Now, I should admit up front that I hate large scale marketing.  The manipulative form that it sometimes takes does not sit easily with me, and I despise the views that some marketeers have for their target audiences.  But a recent advert by a large, co-operative chain of stores was a real surprise to me and made me laugh.  This particular store really should have known better.  You can see the ad here.

I have to admit to frequenting this particular store from time to time, and to liking some of the music of Billy Joel.  But listen carefully to the words, and you wonder if the person behind this particular advert wasn't either having a very bad day, or laughing behind the safety of his/her anonymity and having a real dig at women who may frequent this store.  You can read the lyrics in full here, but certain phrases do jump out at you.

"she can ruin your faith with her casual lies"

"she steals like a thief"

"She'll carelessly cut you and laugh while you're bleeding"

(Lyrics - Billy Joel)

Admittedly those lines are taken out of context, and you could interpret the lyrics as a whole to mean that he loved this particular woman despite all her (rather awful) faults.

I wonder if that is really how this store sees their female customers - as liars, thieves and cruel to boot!