's were trying to convey, is the very thing some people are complaining about?!!

I remember those ads vividly - I did indeed flinch at them & found them quite distressing - as they were indeed meant to be. Domestic violence is not pleasant, child abuse is not not pleasant - how can you make a pleasant advert about the issue(s)? I think they were hardhitting (literally) ads that made people think. They were upsetting, but quite brilliant.

Some people eh? ;-(

[Sooper]

I agree with you both but wonder if the people complaining perhaps might be either victims of abuse or know of someone who was ? Perhaps they are just concerned that it might bring back disturbing memories for the victims?
Sometimes you need hard hitting ad's to convey these awful things i think but i can see why it might upset or offend others.

[madmaggot]

Well, I hated those adverts.
As I hate those showing road accidents.
I believe that exposure to violence makes people less affected by violence therefore the sight of violent advertisments actually hardens people to the violence making them less affected by actual 'real' violence.

[horselady]

I think the ads were very good at conveying the message that violence goes in cycles. The NSPCC ads upset me, the little toddler sobbing in his cot, knowing that no-one will come to comfort him-how do they film that because he really is sobbing and distraught, and the little child going through the rubbish looking for something to eat because he is left alone in the house. I know that the ad makers wouldn't be allowed to deliberately upset a child for filming but I hate to see it.

[andy-hughes]

It is distressing, I entirely agree.

I watched an eprisode of American cop drama 'The Shield' where a drug addict mother walked out, leaving her baby boy behind. The little one was crying and reaching out to her as she walked away, and yes, as soon as the shot is done she will rush back and pick him up, but for those few seconds - heartbreaking.