Is this Image Offensive?

In a previous article on Chinese recalls and product safety issues,
we used the "cheese grater slide image to present a
serious topic in an offbeat way. A few people in the over
10,000 who opened this e-mail were offended.

We Would Appreciate Your Input on This:
Were we out of line in using this picture?
Was the image in poor taste?

We want to know!

A READER WROTE:
“I think the picture of the child going down the slide shows extremely poor taste as a general awareness/promotional ad. Sending something like that on a personal level in an email as a joke is one thing, but please, it's hardly appropriate for promoting products, services or awareness on a business level. The person who approved this concept needs to be reprimanded. If this is the extent of the creative capacity of your marketing department then please don't bother sending me anymore of this crap.”

We appreciate comments we receive both negative and positive and I'm sorry someone found the "cheese grater slide” image offensive. I’m the one who should be reprimanded as I oversee the PromoTips content. PromoTips may not be for this reader and that’s OK. I have offered to permanently remove him from our database.

Jeff Solomon, MAS - FreePromoTips.com

WE INVITE YOU TO POST YOUR COMMENTS BELOW!

Comments

1234567

0 #135 EmavaNEamyLow 2011-11-16 09:50

What about the English invent football championship?

0 #134 Ted Pendlebury 2011-05-16 22:19

I find it ridiculous that anyone would gripe about this image. Someone was having some fun with Photoshop. Do you think they actually made a child grater? Geez...

0 #133 2011-05-02 18:40

I think that this was an easy way to get attention, but not a great marketing effort. As others have mentioned, it is taken out of context. It reminds me of something that would be found in cartoon form in the New Yorker Magazine.

It is offensive because of the nature of the discussion. As marketers, we aim to entice but not alientate our audience, and I beleive that this peice is prone to alienation. The other issue is that it does not relate to our industry or products so it leaves a lot to be desired.

0 #132 2011-04-29 16:16

Being Involved with Childrens Products for over 20 years, I bring to light the horrible deaths of children who were burned to death because their Pajamas were not flame retardent as they were supposed to be!There is a better way of using the 'Code' by having the manufacturer stamp it into the product in their mold.Thus not affecting our process.For those who find the attached image distasteful,thi nk of the image embedded in the minds of the parents of those poor children who were not protected by poor overseas products from manufacturers who lied about the safety of their products!

0 #131 2010-08-19 03:28

I didn't see this the first time around and I found the image provocative, rather than funny. What a creative way to show potential danger to kids! I understand it was with an article about the recall. GREAT way to capture attention. And if we're talking about it this much after the original, then it's REALLY a powerful message. Bravo!

0 #130 2010-08-18 19:12

I thought it was hysterical for the idea to catch attention, because really no one would ever do such a thing.

0 #129 2010-08-18 18:26

It's funny at first, but after a few seconds, the visuals come in and it becomes horrifying. Especially as someone who loves kids so much.
However, I think it packs a wallop and I applaud the nerve. I only wish we, as a country had the collective nerve to drive Chinese products back to their shores, and protect our jobs, homes, and families, especially in this atrocious business environment. If anyone is offended by that well... you can guess what I might say next.

0 #128 2010-08-18 18:16

I don't know that I think the image is funny? But I do know that it caught my attention, and made me read the article. This is important information, and we need to stay ahead on this information. Good Job

+1 #127 2010-08-18 16:13

Life is too important to be taken seriously. Some people just need to get a life. You do a great job, and for free!

0 #126 2010-08-18 15:57

Did not see the original piece, but anything "taken out of context" is bound to offend someone. I believe that paired with an article speaking to hazards is quite appropriate and fitting -- after all, would you send your child down a cheese-grater?
Very ingenious image! This is not offensive coupled with the article.

0 #125 2010-08-18 15:35

I remember seeing it before. It is disturbing but very memorable. I wasn't offended.

0 #124 2010-08-18 14:25

It is still getting attention, even in 2010! That says something! It drove the point across. Bravo!

0 #123 2010-08-18 13:08

This Country as a whole needs to lighten up and pay more attention to the Current Admistration manipulation of the Constitution and their AGENDA.

0 #122 2010-08-18 13:06

Gentlemen: This is a great themed picture. Having been the target of this type of "Witch Hunt" about 35 years ago, it is absurd. A Certified Testing Lab was give samples of our product that a News Media Network deemed a "Health Hazard" due to Lead in the ink found ity would have req'd. a child to suck the ink off of 400 pieces of our product, which was not designed as a childs toy, but proclaimed to be by the News person, before they would get a stomach ache.

We have way too much gov't in our lives and our business. We need more Cheese Graters!

0 #121 2010-08-16 23:52

I did not see the original article, but I do know who gets hurt when there is lead in paint. It is the children, I'm sure that the picture made people want to read the article and find out what it was about.
Smart I think, a Child with Lead poisoning is not a pretty thing. So I think making people aware and informed... Smart

0 #120 2010-08-16 23:23

I thought it was hilarious. It was very creative and made it's point. You will find someone getting offended over just about anything these days. Ignore it. If you start getting 10-20 people offended, then maybe take a closer look.

+1 #119 2010-08-12 17:28

I think that people should really get a life. Why does EVERYTHING have to be so politically correct these days. Come On... It would be offensive if the child was actually sliding down a grater, but it was to illustrate a point. If someone finds it offensive then there is a little "x" at the top of the screen which enables you to click off of the picture. I got the message which you were trying to get across and the point you were making. I think it's just another thing that people have to gripe about. I think we need to quit pacifying and coddling folks that have nothing better to do than to look for something that they can gripe about. We need to stand up in our thoughts, values, and opinions and quit apologizing for the way we feel. Click the on/off switch if you don't like what you see, get a life, find a hobby, and quit trying to cause trouble by acting like a wimp. By the way... did I mention that this is NOT OFFENSIVE!!!!!! !!

+1 #118 Rick Naberschnig 2010-08-12 16:04

I don't find it offensive. I find it humorous.

-1 #117 Alison Luckett 2010-08-12 15:11

I don't I understand how anyone on earth could think this picture is funny. I didn't see the article, so I don't know the context - although from reading the other comments I gather it's something to do with danger in the lead content of the paint on the slide. That being said, there is no context that could justify a picture of a child about to be hurt - even in jest. I think we all realize that this picture is not real; but the image it conjures of what is about to happen to the child is inappropriate in any circle - business or otherwise.