Mall Advertising....Paramus Park (live, shop, trailer)

[EEEPNJ]

OK Last Sat took my family to Paramus Park Mall for some shopping... figured we'd do that (doing my part for the economy.... trust me, the kids needed clothes....) and then we'd have diner at Bensi (belated birthday treat for me) and we'd put the kids on the Carousel to finish off the night.

Well, here's the way it ended.... the mall now has these large monitors that play commercials. Hey, I have no problem with this...it's the mall, not a Public Library. This is the mecca of commercialism so play commercials. I understand everyone is trying to find new ways to get revenue, whatever.

Here is my problem... if you have a captive audience, make sure the commercials contain appropriate content for all to see. That was not the case on Saturday. They had a commercial for the movie "The Haunting" this is quite graphic, grotesque and disturbing running. Now, I've seen the trailer (at night - after prime time on tv) and I FIND it disturbing, so lets imagine what that will do to the average 4 yr old? Best part...they had it playing RIGHT by the enterance to the CAROUSEL!

After 2 nights of being waken up because one of my kids is having nightmares from this, I sent a letter to Mall Management basically telling them (in a nice professional manner) you are a bunch of freaking idiots.

There, I've ranted. Thanks for listening. LOL

[Shwa]

Good for you for sending the letter. Most would complain and not take any action. I agree completely that the content should be appropriate for the location..... which should have been G-rated!!!

[Unknown Memory]

Good job on taking action! *props* The content on those things should definitely stay G. (edit: Will rep when I rep other people...)

I really don't like these little animated ads that have been popping up in malls and around the country. They were more annoying years ago when they had sounds and got repetitive. Sure, whoever invented might've thought of him/herself as a marketing genius but ehhhh, I think there's only so much you can do with advertising before it gets over-saturated. Old fashion posters/banners were good enough.

[openheads]

Then again, no one forced you to go to Paramus Park, right?
If you saw "offensive" images, let your pocketbook do the talking & don't go back there.
Obviously there are "limits" to social acceptability, but really?
It would have to morph into the "adult mall", change its strategy or go out of business if everyone spoke through their money clip, no?
Why limit others for your comfort?
To homogenize & sterilize for the sensitivity of the few (especially in the confines of a mall & not a street front store) sounds quite, how should I put it, ridiculous.
How can Amsterdam have a readily available "red light district" & yet the Dutch seem to be be more well adjusted than us "god fearing Americans"?
Denial breeds unhealthy curiosity.

[JG183]

Originally Posted by openheads

Denial breeds unhealthy curiosity.

what he said

[EEEPNJ]

Originally Posted by openheads

Then again, no one forced you to go to Paramus Park, right?
If you saw "offensive" images, let your pocketbook do the talking & don't go back there.
Obviously there are "limits" to social acceptability, but really?
It would have to morph into the "adult mall", change its strategy or go out of business if everyone spoke through their money clip, no?
Why limit others for your comfort?
To homogenize & sterilize for the sensitivity of the few (especially in the confines of a mall & not a street front store) sounds quite, how should I put it, ridiculous.
How can Amsterdam have a readily available "red light district" & yet the Dutch seem to be be more well adjusted than us "god fearing Americans"?
Denial breeds unhealthy curiosity.

Uhm, last time I checked a mall - especially one that courts families and children - is as "public" a space as a storefront. If you are going to have an ad that is only played on TV after prime-time hours, one that will not be played at anything under a PG-13 movie (that's what's required) then it should NOT be in a public space NEXT TO A CAROUSEL where children will be exposed to it. And it's not a "red light district" it's a PUBLIC MALL. In fact, the stores that surrounded this "ad" were Crazy 8, Stride Rite, Gymboree, Disney Store and The Children's Place... need I say more? Do I think that bringing my child there would be akin to bringing the to the red light district in Amsterdam? I think not....

Call it censorship if you will, but I for one loathe the glorification and open acceptence of extreme violence, and that's all that clip was.

[openheads]

Uhhhhhh.......... If you say so.
And good way to twist my red light district analogy to fit your mind frame. Thumbs up.........

[NJ Chutzpah]

you cannot and should not shield them from everything especially a scary movie which one day they will hopefully realize is all fiction, fake, made-up, and nothing to be scared about

Let them be scared a little bit because it will build character and toughen them up

[tandcookies]

Originally Posted by openheads

Then again, no one forced you to go to Paramus Park, right?
If you saw "offensive" images, let your pocketbook do the talking & don't go back there.
Obviously there are "limits" to social acceptability, but really?
It would have to morph into the "adult mall", change its strategy or go out of business if everyone spoke through their money clip, no?
Why limit others for your comfort?
To homogenize & sterilize for the sensitivity of the few (especially in the confines of a mall & not a street front store) sounds quite, how should I put it, ridiculous.
How can Amsterdam have a readily available "red light district" & yet the Dutch seem to be be more well adjusted than us "god fearing Americans"?
Denial breeds unhealthy curiosity.

Give me a break in front of a carousel is not an appropriate place, inside Spencer's may be a better idea.

[tandcookies]

Originally Posted by NJ Chutzpah

you cannot and should not shield them from everything especially a scary movie which one day they will hopefully realize is all fiction, fake, made-up, and nothing to be scared about

Let them be scared a little bit because it will build character and toughen them up

Idk my sister was afraid of the witch from Snow White for years. Talk about fun, she thought it lived in our bedroom closet. If you take your kid to a movie that is scary or inappropriate then it's your fault... Fine suffer the consequences. On the other hand, if you to take your kid to mall for a ride on the carousel, you expect to keep your child innocent.