Not in front of the children...

Graham · 20-06-2005, 21:49

The link below is for a petition to try to persuade advertisers to stop putting adverts on at times and on channels where children may end up trying to pester parents into buying products or services that are inappropriate:

"We the undersigned believe debt adverts on childrens' television channels, especially for secured loans, are a disgrace and call on the TV channels responsible to immediately stop showing them."

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/not4kids

paulyoung666 · 20-06-2005, 21:51

good , deffo going to sign it

Halcyon · 20-06-2005, 21:58

Agreed. Some commercials are very much mis-placed and something needs to be done about this.

paulyoung666 · 20-06-2005, 21:59

9507 signed up to it when i signed it

Graham · 20-06-2005, 22:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulyoung666

9507 signed up to it when i signed it

Blimey! It was only about 8,400 when I put my name down a couple of hours ago!

Angua · 20-06-2005, 22:31

10256 now

budwieser · 20-06-2005, 22:39

Just Signed........

"This petition has been signed 10399 times"

punky · 20-06-2005, 22:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham

The link below is for a petition to try to persuade advertisers to stop putting adverts on at times and on channels where children may end up trying to pester parents into buying products or services that are inappropriate:

"We the undersigned believe debt adverts on childrens' television channels, especially for secured loans, are a disgrace and call on the TV channels responsible to immediately stop showing them."

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/not4kids

Hang on... Why exactly would a child pester their parent to get themselves an unsecured personal loan?

BBKing · 20-06-2005, 23:31

You're not a parent, are you?

This was on Radio 5 this morning, and I've been worried about it for some time - the adverts in question are generally aimed at, shall we say, the less sophisticated TV audience. They use bright colours, pretty girls and childish music. Unfortunately, children also aren't very sophisticated and digest this pap rather easily.

Since under fives have no inbuilt talent for making important financial decisions it's rather important they get taught that money doesn't come from a pretty woman in an advert but from actually working for it and that it's rather important to plan properly. This is particularly important with the way things are going with the state not likely to look after you too much in future. Being imbued with the kind of financial planning espoused by such companies is akin to being taught the Green Cross Code by rabbits and hedgehogs.

I noticed this months ago - my son always stops and watches the Ocean Finance adverts whenever they're on (which isn't generally on anything he's watching, he's usually far too busy smashing the place up to watch TV). It's worrying to find that it's not just him.

Chrysalis · 20-06-2005, 23:44

with more and more of our economy fuelled by credit I agree this is becoming a dangerous thing.

punky · 20-06-2005, 23:56

Of course there are adverts that are unsuitable for kids, but I can't see loan adverts being the epitome of it. I would rather explain to a 5 year old why some people need a loan, than to have to explain what tampons are and why only women need them. I can't ever see those adverts being moved away from kids.

Quote:

Since under fives have no inbuilt talent for making important financial decisions it's rather important they get taught that money doesn't come from a pretty woman in an advert but from actually working for it and that it's rather important to plan properly.

What do you honestly think would have a greater effect on a child's ability to learn fiancial responsibility: watching a few loan adverts on TV, or 16 years being raised by a responsible parent?

And anyway, when exactly did a loan become such a terrible thing? It is rather hard to get through life without taking at least one loan.

Graham · 21-06-2005, 01:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by punky

Of course there are adverts that are unsuitable for kids, but I can't see loan adverts being the epitome of it. I would rather explain to a 5 year old why some people need a loan, than to have to explain what tampons are and why only women need them.

That's your problem.

However...

Quote:

What do you honestly think would have a greater effect on a child's ability to learn fiancial responsibility: watching a few loan adverts on TV, or 16 years being raised by a responsible parent?

And anyway, when exactly did a loan become such a terrible thing? It is rather hard to get through life without taking at least one loan.

... well we've done the "responsible parent" bit to death recently, however the point is that this is not just a loan, but one secured on property, ie if you default on those "affordable monthly payments" you *lose* your *house*.

But when kids are constantly bombarded with the message that "if you can't afford something, borrow money", that does nobody any favours.

iron25 · 21-06-2005, 02:04

Who really believes that kids are interested in these loan commercials

and by kids what age group are we talking about. The under twelves couldn't give a toss unless it's advertising some pointless frog ring tone and those older should have more sense not to get into debt. These loan commercials do not get people into debt, people get themselves into debt and have no-one to blame but themselves. Why is it that we as a nation cannot take responsibility for our own actions instead people try to find something or someone to blame their problems on.

Now if it was a petition to stop those morons from buying that crazy frog single then I would sign it. Four bloody weeks at number one, who in their right mind is still buying this pile of crap. Instead of worrying about youngs kids being swayed by secured loans on their homes people should be more worried about why these kids are buying such utter crap like the crazy frog.

punky · 21-06-2005, 02:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham

well we've done the "responsible parent" bit to death recently, however the point is that this is not just a loan, but one secured on property, ie if you default on those "affordable monthly payments" you *lose* your *house*.

But when kids are constantly bombarded with the message that "if you can't afford something, borrow money", that does nobody any favours.

I am sure to a 5 year old the intricatcies of secured vs unsecured loans will be way over his head. He'd have a concept of money before he understands the concept of collateral and secured loans. Kids do subconscienously absorb info, like their father hitting their mothers leading to themselves to be violent, but I can't see a someone taking out a secured loan because he saw a loan advert when he was 5. How old should you be to see a loan companies advert anyway?

Anyway. I can't honestly believe out of all the adverts kids see, that people think loan companies are supposed to be the most dangerous. I agree that there are very unsuitable ads for children, and I would sign a petition for more responsible advert targetting, but there are damn sight worse ones than loan companies (like fast food, violent TV programs/movies/computer games). Come on, lets have some perspective here...

Nidge · 21-06-2005, 05:43

Like Ocean Finance on the TV every spare moment on kids channels?