Where's your sense of humour?
21 September 2009
Keep Britain Tidy today thanked the Plain English Campaign for highlighting one of our most successful anti-litter posters.
Even if it is 10 years old!
Our youth litter campaign of 2000 has only just come to the attention of the Campaign who say they are "Offended, disappointed and disgusted" by our posters.
Apparently our use of phrases like 'Trim my bush" and "See the size of our Fanny's" did not go down well with the custodians of the English language.
Keep Britain Tidy spokesman Dickie Felton said: "For half a century we have used innovative posters and cheeky advertising campaigns to target litter louts.
"The real thing to be offended about is the fact that 2.2m bits of litter get dropped every day.
"Litter looks appalling and costs the taxpayer more than £660m a year to clean up.
"The posters in question are our most popular, with many hundreds getting shipped nationwide to people who have a sense of humour and want to tackle litter too."
The attention drawn to the posters in question by The Plain English Campaign has led to even more orders today and lots of positive emails about Keep Britain Tidy.
Dickie Felton added: "Maybe the Plain English Campaign is offended by my name - 'Dickie'. Should I revert to Richard instead?
"Anyway this couldn't come at a better time for us as we have launched the Big Tidy Up which is seeing thousands of litter picks take place nationwide. Now that is a cause really worth getting excited and hot under the collar about."
Some comments from our supporters on Twitter and Facebook today:
"Quality ad. Far more likely to get the youth's attention than anything from the conservative Plain English people!
windsofchange8@KeepBritainTidy: "I think its a great poster. Can't see a problem!"
BoredomBusters@KeepBritainTidy "Very funny poster, I love it!"
Margaret Stoll: "It's one of those 'double entendre' type jokes, isn't it? Like Mrs Whatsit's plaintive cry 'Has anyone seen my pussy? Jokes help to fix the message in the mind so it has a practical purpose. I like it, and wouldn't be upset by it.
Julie Or Dawn Harris: "Couldn't agree with you more Margaret! Most human beings are naturally gifted with a sense of humour! Personaly I think it's one of man's finest survival skills. So lets live in a natural world not a sanitised one! Now clean is good so Keep Britain Tidy."
Anthony Watson: "Keep Britain Tidy also produced a number of other posters around this time of a similar nature which I'm sure others would welcome sight of.
The posters are humorous and are designed to impact on the late teens upwards audience along with your other later productions such as "Whilst you're down there. Clearly there are places these posters wouldn't be placed, but the objective its to attract people's attention and get the message across in a way people will remember.
Sharron Lewis-Shores: "If it gets the point across, then I am all for it...also have you seen the " while you're down there " posters, very funny."
Heather Salisbury: "It's funny - what is wrong with people? We are too scared to laugh these days and it's not offensive at all. This country is mad. We don't fine those who drop litter and cant laugh at postcard humour. Daft."
Rach Roberts: "Pub menu's are replacing spotted dick with spotted richard!! thats what the world is coming too! I say get a grip."
Ann Peate: "I agree, it's about time the country came to it senses and people started being allowed to think for themselves - madness!"