About
Contact
Advertise

Facebook
Twitter

August 18, 2011 9:51am by David Farrar

Funny

Sent in by a reader.

UPDATE: And Telecom have pulled the campaign. A good call.

Share this:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
WhatsApp
More

Pinterest
Print
Tumblr

Like this:

Like Loading...

Email
Facebook
Twitter
Comment32

Humour
Sport
All Blacks
Rugby World Cup
Telecom
Vodafone

Comments (32)

Login to comment or vote

Michaels

Proud to work for them!!!!!!!!!!!
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 10:14am
Longknives

Nice work Vodafone!
I see Telecom/Saatchi have axed the horrendous ‘abstinence’ concept- too late to save their reputations I suspect after this embarrassing debacle…
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 10:27am
wreck1080

telecoms abstain campaign was hideously embarrassing…

The last time I felt such embarrassment was when I watched ‘meet the parents 1’ (part 2 & 3 were pathetic).
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 10:35am
Pete George

And unless they pull this campaign I’m abstaining from Telecom.

Timely – All Black abstinence ads ditched
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 10:36am
RRM

HAHA funny!

But having sex for your rugby team??!? That’s just as fucked up as abstaining from sex for your rugby team.

NZ’s kinky rugger-bugger fetishism continues…
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 10:47am
Pete George

From Stuff:

And Ahmad Rini wrote: “I’m getting mixed messages from the All Blacks sponsors. First Adidas told us to go f*** ourselves. Now we are being told not to?”
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 10:47am
Murray

Issues much RRM?

None of us are suprised.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 11:04am
davidp

Adidas. Telecom. Wellington Airport. I can’t understand why companies spend money to damage their own brands. Don’t these advertising people, marketing people, and executives have friends and family they can consult with and who will tell them that an idea stinks?
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 11:08am
Seán

Oh dear. Kiwi humour at its worst?
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 11:13am
Thomas the Unbeliever

Pete George @10:36

That quote from ‘Ahmad Rini’ in Stuff seems to have been also used by WO this morning – presumably as a WO orignal. Either there is a mutuality of thought at work – or someone is quoting without attribution. I am sure that WO will be clear if he got there first.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 11:26am
KH

Is the campaign a version of
….”No sex please. We are British” humour comes from being a little true.
Rugby boys do like their short shorts, are not comfortable with women, love to ruck and fondly remember their times altogether in the showers.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 11:49am
Ed Snack

“The rabbit has a charming face, but it’s habits are a disgrace” Apropos of nothing…
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 11:51am
wikiriwhis business

Actually, I like the way the lotto ad is going. Our doggy and his man have a lear jet now

Hope this stretches out like the ASB ads.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 12:40pm
wikiriwhis business

This is the year of being ditched.

Abstinence ad gone

Sheep down Queen St gone

David Tua gone

Lairbour… soon to be gone

AB’s ??????
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 12:42pm
coventry

Hell’s getting in on the act: http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/296425_10150292844452225_43522837224_7416066_7516541_n.jpg
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 1:34pm
Sadu

Adidas: “Fuck you, our prices are fine”
Telecom: “Sorry, we got it wrong, our bad”

I think Telecom saw where this was heading and made the right call. Their response to this PR crisis was a good one in my opinion.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 1:38pm
adc

I just can’t believe anyone thought this was a good idea. The idea of preaching abstinence. Fine if you’re Jordin Sparks trying to appeal to your tweenie god-bothering mid-west girl audience.

But NZ rugby fans? C’mon!!!

This was always a complete utter turkey of an idea. How it got signed off, let alone so far through Telecom and Saatchi management to the point that someone actually got in front of a camera on it is completely mind-boggling!!!!

did no-one at any stage say “hey guys, this idea is completely lame!”???

I’m trying to picture the original ad creative that thought it up. Pimply comms grad, fresh out of uni, virgin, drugged off their nut, with an enormous narcissus complex. Or maybe a close relative of someone in management in Telecom or Saatchi.

