FLICK OFF Campaign

[Canuck E Stan]

FLICK OFF CAMPAIGN

CBC FLICKING OFF story

The Ontario government's decision to help fund an edgy ad campaign against global warming is a “flicking” disgrace that shows a shocking lack of judgement, the opposition charged Wednesday.

The campaign against climate change — launched Wednesday by Environment Minister Laurel Broten and billionaire Richard Branson — encourages youth to “FLICK OFF.”

The campaign — which is partially funded with $500,000 of provincial tax dollars and prides itself on a “conversational, tongue-firmly-planted-in-cheek style” — is a great way to reach out to a younger demographic and get them involved in fighting global warming, Ms. Broten said.

The website, which asks “Are We Flicked?” and urges browsers to “Go Flick Yourself!” is part of a “really innovative campaign,” Ms. Broten said.

Ms. Broten sat under the huge “FLICK OFF” banners Wednesday morning at the launch of the campaign, and Mr. Tory says she should admit that was a mistake.

“She should get up and say, on second thought, it's not right to have kids looking for whatever purpose looking at publicly financed websites that have disrespectful themes on them that I think are just teaching people the wrong values, not the right ones.”

The NDP's Mr. Kormos said Ms. Broten should ask for her $500,000 back.

“She got burned flicking big time,” he said.

In Ontario this is your provincial government at work.

Just FLICKING wonderful.

[jbg]

I am quite sure McGuinty is reducing his life style to cut down on global warming. Not.

[geoffrey]

Brilliant. This would be a good campaign if government hands weren't on it. Unfortunately, it's going to disappear.

[madmax]

I have had it with you guys. Whether you like it or not, you are going to do your part on Global Warming by reducing energy consumption. Now just "FLICK OFF".

Could I get turfed from here for that? Flick off? There's a few times this phrase could be helpful around here

Initially, I read the newspaper accounts and thought this was a bad idea. Then I learned what the campaign was about.

I agree with Geoffreys comments on this one.

[M.Dancer]

FLICK OFF CAMPAIGN

CBC FLICKING OFF story

The Ontario government's decision to help fund an edgy ad campaign against global warming is a “flicking” disgrace that shows a shocking lack of judgement, the opposition charged Wednesday.

The campaign against climate change — launched Wednesday by Environment Minister Laurel Broten and billionaire Richard Branson — encourages youth to “FLICK OFF.”

I couldn't believe it when I saw it. Not creative not smart and not appropriate.

[geoffrey]

If the campaign starts out by "now, we will speak to Suzuki about the detailed science behind climate change," kids aren't going to listen.

FLICK OFF! It's catchy, and encourages responsible energy behavoir. It only takes seeing the sign a few times to have the message stuck in your head. People are talking about it too, in fact, this is proving to be quite successul.

It's a great idea.

[Canuck E Stan]

If the campaign starts out by "now, we will speak to Suzuki about the detailed science behind climate change," kids aren't going to listen.

FLICK OFF! It's catchy, and encourages responsible energy behavoir. It only takes seeing the sign a few times to have the message stuck in your head. People are talking about it too, in fact, this is proving to be quite successul.

It's a great idea.

I think you're wrong Geoffrey,those that see the sign and the word will not think of climate change, they will think profanity.

This is a cheap answer to a campaign that shows no creativity.

The province spends $500,000 to offend parents who try to teach their kids about rude words and the government thinks it's appropriate.

The same message could have been done without trying to immitate the profanity word.

[betsy]

The first time this "flick off" campaign came out, the environment guy was wearing this tshirt that says "Flick Off." I just caught them in the middle of the dialogue as I was cruising the channel, not really knowing what I was watching....but my eyes zeroed in on his tshirt right away. From the way he was sitting, his tshirt read like "F*** O**"

I was intrigued, and didn't change the channel. I ended up listening to the discussion.

I guess the slogan works. But of course, it was hard not to make fun of it when I relayed the news to my hubby. lol!

[Canuck E Stan]

The first time this "flick off" campaign came out, the environment guy was wearing this tshirt that says "Flick Off." I just caught them in the middle of the dialogue as I was cruising the channel, not really knowing what I was watching....but my eyes zeroed in on his tshirt right away. From the way he was sitting, his tshirt read like "F*** O**"

I was intrigued, and didn't change the channel. I ended up listening to the discussion.

I guess the slogan works. But of course, it was hard not to make fun of it when I relayed the news to my hubby. lol!

So You approve of this campaign......got any kids?

