South Africa Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) takes offense to Radio commercial parody of AA and NA rituals

It would appear that in South Africa you have to be very careful what you say on the radio about 12 Step fellowships. A company called Telkom Business was advertising it's PC tablet using a skit from the beginning of an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) ceremony and has been under fire from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) of South Africa claiming it mocked those organizations. The complaint has been dismissed, but it does show the tendency of the members of the cults that Bill Wilson built to try to protect the fellowship in the eyes of public opinion in order to not scare away any potential "prospects."

“I’m addicted to tablets”

Staff Writer July 19, 2012

The ASA dismisses a complaint against Telkom Business’ advertisement about the popularity of tablet PCs

The Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa (ASA) has dismissed a complaint against a Telkom Business radio commercial which punted the popularity and affordability of its tablet PC deals.

The commercial begins with a character introducing himself, saying: “Hi, my name’s James.” A group of voices responds by saying: “Hi James.” He then says: “I’m addicted to tablets.”

The voice of a lady interrupts, saying: “Me too…I can’t get enough of my Samsung Galaxy.” Another man from within the group says: “I know what you’re saying, I have a Motorola Xoom and an HTC Flyer.”

The closing voice-over says: “With leading tablet brands at only R249 a month, don’t be surprised if you and your colleagues become a little infatuated. Get more mobile for your money by choosing a package that suits your budget and your business needs. Mobile solutions brought to you by Telkom Business.”

ASA Complaint

This advertisement did not go down well with David Lewis, who lodged a complaint with the ASA, arguing that the commercial is offensive as it parodies NA (Narcotics Anonymous) and AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) fellowships, thereby perpetuating the stigma attached to addiction.

Telkom Business responded saying that the word “tablet” is an ordinary and acceptable word that may refer to pills, but today is commonly known to refer to electronic gadgets or computers that are larger than mobile phones and predominantly operated by touch-screen capability.

The company added that while it accepts that historically addiction referred to a physical or psychological dependency on a substance such as alcohol or drugs, today’s “addiction” extends to all abnormal psychological dependencies whether substance or other.

Read more:http://mybroadband.co.za/news/general/55089-im-addicted-to-tablets.html