Sheesh what a waste of money. I still can’t believe Buck actually went for it either, he must be desperate for cash.

All in all, anyone tainted by this is reduced greatly in my esteem.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 1:50pm
Bob R

How disconnected from reality are these marketing executives if they thought this was a good idea? I still can’t believe Fitzpatrick agreed to participate in it.

This will probably go down with ‘New Coke’ as a marketing cautionary tale.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 2:32pm
East Wellington Superhero

Can someone actually crystallise why this is/was so bad?

General comments like “It’s just embarrassing”, “So stupid”, “cringe-worthy” don’t really explain it.

Why did this go down like a sack of potatos?
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 2:38pm
adc

EWS – why do you want to know, did you think up this ad?
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 3:24pm
Akaroa

Well, East Wellington Superhero, I’ll have a shot at an explanation.

First of all the employment of Sean FitzPatrick – a former AB and Auckland Captain with an impressive playing and success record – in a nonsense such as this so-called ad went to demean the status of not only Fitzy but of all former AB Captains and the past and present ABs .

Also the vehicle he was depicted as driving – a sort of shapeless Cindy car was formless (and gormless!!) and to colour it pink was redolent of femininity. Putting the nation’s flag as a back-drop was also a singularly unfortunate choice – given that thousand of Kiwis have fought – and died – under its folds.

Also, it would be a given that down in the depths of the scrums against the Aussies the Poms and the Yarpies, you can bet your life the ribald remarks and lame jokes at the ABs expense would be flowing.

And, finally, Rugby people have long memories and the association of the ABs with this wimpish frivolity would – and may still – linger in the memories of the ABs opponents for many a game and year. There are probably several other reasons too.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 3:29pm
Bob R

@ East Wellington Superhero

I thought Nadir had a reasonable summary of where it went wrong.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 3:39pm
adc

Some more key points.

* Abstention is going to do absolutely nothing for the allblack campaign, it’s completely irrelevant. May as well suggest throwing someone into a volcano for a sacrifice.
* The ad drags in sex for absolutely no reason.
* rubber rings – are used for castration of lambs
* pink fists. used for fisting? Perhaps what we should do after castrating ourselves with a rubber ring?

It’s in the poorest possible taste, irrelevant, grubby inuendo, and just incredibly stupid. therefore demeaning to all concerned. I’m worried about the decision making capacity of those who signed off on this at Telecom, NZRFU and Saatchis.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 3:42pm
Pete George

Yeah, I thought rings=lamb castration too. Just about everything about the campaign was cringe – but at least they got the timing right.

I’m worried about the decision making capacity of those who signed off on this

They may now have a rubber ring on their signing arm.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 3:49pm
adc

I hate to think what would have happened if some luckless person signed up for this and actually wore one of those rubber rings.

Imagine the lawsuits against Telecom from all the people losing fingers (or worse).

That’s probably why they dropped the campaign.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 4:03pm
mikenmild

adc

Just wanted to correct one of your comments. You referred to the ‘NZRFU’. In fact, it is the NZRU – they stopped caring about football some while ago.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 4:07pm
DavidWr

I heard they were going to move the RWC from Sky Sport to the Comedy Channel
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 5:06pm
wreck1080

was that toy car fitzy was driving supposed to look like a big penis?
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 6:22pm
Mick Mac

Will anyone get the sack for such a stupid and inane idea.?
No.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 7:49pm
Elaycee

Haha – this effort is as good as the Telecom ‘campaign idea’ was crap.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 9:25pm
adze

wreck – I think it was a fist with the abstinence ring on its finger. Given the subject matter driving a giant fist could be considered problematic too.

