New Bloody Australian Tourism Campaign

[MilkOnTap]

There has been so much controversy in the media for the usage of the word 'bloody' in the new Australian Tourism tv advertisements. I believe the ad is supposed to get to the 'soul' of Australia - and generically speaking, Australians apparantly use the word 'bloody' all the time.

The main line is at the end where a bikini clad model is on a beach asking the viewer "So where the bloody hell are ya?"

There is another scene with an outback bar, and all the 'blokes' hanging around drinking beer. Very Aussie too.

I personally dont have a problem with this - if it were to be broadcast across Australia only. I think that Australians (in general) have a pretty good tolerance to swearing, and I dont deem the word 'bloody' or slogan 'bloody hell' as being too bad. There is worse!

But the fact that it is being broadcast across New Zealand, USA, Singapore and all other corners of the globe kind of makes me a bit uneasy. Maybe its because ALL Australians are portrayed as swearing beer drinkers...? Not sure.

What are your thoughts? Do you think the advertisement is true to the Australian culture? Or has it gone a step too far that foreigners may be mis-led?

[poshBecks]

After 8:30pm, it doesn't bother me. But I dont really want Connor learning that word or any other swear words for that matter thank you very much!!

It is very Aussie tho isn't it!! :rolleyes:

[shed]

Wouldn't have a bloody clue mate.

:laughing:

[Chickadee]

What are your thoughts? Do you think the advertisement is true to the Australian culture?

Yep. That's all I've heard & seen in 5 years here. Bloody this and bloody that. Beer swilling Aussies wrestling crocs. I'm joking of course. :laughing:

Nearly every country has it's stereotypes, how it's viewed by the rest of the world. I think I've only seen one commercial but I don't think it's gone too far. Most countries play on those stereotypes from time to time for travel marketting. And being able to laugh at oneself is actually a common Aussie trait :)

[poshBecks]

And being able to laugh at oneself is actually a common Aussie trait :)
So so true!!! :laughing:

[giggles]

And being able to laugh at oneself is actually a common Aussie trait :)

I agree with this but do the rest of the world necessarily get that? I think our sense of humour might sometimes be misinterpreted for stupidity.

I'm not overly fussed on the new ad campaign. I think we could stick to some fantastic pictures of what is here and keep it simple instead.

[drewid]

Doesn't the rest of the world think we are just the spawn of convict rejects anyway? :laughing:

[Tea Lady]

I've certainly never heard a bikini clad girl use that phrase - 40 yr old beer swilling blokes, certainly, but that girl sounds like she's never said it before in her life!

PS Nicole did you get my msg?

[drewid]

I've certainly never heard a bikini clad girl use that phrase - 40 yr old beer swilling blokes, certainly, but that girl sounds like she's never said it before in her life!

PS Nicole did you get my msg?

I know, that annoys me about that girl too - as IF she'd ever say that IRL.

No, I didn't get a msg. :confused: Have I missed something? :eek:

[giggles]

Ok, so the UK has banned the word "bloody" in this ad and they will be getting a watered down version where they say "Where the hell are you" instead.

Is this just ridiculous? The UK of all places.

This from the land that gave us the most graphic Big Brother!

[Pixie]

OK being English lol I have something to say :D

When I saw that advert I said straight away to my partner, the brits are going to hate it..reason being the word bloody I just knew from previous knowledge that people find it really offensive. I remember people using it in relation to Jesus and him being "bloody" on the cross but anyway I knew it wouldn't work. And ta da lol

for me I think yeah men sit in pubs and drink beer but they do that the world over! yep we have skinny tanned girls on the beach but so does spain lol I dunno it may or may not work depends how easily bought you are:p

[bumpsmum]

I'm also English and immediately felt the same as you " the brits will hate it".

I'm struggling to understand why it made page three in the telegraph that the brits had banned it . Must be a quiet week on the news front!!! Every one knew it would cause controversy.

Personally it is a word I use but I would not say it in front of my children and if they used it I would explain that its not a word I expect them to use. Double standards I know.

As for the reference to Big Brother- The Uk version is by no means the worst. However people have the option not to watch or allow their children to watch such programmes. With adverts its a little more difficult. The only option is to not watch tv at all.

Having lived in Singapore I can guarantee they will ban it. They banned 'men behaving badly' as it showed an unmarried couple living together. Shock horror!

[SassyMummy]

I don't find the ad offensive at all, but I think it's a bit of a waste of money. It might sum up the "idea" of Australia...but as far as I'm concerned, Australia isn't like that.

It's a stupid ad, and if I were overseas, I'd think "What a bunch of bogans" and never want to come over here. It's not appealing at all...it certainly wouldn't attract me over here.

[tanni_83]

There was a big upstink in the UK with this and i was speaking to an 'english' person and they told me directly that they didnt know what the problem was and that almost every 'english' person they know swears a lot and whats the difference if they show it after 9pm when most kiddies are in bed

my 2 cents!! :ecomcity:

[veve]

not just that - but neighbours and home and away screen over there - with no issues... and if that guys fro H& A was to do that ad ( you know the one... is it Al??)

he would say -

' Where the bloody hell are ya .. ya flamin mongrel!!!' LOL :laughing:

I myself very rarely use that word... (when I do it is usually in reaction to my DH :rolleyes: ) - I dont think the tourism ad is any worse than the toyota ad (buggar) ... so .. no issue here -

and I think the poms are being a little silly...considering THEY own 'little britain' and' ab fab' and pleanty of other inappropriate.. but funny shows!!!!!

xxx

[bronny-jane]

i didnt realise that the word bloody was a swear word.
if in the ad she said so where the f##k are ya, i'd understand people thinking it was offensive. i dont know any one who use's the word bloody.

as for singapore didnt they make a different add for over there?

[nut]

I dunno why but I felt proud stirrings about this ad!:o
I guess when you live overseas for some time the stuff that is just so Aussie really gets to you. I feel like a bit of an idiot, but I love this ad!
I think it is great that the UK has banned it! What wonderful free publicity for our tourism industry!:D