Durex’s less than sexy new ad campaign

I was browsing around the internet looking for interesting sex-related tidbits, when I came across this post about Durex’s new ad campaign on the Sexist.  If the people in these ads are made of the thoughts that construct their bodies, I have to say this is some of the weirdest, least sexy advertising I’ve seen in a while.  I haven’t been to marketing school, but I’m pretty willing to guess that no one suggests you use the phrase “fatal error” repeatedly to sell your product.  One of the commenters on the Sexist very astutely suggested that perhaps the man had some sort of STI and was preventing transmission through use of a condom, thus allowing the woman to happily deliver a blow job.  Once I considered that, it lessened my dislike for this ad slightly, but overall it’s still highly problematic.

Ideally, if you’re going to have sex with someone, you would both be enjoying yourself.  If you’re about to make a “fatal error”, please, please, just masturbate instead.  Sometimes it’s just not worth it!

In this second ad, the woman is experiencing orgasm, but also her mind reads “paralyzed, confused”.  The man in the ad is primarily just experiencing muscle tension.  Again, not fun, not worth it.

For me the only argument that works to support these ads is this: if you’re going to have terrible sex that leaves you numb, confused, paralyzed, or tense, at least you can walk away without getting pregnant or contracting an STI. Kind of a depressing bright side if you ask me.