So I went over to Savage Love today to catch up on my perv reading and I saw an ad that sucked.
The ad was so sucktastic and generally offensive to me and I realize that by posting it here, I'm just giving them more free advertising but if you're like me, you're too lazy to click through to where I saw the ad in the first place, so here it is:
So I saw that and I thought "Oh look, some kind of dating service for shallow douchebags! And it's being advertised using the keen stereotype of fat women lying in their online personal ads in order to entrap helpless young Adonises!"
Because shallow douchebags intrigue me, I clicked through to Tigits.com to see what it was all about. It turns out that Tigits is a service that allows you to have a second, fully functional phone number - one that you can give out to first dates or business contacts, whoever - so that you can keep your "real" number private if you need to.
Great idea, right? Good for keeping your real contact info safe, good for avoiding crazy stalkers - probably something that women would enjoy.
So why does their advertising make the folks at Tigits sound like a bunch of shit slices?
I had to know. So I send them this note.
Dear Tigits,
I love the idea of Tigits and think that it would be a fantastic service for my friends who are on and off the online dating. But after seeing your really offensive banner ad on NOWToronto.com, I wouldn't recommend Tigits to anyone.
I get the idea of being able to answer calls from people you're interested in and avoid calls from people you're not keen on - but having your ad be a joke about avoiding an angry, lying fat woman is just kind of tired and also, ass-tastic.
I guess if your target audience is shallow male douchebags, then that's a total win. But on your website, it seems like the product is also meant to appeal to women...some of whom might not be 36-24-36.
Anyway...just thought I'd offer a little "possible customer" feedback. Thanks!
best,
Roro
In all fairness, when Katr went to track down a version of this ad so that I could angrily embed it, she also found a version that's offensive to gentlemen. Equal opportunity douchebaggery! So, you know, kudos to Tigits.
I don't know if I'll get any response from Tigits - the only way to contact them was through their "Support" form - but after a disappointing federal election on Monday night, where I felt impotent and frustrated, it was somewhat satisfying to send an angry note to some lazy marketers. Don't judge - we all seek solace where we can.
