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Award-Winning Ad Taken Off Air In Australia

Posted by kdawson on from the nanny-state dept.

bol_kernal writes "An award-winning advertisement on Australian TV for the new Hyundai 4WD has been pulled from being broadcast after stations received 80 complaints from concerned parents. The ad consists of a small child, age around 2 years, cruising down the road, window down, arm out the window, in his new Hyundai 4WD. He sees a girl of the same age standing on the side of the road, pulls over picks her up, and they go to the beach together. All in all it's cute, funny, and very well done. The ad aired late in the evening (8:30 pm or later), but it was pulled due to concern from parents about the copycat risk. What I want to know is, where has the responsibility of parents gone? Is the world becoming so serious — or so frightened — that fantasy is no longer allowed?"

4 of 471 comments (clear)

  1. Obvious flaw by mainform · · Score: 3, Interesting

    How on earth is a toddler going to reach the accelerator and brake pedals in any regular car, let alone a 4WD, whilst being strapped in to the driver's seat, especially given there's no way he could have been able to see over the dash board without sitting on a cushion or something?

  2. Re:I for one am glad it's gone... by AGMW · · Score: 5, Interesting
    What if more people now complained that the Ad had been removed? Would they have to start running it again?

    --
    Eclectic beats from Leeds, UK
    handmadehands.co.uk
  3. There is truth in The Onion by myowntrueself · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Its high time that the sterling advice to be found on The Onion were taken more seriously by parents:

    http://www.theonion.com/content/news/child_safety_ experts_call_for

    Kenneth McMillan is a hero of the American People!!!

    --
    In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
  4. Re:Explain to a two year old? by MrHops · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I know you this was meant to be funny, but it hits a little close to home. For all of you who think you have your kids under control, I offer this true story:

    Our 2 1/2 year old, in the space of about five minutes (or less) managed to get the keys from the hook where we keep them (about 5' from the floor), crawl through the doggie door into the garage, chirp the car open (keyless entry), get into the car and start it up. Our first warning was the engine starting, at which point we ran into the garage to see him extremely happy, with hazard lights and windshield wipers going to beat the band.

    Very unsettling.

    Luckily for us, he understands and obeys us when we absolutely forbid something. (Playing with power tools, going near the road, starting the car, starting the tractor, etc)

    For those of you ready to flame me for my lack of preparedness, I keep the circuit breaker for the power tools off, the keys to the car and tractor are on hooks (in different places) at least 5' from the ground, I have put up a 4' no-climb fence around our yard, and generally keep the house reasonably safe. The main problem is that the use of stools and ladders present little difficulty to this adventurous inquisitive child. :-)