SEX FOR ALL
Posted on Dec 08, 2009
I was walking down 3rd St. on my way to work to get on the 12 bus to head down Harrison one morning. I was waiting at my bus stop with the usual crew of one or two homeless people headed to the Mission District and I was at peace. I looked around and saw the trees lining the street, the cars passing by as commuters headed to work, even the graffiti on the wall added to the texture of the scene. It is always a nice morning because behind the bus stop, the sounds of chidlren come from the gated and secure fence of the Filipino Elementry school. Children playing, bells ringing, school administrators footsteps echoing through the breeze way, all about 20 ft from where the bus picks me up. As I was pacing and stretching my legs I turned and saw this advertisement on the side of the bus stop. Literaly adjacent to the main entrance of the elementry school.
I thought it was awesome. I immediately thought of all those smiling faces heading home from a long day of lessons in science, math, social studies, maybe even a note or two passed about a crush or a secret admirer, then maybe even the talk of going to the Westminster Mall with a group of friends after school to hang out begore homework or dinner. All innocent things. Then I thought, no way! These kids must be way older and mature than that.
But then this ad. Something the students and teachers can all get behind as the reference is clearly a segue into more advanced discussions about sex or innuendo. A blatant conversation starter about teenage sex and waht really goes in the bathrooms or between text messages among the students. Then I thought about writing a letter to the school board to alert them to fact that this Filipino Elementry School must be investigated for a massive underground child pornography ring, run by the principal and marketed by the poorly paid teachers to help make ends meet.
But then I wised up and realized that it wasn't the school. They had no control. This ad just showed up one day. As coutless others, unwanted probably, and that was just the way it was. No say. No choice. It was just there. I don't want to analyze the creative behind this ad and who it was targeted toward, but I can tell you one thing I know is certain. The marketers and creators of this game and the ads have their demographic that says 18 to 34 year old men. I will bet my life that behind close doors underneath a confidential heading there is an asterik that says this,
* 12 to 18 included.
posted by Trevor Hubbard
