Take a look at this recent advertisement from North Dakota's tourism board. Isn't it so sick? What kind of pervert thought this was a good idea, right? Personally, when I see this ad, it stirs up all kinds of uncomfortable sexual feelings inside of me, and when my sexual feelings are stirred up--yeah buddy--you better look out. Farmers lock up your daughters, 'cause someone's gonna get pregnant! See, I just can't control myself when bombarded with disgusting sexual images like this. Young men flirting with a trio of young women enjoying a night out in Fargo? Gross! It's akin to blasphemy, I tells ya!Obviously, I'm being extra moronic to make a point. There is nothing wrong with this ad beside the fact that its for a place I have little interest in spending any amount of time in whatsoever. I didn't even know North Dakota had a tourism board! Incidentally, why does North Dakota have a tourism board?
Again, I kid (sorta). North Dakota's Tourism Division released a gaggle of tourism ads this week, but only this one caused an uproar. Seriously, an uproar:
The advertisement was meant to showcase North Dakota's nightlife: Two young men and three women flirt through the window of a downtown Fargo motel bar. Printed next to them is the message: "Drinks, dinner, decisions. Arrive a guest. Leave a legend."
It was meant to be "a little flirty, a little fun," said Pat Finken, president of Odney Advertising, the agency that created the ad.
Instead, some found it a tawdry come-on, prompting the state's tourism division to yank it from its Facebook page late Thursday after it drew dozens of complaints and comments.
One commenter called the ad "sickening," while another speculated about what the people in the photo needed to do to "leave a legend."
"Sickening?" What about the ad is "sickening?" The only sickening thing about this whole situation is the idea that people would actually want to spend their vacation in North Dakota.
(Hold on. I got one more.)
As far as what one is required to do to leave North Dakota "a legend?" I think not committing suicide is a good start. (BURN!!!)
I honestly can't figure out the hoopla surrounding this ad. Are the citizens of North Dakota so hopelessly repressed that the mere suggestion that young people sometimes find one other sexually appealing incites them to fits of confused anger? For Pete's sake, the women in this ad aren't even dressed provocatively. I'd get it (a little) if the women were gussied up in stripper gear and the men were displaying their boners proudly through their unzipped flies, but they're not. This is simply a snapshot of people having fun on a Saturday night despite the fact that they are stuck in North Dakota.
