Packaged used condoms for Surfrider ad over the top?
January 8th, 2009, 4:34 pm · 4 Comments · posted by Laylan Connelly, staff writer
No matter how it’s packaged, junk on the beach just ain’t pretty. 
When Register reporter Peter Larsen asked whether I had seen Surfrider’s ad campaign, I figured it might feature some cute kids cleaning up trash, or maybe a surfer riding waves … let’s just say it was a bit more shocking.
The Web site shape + colour called the in-your-face campaign “smart. Super smart” and “an actual, honest to goodness guerilla campaign.”
It definitely makes you think.
And what’s smack dab on the top of the list of items shown: A neatly packaged group of sandy condoms found in our own back yard in Newport Beach.
They’ve taken junk found during cleanups, packaged it, and called it “Catch of the Day,” according to the Web site. Not sure who would pay $1.36 for that! The packages are being displayed at farmer’s markets.
See more of the ads - such as a gross pile of cigarrette butts and styrofoam - by clicking here.
I’m just wondering if people will get turned off by it, or if people will like the ad.
I was at newport pier this summer and saw condoms in the sand also.
I think this advertisement is so vulgar that it works. In this day and age it is sometimes necessary to severely shock the American consumer in order to buy what you are selling. I am definitely buying - I won’t ever leave my used condom on the beach again. It may end up being sold for profit - I don’t know about you but if anyone is going to make profit from this - it should be me. HA HA!
I’m glad I’m not the one that had to locate, collect and package that. I think it is not over the top. It is what is on the beach and we are walking on these and laying out on these and building condom sandcastles with these. Would you be happy knowing junior found one of these on the beach and thought it would make a great balloon? After he blows it up he can use a needle he has found in the sand to pop it with! There are some nasty things on the beach and this rips the blinders off of those that refuse to look at this. If you use the beach then this does concern you and yes, it is our responsibility to leave a beach cleaner than we found it.
Death Penalty for littering and for talking and texting on cell phones (and I am against the death penalty but would make exceptions on these issues.)