Scantily Clad women and gun advertisements. acceptable or not?

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I like scantily clad women. I am not going to buy anything 'cause there is one in an ad. I think ads like this assume we(men) are really stupid, unless they are trying to sell Rosie O'Donnell a gun, but I don't think she will fall for it either. :rolleyes:
 
I don't have a problem with bikini babes in resort ads, because that's what is done there. I don't see bikini babes at any of the ranges I go to, and I don't think many women don one to reload either. It makes such ads so overtly sexual that it demeans the product. A well-dressed attractive young woman holding or using the product doesn't demean the product in the same way to me, though yeah, I lose respect for any outfit that feels they need Miss October, how ever clad, to sell their junk...
 
It makes such ads so overtly sexual that it demeans the product.
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Demeans the product? As the father of four daughters, I find such ads demean the women. I don't find such ads "offensive," but they do make me sad.
 
I may be old but I am not dead, and a scantily clad attractive female gets my attention. I would not buy anything based upon this, but it does get me to look at the ad.
 
Idea...

I have scanned the entire thread, and not found a single picture.

Personally, I think there are grades. One company frequently shows members of its (actual, competitive) women's shooting team--is that okay? Others show a nicely (even formally) dressed young woman wearing or holding a gun. Others show a gun held in "full Sabrina" by a "concerned" attractive young thing, with only her head, neck, hand and gun shown.

Perhaps, if you would, you all could start posting pictures from "acceptable", to "borderline" to "offensive" to "really, REALLY offensive" to help me understnad the issue here. Perhaps with an emphasis on "really, REALLY offensive".

:eek:

The above is satire. It is meant to show that where any of us will draw the line likely varies, and any ad featuring a lovely lady (and they are all lovely!) can be thought to be attempting to use the hard-wiring of the male brain, no matter her state of dress or undress. So, sure: write emails, cancel subscriptions when your line is crossed. Otherwise, the line keeps shifting (with hem lines and neck lines shifting in opposite directions, of course).

And, if anyone does just happen to have a shocking, shocking ad they can post for my education, well...

:D
 
The Sarge said:
America has lost her way.
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America never found its way. Puritan ethics are what is keeping hunters in East Coast states from hunting on Sunday. Some of the colonies might have been founded on Puritan ethics, but our Constitution certainly was eschewed Puritan ethics.
 
is that okay?
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As I said before...
Make the picture one of Jesse Abbate or Julie Golob tearing it up on a USPSA field course and you've got my attention. Heck, make it one of "Carley" but put her on the range with a good instructor running her through an El Prez. That's awesome. Put her in a low-cut top and a mini skirt, holding an AK like it's a marital aid she's not too thrilled about trying...yeah, that's not cool.
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It isn't (for me) AT ALL about it being "shocking" or "wrong." I don't really have morals that are shocked by sexuality of nearly any flavor, and don't particularly feel my kids need to be sheltered from the form of the human body. (Heck, the older ones each attended the births of their younger siblings -- so...there are few mysteries in that realm.)

And it will be a cold day in Sheol before I side with any movement to pass a law against ... well, pretty much anything.

My objections are more of a matter of context and appropriateness. Not Victorian mock-puritanism revival mores against "inappropriate" behavior, but the realistic relationship between the items appearing in the ad.

Jessie Abbate is very attractive. She shoots very, very well. Show her running her M&P in a competition or training exercise, and that engages me in the scene. It make sense. It tells a story that has some relation to what I might need to know about the gun, or what I might do with it.

Or do a Khar arms ad, with a woman in a nightgown, barricading in her bedroom, with 911 on the line, preparing to defend herself with her weapon. Great! There's the gun in its setting.

Put some model in a bikini, holding a pistol and I'm affronted by a nonsensical, context-less scene. Might as well have a beautiful Colt 1911 with that deep gorgeous bluing, sitting carefully laid out on a platter of fried chicken! Oooooh YUMMMY, I like chicken!

It is mindless, stupid. It is a sorry attempt to draw my attention in a cheap way that isn't pertinent to the subject of the ad. It is jarring, not attracting. And it is a clear message of what is expected of the gun buying public. Like a side-show barker telling the audience, "Ok, so I'm going to pull a little slight of hand here, and you're going to be fooled. And you'll buy my product because you're stupid rubes, easily led."

Trick my eye -- draw me, suck me in and I'll stand there like a cow letting it happen. "Hey...purty gurl...dur, dur!" :rolleyes:
 
I also can't recall seeing any gun ads with, what I would consider, 'scantily clad' women, & the gun ads that I have seen that feature women have been quite nicely done. I especially like the ones (EAA, KelTec?) that have a nicely dressed asian woman with the caption "Skinny is Sexy".....but then again I like asian women!! To be honest, I'm more put-off with the sex-enhancement, blue pill, pajamagram, advertisements at the back of a gun magazine than I am with an actual gun-related ad in gun magazine that happens to feature a nice looking female.
 
There is a way to place good looking women with firearms to garner attention without being sexist. I have this calendar above the computer I am typing this missive on, and my wife looked at all the months with me - tasteful artwork. Not a very useful calendar, (all the pictures are the same size as the cover art, and one lonely strip of numbers below for the days of the month. :) ), but very, very good artwork all the way through.

calender.gif

Personally I don't like the bikini models with handguns approach. Why? Because unless the scene is self defense at the beach, the bikini wearing model has absolutely nothing to do with a firearm.
Do I like scantily clad women? Trick question, is this with or without my wife watching?
But seriously, drape your bikini models all over the fancy cars at the car shows, obvious connection there, but gun ads, no. Call me a prude if you wish.
 
I like looking at scantily clad women.
I like looking at guns.
I like looking at the two together.

BUT. I don't like it when a company tries to advertise to me and uses that type of approach. I don't care if it's for guns, cars, stereo gear or whatever. The reason is that they are blatantly saying that my buying decision would be influenced at some level. They're basically saying "Hey stupid: buy our stuff."

So I try not to reward those vendors that use those tactics.
Yeah I know. It probably won't make any difference.
 
I have no problem with being "puritanical" or "prudish". We could all stand to be more puritanical and prudish. ;)
 
I like skin as much as the next person, but I detest being pandered to. I'm more than just a <deleted> wired to a wallet.
 
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If the sexy ads get your attention - even if for a second, then they have done their job to peak your interest and read the remainder of the ad. It can also be a form of "branding". Kahr, for the longest time, had the same tall, thin lady wearing some nice, but sexy dresses while holding the Kahr. You might not remember which gun she was holding, but most would remember her - no different than Mr. Whipple and Charmin - all they want to do is make sure you remember their name next time you are browsing your LGS.

Personally, I couldn't care less if they are clothed or naked, I do more homework on a gun before I buy it
 
Perhaps, if you would, you all could start posting pictures from "acceptable", to "borderline" to "offensive" to "really, REALLY offensive" to help me understnad the issue here. Perhaps with an emphasis on "really, REALLY offensive".
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Yes. Post up those pics for those of us who have given up on gun magazines! Hard to pass judgement not having seen the pics.

Personally, I get offended by photos of extra serrations and rails, and the hanging of all sorts of foul implements from a perfectly good 1911.:cool:
 
[THR doesn't do "cheescake" and "Babes with Guns." We can comment about specific advertising campaigns, but keep it on the High Road.]
 
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