To be honest when I saw that advert I thought it was quite crass and offensive. I obviously didn't complain, but I thought it was a completely unnecessary trivialisation of an exceedingly harrowing event for any family to go through. If I'd seen that advert soon after my mum had died I'd probably have been incredibly upset. I found it unpleasant enough to watch 20 years on to decry it as "needlessly heartstring-tugging bullshit" (or words to that effect) in front of the in-laws, and I didn't even know there was a backlash then!
I actually thought it was going to be an advert for a charity or public health campaign. That is not an appropriate vibe for flogging burgers which help contribute substantially to the aforementioned dead parents!
Return_of_the_STAR wrote:I can see how this could cause a bit of upset for someone who's recently lost someone but so can any show that features a death and there will always be at least one show on tv an evening where someone dies.
You can choose what you want to watch based on your mood, you can't choose which adverts pop up. Also, you'd hope a TV show would explore the issue in a slightly more mature way.
Denster wrote:Yet another instance where people wilfully seek offence.
If her kid was confused she should have said " the boy in the advert is an actor and not a good one - that's why he isn't as upset as you. Or he's happy because his dad isn't really dead.
And yours is, that's why you cry...It's easy to be matter of fact and glib when you're not trying to get through a bereavement. Seeing your child duped by snake oil merchants into wanting to go down a blind alley of fulfillment probably doesn't help.