[betsy]

The first time this "flick off" campaign came out, the environment guy was wearing this tshirt that says "Flick Off." I just caught them in the middle of the dialogue as I was cruising the channel, not really knowing what I was watching....but my eyes zeroed in on his tshirt right away. From the way he was sitting, his tshirt read like "F*** O**"

I was intrigued, and didn't change the channel. I ended up listening to the discussion.

I guess the slogan works. But of course, it was hard not to make fun of it when I relayed the news to my hubby. lol!

So You approve of this campaign......got any kids?

I said, the slogan works....because it got my attention. You know what I thought after a while of watching, "why would they choose that slogan?"

Because it'll end up being"butchered"....made fun of ....thus it will distract from the real issue.

Would I wear it? No way!

[Canuck E Stan]

Would I wear it? No way!

Somehow I think most rational people would feel stupid wearing it, a lot of parents wouldn't like,want,or allow their children to wear it and I think this campaign will deep 6 very shortly.

All the creative agencies in Toronto and this is the best they can come up with?

Hope McGuinty uses a similar campaign in the fall election...."FLICK OFF with The LIberals!"

[jbg]

The first time this "flick off" campaign came out, the environment guy was wearing this tshirt that says "Flick Off." I just caught them in the middle of the dialogue as I was cruising the channel, not really knowing what I was watching....but my eyes zeroed in on his tshirt right away. From the way he was sitting, his tshirt read like "F*** O**"

I was intrigued, and didn't change the channel. I ended up listening to the discussion.

I guess the slogan works. But of course, it was hard not to make fun of it when I relayed the news to my hubby. lol!

So You approve of this campaign......got any kids?

I have two kids. Aside from the profanity, I strongly object to engendering panic in children about global warming. I well remember having "better Red than dead" pounded into our psyches by teachers telling us that if air ride siren went off, they'd try to keep us safe, but not to count on seeing our parents. We were abouit age 10 at the time. I think politicizing education is dead-@ss wrong.

[betsy]

Would I wear it? No way!

Somehow I think most rational people would feel stupid wearing it, a lot of parents wouldn't like,want,or allow their children to wear it and I think this campaign will deep 6 very shortly.

All the creative agencies in Toronto and this is the best they can come up with?

Hope McGuinty uses a similar campaign in the fall election...."FLICK OFF with The LIberals!"

And in my view, this "Flick-Off" seemed to have just turned the real issue into some sort of a fad....gives the impression that the environmental issue, which according to environmentalists is the apocalypse of humanity, seem less real. You know, like it made light of the alleged seriousness of our situation.

I can't find the exact term for it.

[jbg]

They're even selling tee shirts (link) with that logo and expression.

[Topaz]

Stop and think about people. The wording is doing what is was suppose to do, grab attention!!! As far as kids go, some already know the "real F word" and the teens use it on a daily bases. There was a clothing company that had the F-word on its clothes, last year. Perhaps they could have used another word but it seems this is doing what they wanted, you talking about it.

[Canuck E Stan]

Perhaps they could have used another word but it seems this is doing what they wanted, you talking about it.

You're right we are talking about it......the F word. er, what was the campaign about again?

[jbg]

Stop and think about people. The wording is doing what is was suppose to do, grab attention!!! As far as kids go, some already know the "real F word" and the teens use it on a daily bases basis. There was a clothing company that had the F-word on its clothes, last year. Perhaps they could have used another word but it seems this is doing what they wanted, you talking about it.

Stop and think Topaz. Should we be teaching kids and teens that the "real F word" or reasonable facsimiles thereof are suitable language? We're supposed to be adults. McGuinty is supposed to be a leader setting an example.

Or are Liberals, when leaders, immune from the obligation to be positive role models?

Edited July 11, 2007 by jbg

[jefferiah]

Ya I have to agree with M Dancer and JBG here. This is unsuitable. Yeah duh. I know kids know all the cuss words, that doesnt make it a free for all for me to start using classless language.

Plus if I was a teen this would not appear intelligent to me at all. Just a stupid attempt by some very unhip people to use something controversial to be cool. It just comes off as cheesy to a kid, and from an adults perspective should we be encouraging the F-word. You trust kids to know the F word, but you dont trust em to be smart enough to know you are dumbing stuff down for them. Maybe we should start having debates on Much Music hosted by the Vee Jays.

[gc1765]

Or are Liberals, when leaders, immune from the obligation to be positive role models?

If it gets people to stop smoking, isn't that a positive thing?

[BC_chick]

Anyone who thinks it's offensive for teenagers obviously hasn't seen the video-games these days or heard the music they listen to (maybe not at home, but at their friends' house anyway). I remember when I was a teenager I was watching a movie on TV late at night and I burst out laughing when a tough thug-looking guy looked all seriously at a nemesis and in a voice clearly different than the actor's he said "flick you."

