Stihl ad gets its day in court
A little birdy tells me DDB’s ad for chainsaw brand Stihl is up before the Advertising Standards Authority today.
So there’ll be a judgment soon on whether or not that unique type of black humour is “acceptable”.
What do you think? View the spot here and then cast your vote (offensive or not) on the poll here.
Meanwhile, across the ditch an ad for Nando’s (the chicken outfit) has just been upheld by the dingo Advertising Standards Board. It featured a woman with such big hooters that she couldn’t see the chips on her plate. (Watch her in all her dumb glory here.)
All I want to know is, who let her out of the kitchen in the first place?
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Comments and questions24
I stand by ny earlier comment - this ad is crass, pathetic and witless and that is what makes it offensive.
With all the doom and gloom around it is good to see companies daring to inject some humour - good on them
I suspect Mr. Franklin above may be a Green or Labour supporter. Lighten up buddy ... it's humour and it seems we could all do with a bit of that right now
i think i am a green or labour supporter...and i like the ad, lol.
no, i don't think its particularly classy or sensitive, but hell, its funny!
If this ad is deemed offensive then we're in real trouble in this country. Haven't people got better things to do with their time than complain about nothing? Try smiling Franklin - you might enjoy it.
What is it with creatives and Stihl? The latest craze to create scam ads for a chainsaw company needs a bullet. Come on people!
Well done DDB and Sthl - the advert is excellent. Perhaps if you polled those who had watched their dads die, we would all be reminded we have more to worry about than a great joke on TV. Next you will be complaining about the crap on Shortland Street!
Mr. Franklin is in the minority - respondents to the survey have voted an overwhelming 84% in favour of the ad. Democracy works, because it tells us about people's true thoughts.
In short, Mr. Franklin, people of good humour and sound morals are telling you in no uncertain terms to [censored, you rude possum!] !
Now that Nando's ad IS funny, where the stihl ad is certainly NOT. Indeed, it's "crass, pathetic and witless", but that doesn't necessarily make it offensive, just plain dumb...
Now that Nando's ad IS funny, where the stihl ad is certainly NOT. Indeed, it's "crass, pathetic and witless", but that doesn't necessarily make it offensive, just plain dumb...
OK, in the giant waste of time category - lets discuss the offensiveness (or not) of the advert.
You either find it offensive , or like me, you don't. If you don't like it, move away from the television set. No-one forced you to sit there and watch it. You can turn the tv off in protest and go do something useful, like say, getting a life...
Good on DDB and Stihl for coming up with something creative and humerous.If some of those that don't see the funny side are offended, tough.
My grandson has already put his hand up for my 20 year old Stihl chainsaw which is going as well today as the day i bought it.
It's one of the few things made to hand on !!
Get a life guy's
no more offensive than the Stella ad where the dying father requests a glass of beer ... now if one of the sons whipped out the chainsaw and did something unmentionable with it to his dad - THAT would be offensive!
Advertising complaints like this should be settled by a lengthy and expensive public referendum.
Morning all. My knickers remain totally untwisted by this - I find the ad pathetic but I am clearly in a minority. What I find really offensive is the suggestion I might be Greenie or labour voter - now that really hurts.
Other than it reminding me of a Stella Artois campaign (I think), WTF is this doing before the ASA? I mean, really? C'mon, are they short of actual offensive ads? It is complete bollocks that anyone would be upset enough about this ad to complain, let alone put any effort in to furthering such a futile cause. Wow, some people need to get a freaking life!
yeah true-this is just arip off from stella artois. ponsy ad gits spending too much time in the company toilets tossing over awards annuals again, well observed that blogger!!
I'm not big on blogging. But there are two points I'd like to clarify. One, the ad is not a scam. Stihl and DDB have worked very hard to create a 60' ad that we are jointly very proud of. Generally speaking, scam ads aren't 60' TV ads that run on national TV. They are ineffectual ads that clients never asked for that run in spurious publications that no one has ever heard of. The Stella reference makes me laugh. Yes, the Stella ad involves a deathbed scene and so does ours. So what? It's not the same idea at all. Only the witless can't tell the difference between idea and execution.
I think the ad is dull, short on wit and totally flawed. A mum and dad who look old enough to be the children's great, great grandparents. Quite aside from the fact that it looks like Sicilian mafia family meets kiwi kin. Hell, if it ever wins an award it should be for the Schizophrenic Talent Casting Award of the Year. It's useless.
Bring back the funny post about Toby! I went to show it to someone and it was gone!
Tnis campaign has obviously pushed some buttons to get people talking. Congrats DDB/Stihl - way to get noticed!!! Love the ad.
Totally not offensive. As if this will be upheld.
sorry. my first thought as well was 'bad rip-off of the Stella ad'.
Only the witless can't tell the difference between originality and plagurism...
call me witless but I thought I had seen it before as well - sorry Mr Talbot when it comes to adverts the general population does not have time energy or inclination to ponder deeply on the differences between ideas and execution - we just respond to impressions ( mind you I thought impressions were what advertisers were trying to to create )and my impression was this had been done before -maybe not plagiarism but at least heavily derivative - nonetheless still a good ad and as for being offensive what a joke
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