THE Border has backed a controversial sign advertising treatment for erectile dysfunction, with two thirds of online respondents claiming they don't find it offensive.
More than 66 per cent of the 75 people who have voted in The Border Mail's web poll so far supported the “Men, ‘do it’ longer!” poster.
The sign, at the corner of Young and Hume streets, was put up on Tuesday to replace an advertisement for Virgin Blue’s air services.
The “Men, ‘do it’ longer!...
Cast your vote in the poll on the right
The billboard is for the Advanced Medical Institute, a company renowned for its broadcast and press advertising for impotence treatment.
A NSW Roads and Traffic Authority spokeswoman said the agency had tried to order the owners of the billboard, Sydney-based company Sports and Outdoor Media, to take the sign down after hearing of community concern.
But the land it is on, at the intersection previously known as “roll-over corner”, is privately owned.
Members of the public yesterday expressed mixed reactions.
“That sign sticks right out,” Baranduda father-of-three Greg Lambe said.
“As soon as we came around the corner — bang, there it was.
“As an adult, it doesn’t bother me, but when you’ve got a young family, the kids ask questions.
“They don’t need to know about things like that.”
Cornishtown nurse Sue Wallace agreed.
“I think they could be more discreet — there’s a time and a place for these sorts of things,” she said.
But Barnawartha’s Adam McDougall thought the advertisement’s phrasing was subtle.
“The wording doesn’t tell you anything — I don’t think kids would understand it,” he said.
Advanced Medical Institute’s chief executive Jack Vaisman defended the advertisement, one of 100 such billboards across Australia.
The new slogan replaced the company’s “Want longer lasting sex?” campaign after the Advertising Standards Bureau deemed it offensive.
“The public awareness generated by our advertising allows men to feel less isolated, embarrassed and ashamed of any sexual health problem they may be suffering,” Mr Vaisman said.
“It can motivate them to pick up the phone and seek help.
“We’re not out to offend anyone.
“We need to be direct in our advertising because we’ve found men don’t respond to the message otherwise.”