Vancouver’s Science World Exhibit Organisers Ban 2 Ad Campaigns Deemed Too Sexy for Public Eye

Organisers of the Vancouver Science World Exhibit banned two print ads that they deemed too sexy for public exhibition, specifically in outdoor space such as bus shelters. The decision what to place in such locations is in the hands of municipalities and display companies.

If the titles of the ads are indicator, they may seem so teasing, and the images that accompany them appear to be suggestive of sex, but may actually contain double meaning.

The first ad, titled Ejaculation Can Ward Off Colds, is accompanied by a picture of a box of used tissues with the suggestion that someone use it to blow phlegm or mucus on it ... or other creamy bodily fluids normally associated with the term ejaculation.

The second ad has the title Orgasms Can Kill Pain, with two pair of entwined legs - one female and the other male - but their lower backs are covered with a cloth and the woman's legs are in a cast.

The third ad is a video with the titled Orgasms/Pain which has actually been posted in YouTube as seen below.

Rob Tarry of the marketing group Rethink pointed out that companies like where he works has the task of getting their ads noticed through their risky ideas which would result in being talked about. 'If people end up walking around thinking about science, we've done our job," he was quoted by The Province.

Past attendance at the Science World, which runs until Labour Day, is strong.

In rejecting some of the risky ads, Science World President and Chief Executive Officer Bryan Tisdall explained that while the exhibit wants to explain the scientific basis of sexuality, some visitors may be uncomfortable with the idea.

"We're sometimes on that picket fence between bland and outrageous ... We felt we could do this without being too far out there. We brought this exhibit in after a lot of thought and after concluding it was the responsible thing to do," he said.

To decide what could be shown or not, there is an advisory committee that decides, and in this case, the panel put its foot down on the two ads.