Condoms & Kangaroos

Yet another interesting week here in Swedish society. The big news from the north comes from Västtrafik (Gothenburg transit operator) who removed a 'potentially offensive' print ad from their transit displays. The ad featured a young man (with another young man in the background) with the words 'Vill du se oss sätta på en kondom?' printed across the top. The translation: 'Do you want to see us put on a condom?' Underneath the print ad in smaller letters was an invitation to text message a code through your mobile phone to a server in which you would be returned a 'tongue in cheek demonstration of how to put on a condom'. Now, here is where I started thinking, what exactly was the 'potentially offensive' part of the ad? Doesn't the mainstream media, politicians, countless non-governmental agencies, national boards of health, your family doctor, your future partners, your 5th grade human growth and development teacher, your parents and rap sensation 50 Cent all preach safe sex and the use of such contraception? It seems like that's not the reason why the ad was offensive.... Ok, so is it the fact that the ad may portray homosexual relationships as safe and responsible instead of the gin fueled cocaine snorting orgies that 52.3% of California residents voted as their perceived reality when deciding on prop 8? It seems like this is unlikely as well. We live in an era where technology creates virtual relationships with no meaning, in an era where realities are twisted on Wisteria Lane and than streamed through your Tivo during prime time, in an era where the odds of a couple getting married (straight or gay) and NOT getting divorced are less than half, in an era where a vice presidential candidate can force a shot gun wedding in the national limelight to appease her religious neophyte following by demonstrating 'responsibility' against all odds, in an era where we still continue to exaggerate the differences between one another despite the continual rhetoric about equality it seems like if we each took a quick gut check we'd come to the conclusion that we should stay the hell out of each others bedrooms (and lives) and shouldn't let a silly thing like who's sleeping with who bother us. So, if homosexuality isn't the offensive part than that leaves only one possibility....cell phones! That's it...this may be our culprit. The use of the mobile to solicit the video makes the advertisement interactive. While that may sound brilliant it generates yet one more opportunity to use this intrusive devise that already consumes more time than reading in most people's lives. Funny thing is that I say that on the nose of a large pitch today as the financial arm of a mobile platform development start up that we're trying to launch from within our program. I guess hypocrisy is an unavoidable reality to progress. Oh, and lastly, the interactive display would be way cooler if it used QR codes to access the video. SMS is so 2007.

Moving on to a more uplifting topic.... Walter, the 8 month old orphan kangaroo living in Ystad had a chance this week to hop around and play in the snow. His development is moving along nicely and with any luck he'll soon be healthy enough to move on to a new life in the zoo with some of his fellow 'mates'. Walter, what an adorable name for a joey, was orphaned when his mother suddenly died of a heart failure. It's reported that Walter is eager to get on to his new life with his fellow marsupials, so much so that he even scratches at the door of his keepers home in an attempt to get closer to those he now can call friends (mates). Good luck Walter!