'Racist' ad forced off air after 9 months

The Advertiser (South Australia) ^ | 05may06 | By ANNA VLACH

[Oztrich Boy]

'Racist' ad forced off air after 9 months
By ANNA VLACH
05may06
THE RAA has been forced to withdraw a popular television commercial after the Advertising Standards Board voted to uphold a single complaint that it was racist.

The "Which deli?" advertisement, which has aired for more than nine months, showed George, played by actor George Kapiniaris, telling cafe owner Trevor about the service provided by a call centre operator from New Delhi, India.

The person who complained about the ad alleged the RAA explicitly used New Delhi "to show that service from India is bad compared to Australia". It was also claimed the ad made a joke of possible cultural and social difference and was "degrading the country of India".

....

"The advertisement reinforced that the RAA is proudly South Australian, and offers a locally based call centre that the SA community can contact and speak with someone who lives in the State, and knows the local environment."

[Oztrich Boy]

The RAA has a point.

They are the local Auto Association, and it's kinda useful if the operator knows something about the area if the caller is slightly vague ("I don't know exactly where I am, but there's a building with a 20 ft higb statue of a Scot bagpip.." "Say no more, I know where you are")

The person who complained about the ad alleged the RAA explicitly used New Delhi "to show that service from India is bad compared to Australia".

No it was made an Indian call centre to set up the joke.

"He asked where I was, and I said by the deli (Oz for delicatessen). He asked: which deli? I said the new deli. Then he got excited and said he was calling from New Dehli, and we should meet for curry and a papadam. I ask you Trev, what happened to talking with a local?"

The world is going mad.

[PeterPrinciple]

I know policitcal correction has gone to far when I can't tell Ole and Lena jokes.............so far I am safe and no one has indicated to me these are hate crimes.

[BlessedBeGod]

"He asked where I was, and I said by the deli (Oz for delicatessen). He asked: which deli? I said the new deli. Then he got excited and said he was calling from New Dehli, and we should meet for curry and a papadam."

That's hilarious!

deli (Oz for delicatessen)

That's American for delicatessen, too! ;-)

[Bommer]

It was also claimed the ad made a joke of possible cultural and social difference and was "degrading the country of India".

How can you degrade a country, where half of the people are starving, yet they let cows wander the streets because they think it grandma reincarnated?

[Oztrich Boy]

How can you degrade a country,

I'm sure you'll find a way. (Hey what about the nutty country where the adult daughters of the President need false ID's to get served a drink in a public restaraunt? Must be one of those Irab countries)

[I still care]

To me it's silly to force a commercial off the air. A company makes its living off a commercial that the vast majority of people find attractive - if you insult or upset a whole group you can cut your sales. That would be stupid.

I remember years ago they were showing Breck commercials where a woman was having an orgasm washing her hair off camera. They actually showed this commercial during "Rugrats".

I called, got an apologetic letter, and actually never saw the commercial again. I can't have been the only one.

[Bommer]

Yeah that was almost coherent. Nice to see you up and blogging Patrick Kennedy! Little groggy from the Lumnesta?

[dighton]

“Located next to the Philix amusement arcade behind Shinkong Mitsukoshi Department Store, New Deli is a very spacious, happy-looking place.”