Maybe I'm projecting here, but "flick" is not something any teenager is going to take too seriously. It's not going to make them swear any more or any less than before and it can't possibly get any worse than the current alternative swear-du-jour of "freaking."

At least this one will have a subconsciously positive message.

PS - wow, edited posts now show up automatically eh?

Edited July 11, 2007 by BC_chick

[kimmy]

I agree with Geoffrey. I also agree with Betsy and BC Chick, which might be a first.

"It's silly, it's embarrassing, and clearly it's an ad agency that has a bunch of flickin' amateurs as employees," said Kormos.

...

"I say it's a bad judgment," said Tory. "It shouldn't be done this way. There are plenty of ways to educate kids without using language like this."

I dunno, guys. Who knows more about marketting to youth? John Tory and Peter Kormos? Or Richard Branson?

Well, let's see. Branson has build a business empire primarily on the strength of a youth-oriented approach (first trendy record-stores and now contract-free cellular phone service). John Tory and Peter Kormos? If they had any talent for communicating with youth, they probably wouldn't be the opposition right now.

I would place my bet on the guy who's made millions at it, rather than the Ontario runners up.

I was a youth recently. I vaguely remember occassions when the government has attempted to communicate with me. I remember the whole gamut of approaches, ranging from pathetic little cartoon spokespeople to pathetic attempts to act "cool" or "speak the language". I don't think the government minds that come up with those things have any comprehension of the contempt their target audience has for that sort of pablum. The cartoon spokespeople are for toddlers, and government-scripted attempts to be "hip" and "edgy" invariably come off as absurdly fake... and kids hate "fake" with a passion.

"Flick off", on the other hand, that is excellent. Is it offensive? Hopefully. The fact that it seems to confuse and upset old-people will only make it that much more appealing to the target audience.

John Tory says they can "educate kids without using language like this."

Can they? If the "they" he refers to is the government, then I doubt it. I can't recall a government campaign that has succeeded in educating kids about anything. The problem is that Mr Tory would like to communicate with kids in a way that he is comfortable with, not in a way that they'll actually respond to.

-k

[jdobbin]

I was a youth recently.

Citation for this?

I've seen the ad a few times. It is cheeky. We can't have that in Canada.

I think we should ban all words that are substitutes for swearing.

Let's see: There is "golly", "darn", "crap", "sit on it", "go fly a kite", "shoot", "nuts", "fiddlesticks", "phooey" and "fudge."

If these words are ever used in this forum, you are swearing. Please don't do it.

Edited July 11, 2007 by jdobbin

[jdobbin]

So You approve of this campaign......got any kids?

I think there is some important information to be learned here:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories

A new psychology study at Washington University was no laughing matter: It found that older adults may have a harder time getting jokes because of an age-related decline in certain memory and reasoning abilities.

The research suggested that because older adults may have greater difficulty with cognitive flexibility, abstract reasoning and short-term memory, they also have greater difficulty with tests of humour comprehension.

[jefferiah]

Anyone who thinks it's offensive for teenagers obviously hasn't seen the video-games these days or heard the music they listen to (maybe not at home, but at their friends' house anyway). I remember when I was a teenager I was watching a movie on TV late at night and I burst out laughing when a tough thug-looking guy looked all seriously at a nemesis and in a voice clearly different than the actor's he said "flick you."

Maybe I'm projecting here, but "flick" is not something any teenager is going to take too seriously. It's not going to make them swear any more or any less than before and it can't possibly get any worse than the current alternative swear-du-jour of "freaking."

At least this one will have a subconsciously positive message.

PS - wow, edited posts now show up automatically eh?

that's not the point. you think you are the only one who knows kids know cuss words. i am sure my 16 year old nephew knows a lot of stuff, cuz i was 16 once. he's probably smoked a little pot. that doesnt mean i am going to go score him some. if the kids are saying it or using it it doesnt mean i should just to reach out. and here is where i think you all are a little naive. this Flick thing will only be cool to the absolute dorkiest of teens. trust me.

[jefferiah]

So You approve of this campaign......got any kids?

I think there is some important information to be learned here:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories

A new psychology study at Washington University was no laughing matter: It found that older adults may have a harder time getting jokes because of an age-related decline in certain memory and reasoning abilities.

The research suggested that because older adults may have greater difficulty with cognitive flexibility, abstract reasoning and short-term memory, they also have greater difficulty with tests of humour comprehension.

And this would be relevant J, if Flick were actually something funny. Its not like it offends me either, but its just plain stupid. Kids will think its stupid too. Thats what you dont get. Adults are infinitely lamer when they are trying to be cool. I think they should do a study on people who are easily amused (ie people who watched the show Friends).