The Power of Social Media in Action
I noticed some Twitter activity today relating to a sexually provocative T-shirt retailed through the clothing chain Next.
I’ll hand over at this point to The Vicar’s Wife for the outcome:
The other thing this week (which I bizarrely forgot to mention earlier) was a short-lived campaign online to get Next to withdraw from sale a grim t-shirt showing a woman in a sexually provocative pose. Alongside the picture of the woman were extracts from a book which included a bible verse, taken from The Message. So not only was it demeaning women but there were also possible copyright issues about the bible text used. This is not what I expect from Next, where I bought some socks for the Joker (aged 9) only this morning.
The campaign was short-lived because Next withdrew the t-shirt from sale in the space of an afternoon. People were alerted to the issue through a couple of blogposts, Twitter and Facebook. They then contacted Next through Twitter, Facebook, email and by telephone. And Next responded swiftly.
It’s always worth complaining.
Wow, talk about a swift resolution and kudos to Next for their prompt response.
Tags: Internet & Technology
September 7th, 2012 at 9:22 pm
In hoc signo vinces†
“So not only was it demeaning women but there were also possible copyright issues about the bible text used.”
That would be an interesting copyright dispute.
Is this retrograde christian thinking or islamic influence on western political and religious thinking – the desexulisation of western societies in that the female form is being removed from the public space?
September 8th, 2012 at 11:13 am
An interesting little campaign – demonstrating the power of social media. Yet what I think is rather sad about so many of these Christian led petitions and lobbying is that there tends to be a bias to issues linked with sex and sexuality. Well I freely admit that sexual immorality is something that comes in for sanction in both the Old and New Testament, yet the things that really seem to come in for opprobrium are the ill treatment and oppression of foreigners residing in the land, political corruption, denying material benefit and justice to widows and orphans (Exodus 22:21, Psalm 94, Malachi 3:5, Mark 12: 4 etc.). While I am sure there are Christians who lobby or protest on such issues, it is rather pathetic that nothing seems to whip up a frenzy of Christian led petitions and lobbying like a sex or sexuality related issue!
I’ve talked elsewhere of the need for ‘seamless integrity’ and I am afraid this over interest and action in matters related to sex and sexuality is an example of where this is lacking. I would also suggest that just harping on about salacious issues does mar the Christian Gospel because non- or nominal Christians see it for what it is: an unhealthy interest in matters below the waist!