I’m glad they pulled it anyway. Not before the Aussies got hold of it; which of course led to the inevitable IQ-of-15 sheep joke.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 9:33pm
Hagues

So they were going to promote abstaining but are now “pulling it” a good compromise I guess…
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 18, 2011 9:56pm

Add a Comment Cancel reply

Login to comment or vote

« No Right Turn on OIA

The Nation 20 August 2011 »

Donations

You can now donate to Kiwiblog

Exclusive content from DPF on Patreon

Become a Patron!

Never miss a post

Email Address

Join 37.4K other subscribers

Highlights

Health Target 5 – elective treatments
Health Target 4 – Specialist appointments
Health Target 3 – Emergency Dept Waiting Times
Health Target 2 – Immunisations

Top Stories

General Debate 21 November 2024
The progressive NZ media
Imagine a different scenario
Great progress
What do NZers think of the Mongrel Mob and Black Power
General Debate 22 November 2024
Home detention for meth dealing
Hot off the Press: Term 3 School Attendance Data
Judge gets it right
A cunning plan?

Recent Posts

The $800,000 lotto draw for researchers 22 November 2024
General Debate 22 November 2024 22 November 2024
A cunning plan? 22 November 2024
Hot off the Press: Term 3 School Attendance Data 21 November 2024
Great progress 21 November 2024
Judge gets it right 21 November 2024
Imagine a different scenario 21 November 2024
The progressive NZ media 21 November 2024
What do NZers think of the Mongrel Mob and Black Power 21 November 2024
General Debate 21 November 2024 21 November 2024
Home detention for meth dealing 21 November 2024
A good top cop 20 November 2024

Recent Comments

Hot off the Press: Term 3 School Attendance Data
Alwyn Poole
The $800,000 lotto draw for researchers
cmm
General Debate 22 November 2024
Bridgenag
A cunning plan?
MCōs
Hot off the Press: Term 3 School Attendance Data
Ghost
General Debate 22 November 2024
Cassandra
General Debate 22 November 2024
Cassandra
General Debate 22 November 2024
cmm
General Debate 22 November 2024
Handyman
The $800,000 lotto draw for researchers
sirknz
A cunning plan?
MCōs
General Debate 22 November 2024
Taieri
General Debate 22 November 2024
Matt Long
Hot off the Press: Term 3 School Attendance Data
zulumonster
A cunning plan?
Raphael

Links

Javier Milei’s Chainsaw on Bureaucracy
Not PC
Woman of the day
Hompaddock
#climateemergency
Utopia
Do The Health Authorities Require Too Much From a GP?
No Minister
The h?koi was M?ori Party’s crowning glory – and provided plenty for Labour to think about
Point of Order
It’s National ACT NZF who are Dishonouring the Treaty + the day Moana Jackson knocked Gerry Brownlee on his bum
The Daily Blog
Open mike 22/11/2024
The Standard
Drawn
No Right Turn
The transgender agenda sunk Kamala
Bob McCoskrie's McBlog
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT
No Punches Pulled (Bob Jones)
What does “reciprocity” mean in New Zealand laws?
Croaking Cassandra
A Day of Reckoning
NZCPR
Media Link: “A View from Afar” on the US elections.
Kiwipolitico
This will not end well
Offsetting Behaviour
Top 14 Predictions for Round 10
Stats Chat
Tory Whanau may have to sell Wellington mayoralty to make ends meet
The Civilian
The Accidental Engagement
Imperator Fish
Legal Beagle: Election '23: The Special Votes
Public Address
Making this movie might have been a mistake
Liam Hehir
Why I am retiring from political blogging
Kiwi FireWalker
Angie Warren-Clark: Meet the Newbies
Dan Moskovitz

editor@kiwiblog.co.nz

PO Box 12270, Thorndon, Wellington 6144

Facebook
Twitter
FourSquare
Instagram
LinkedIn
Google+

© 2003-2024 David Farrar

Archives
Disclosure Statement
Editorial Policy
Privacy Policy
Complaints Policy
Comments Policy

Design by cre8d

%d