The ASA Definitely Isn’t On The Buses

March 12, 2009

god-1.jpg

Towards the end of last year an advert by the British Humanist Association appeared on London buses proclaiming that “There probably isn’t a God.” The ad enjoined viewers to stop worrying about the divine and start enjoying their lives.

In response, a trinity of Christian groups arranged for London’s buses to carry ads with a different message. One, by the Christian Party, declared that “There definitely is a God. So join the Christian Party and enjoy your life.” It proved to be controversial, attracting 1,045 complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority, making it the fourth most complained about advert since the ASA’s records began.

But as with the atheist ad – also much complained about – the ASA says it has no remit to investigate. Electioneering material, for such is what the ads have been designated, falls outside the ASA’s Codes of Practice.

Which is either another way of saying that some things are sacred or, come what may, that you should never talk about religion.

 

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Supreme Court on Twitter

February 6, 2012

Something remarkable happened today. Yes, the Supreme Court launched its Twitter feed. It even has a Twitter policy, one of caveats, disclaimers and little by way of illumination but regardless: who would have thought that the successor body to the House of Lords would stoop to engage with the world of tweets, hashtags and retweets?

We look forward to the day when court business will be conducted via Twitter. Meantime, check out this link for an excellent blog on the Supreme Court.

Not so right said Fred

February 2, 2012
fred hat

So Farewell, then, Sir Fred Goodwin.

Now you are just Fred.

Not Right Said Fred, but plain Fred.

The Forfeiture Committee did for you.

No one had heard of it before,

But Dave said it had to act, and it did.

Trouble is that no one knows what to think.

Is it ‘Alas, poor Fred‘,

Or ‘Hurray! Sir Fred is dead!’?

We don’t know.

Do you?

By A. Mob, aged 1,378 and a half.

London Goes AWOL

January 31, 2012
CNN

STOP PRESS:

Fed up with being stuck on the Thames in south-east England, London yesterday decided to move. In a dramatic gesture which augurs ill for the Olympics, the city upped sticks and relocated to East Anglia.

Lawyers were not consulted about the move, and the city’s precise motivation remains unclear. However, financiers fear that London’s decision is a sign that it wishes to downsize. Moreover, a source from London said: “We no longer want to be Britain’s seat of power. If the Scots can deregulate, why can’t we? East Anglia is a nice place where nothing happens. It’s time for a quiet life. Please respect our right to privacy.”

Elsewhere, Birmingham did not do anything, but Manchester was seen to be packing its bags. “There’s an opportunity for us,” said Manchester. “We can become London.”

East Anglia said: “We don’t mind. It’ll be refreshing to be associated with something other than fens and flatness.”

A cartologist at CNN, which broke the extraordinary news, was later fired.