“I’ve never voted Tory before” ads in UK are ripe for abuse, fun (leftover from #SES London)
Published February 23rd, 2010
I’m about four days back from my trip to London to speak at the SES conference and I swear I’m still a little screwed up. With that town I’m never sure if it’s jet lag or a hangover…
Anyway, while I was in old London town, I remember seeing these ads on my way to and from the airport, but I didn’t have a chance to get any pictures of them. Luckily enough, they have taken on a life of their own here on the net, so I don’t really need to bother.
Here’s the original ad in all its schmaltzy glory…
I guess these ads aren’t all that bad from a design front, but there’s just something weird about the message. I guess that’s why they are seeing responses like this around town (warning, there’s a big old C-word a comin’ round the bend!):
"I never voted Tory before, because I'm not a cunt."
A few years back, I actually dated and lived with a woman who was raised a Republican and never really bothered to question what it was all about when she grew up. This was back when Little George W was running for office.
We used to have these funny conversations about why she was voting for him that would always end with her saying that maybe we shouldn’t discuss politics. My problem was always that, when I asked her why she was voting for him, she would say things like, “well, he’s really for education…” My response was always, “…and Gore is against education?”, while scrunching up my face and looking at her like she was a crazy person.
I think that’s my problem with these ads. By stating things like, “I like their plans to help families,” it makes it sound like the opposing parties (there are a crap load there, but let’s say “Labor” just to pick one) sound like they are somehow anti-family or anti-family program or that they have no plans for families… you get my point. But then, that’s exactly what they want, don’t they?
Look, vote however you want, but have a good argument ready for when people ask about it or you just look like you’re towing the party line. Trust me, it’s OK to say you just don’t like the guy and his politics, but don’t sound like you’re reading from a cheat sheet from your party.
I remember when Obama was running for office and John Oliver of The Daily Show was out interviewing people at a McCain rally. He asked one women why she wasn’t voting for Obama and she said, “Well, I’m concerned about the whole Muslim thing.” Oliver responded, in his very British way, “So apart from the fact that he isn’t, what is it then?”
J.
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