Is this disrespectful?
Q8Life posted about how the ad above is a national disgrace due to the fact that the currency is torn in half. Does anyone else find it offensive? I personally don’t. [Link]
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Jan 22, 2009
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1. Dave | January 22nd, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Q8Life must be a very sensitive soul.
2. cajie | January 22nd, 2009 at 8:05 pm
I don’t know about the image – but that offer is so very tempting.
Plus access to Zajil wi-fi hotspots.
3. Dave | January 22nd, 2009 at 8:12 pm
How long does the offer last for?
4. myk | January 22nd, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Someone has a bad case of blogger block. :)
5. fahad | January 22nd, 2009 at 8:21 pm
its till 28th feb
6. Talloush | January 22nd, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Q8Life needs a chill pill. I personally recommend Xanax.
7. Stafa | January 22nd, 2009 at 9:04 pm
So because one person think it’s offensive you assume everyone else might too? I think it’s a pretty creative ad in a way…plus the text clearly gives information about what the ad is about, it’s not like they have that image there with no information…
8. Mark | January 22nd, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Xanax + Vodka
9. Abdulla | January 22nd, 2009 at 9:05 pm
nahh its cool :))
10. Mark | January 22nd, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Sfafa: No one is assuming anything
11. Xanaxmya'' | January 22nd, 2009 at 9:11 pm
I feel sorry for Q8Life, because it seems people are not mature enough to offer their “respectful” opinions- great, oh and typical.
12. Daddy's Girl | January 22nd, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Mmmm chinna mako salfa? laysh offensive y3ni?
If it was shown under a shoe for examlple or with a dagger in its midst or something similar i would have thought so… but this?
I think the writings on the kuwaiti bills we find are waaaaaaay much more offensive that this…
13. dj_will | January 22nd, 2009 at 9:55 pm
destroying money is illegal .. i could c where he is coming from .. but its cool attractive ad, i actually wanted to see what was going on and read on.. which is the main objective of an ad
14. teach | January 22nd, 2009 at 10:05 pm
It isn’t your national currency that’s why.
If your king/queen/president/national emblem were to be cut in half, you might think differently?
15. Q8Life | January 22nd, 2009 at 10:13 pm
I am surprised that many comments I received claim me to be narrow minded and immature. So what if I am not a Kuwaiti, but I know that intentionally tearing up any currency (all currencies are legal tenders of their countries) and publishing it, amounts to no less than a public rape. There are certain rules of the Central Bank which definitely say that the currency notes need to handled with utmost grace and not shown any disrespect (by tearing it, scribbling on it, etc).There is no creativity maligning the currency note. We need to respect it fully.
16. Noura | January 22nd, 2009 at 10:26 pm
teach: don`t critisize Mark!! he`ll through one of his hilarious “xanax+vodka” comments your way!
let`s all follow his enlightenment and shred our currency. start with a 20!
17. Mark | January 22nd, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Noura you have issues…
18. mocman | January 22nd, 2009 at 10:30 pm
barter system FTW
19. YUAN | January 22nd, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Actually on my opinion, there’s nothing wrong with that, and besides its an ad, so for me, if that is offensive why would they approved that ad anyway.
And its one way that ads want to achieve, for you to be able to notice them, effective enough isn’t it?
I don’t think it’s a disrespect or offensive. i agree with stafa, that ad is creative enough that grabs your attention.
in ad like that, good or bad publicity still a publicity.
Well as always everyone has their own opinion…
Cheer up guys!
20. Armani Exchanger | January 22nd, 2009 at 10:36 pm
DGF :>
21. dj_will | January 22nd, 2009 at 11:00 pm
don’t groom frogs ?? DGF ??
22. teach | January 22nd, 2009 at 11:01 pm
I print mine.
23. Dave | January 22nd, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Q8Life: “…So what if I am not a Kuwaiti, but I know that intentionally tearing up any currency (all currencies are legal tenders of their countries) and publishing it, amounts to no less than a public rape…We need to respect it fully.”
Dear, oh dear, talk about overstating an argument. It’s a piece of paper used to buy something, nothing more, nothing less. I think you need to get a bit of perspective.
24. Eddy | January 22nd, 2009 at 11:12 pm
offensive??no way..its just advertising…what im more interested in knowing is whether they actually ripped the note, or photo shopped it…hmmm…
25. Komsomol | January 22nd, 2009 at 11:16 pm
I snort cocaine with 20 KD.
This okay or offensive?
26. Noura | January 22nd, 2009 at 11:19 pm
Mark, I don`t have issues. you disagreed with Q8Life and voiced your opinion with light-hearted comments. why can`t I do the same? after all u did ask for ppl`s opinion!
” Does anyone else find it offensive? “
27. Mathai | January 22nd, 2009 at 11:19 pm
Its just an ad ! get a life, get laid. smoke a joint or something.. oh and have a safe weekend ! :)
28. b-relaxed | January 22nd, 2009 at 11:19 pm
WOW , and you guys think that’s a good offer ? 15 KD per month for 1 Mbps is still crazy !
I’d stick with the free internet I’m getting (2 Mbps).
about the ad :
creative ? umm slightly.
offensive/disrespectful ? I don’t think so.
PS fail ? certainly.
29. Cerebral Assassin | January 22nd, 2009 at 11:26 pm
LOL with Mathai!
30. max terry | January 22nd, 2009 at 11:30 pm
yes it is and they should close the company
31. Nawara | January 22nd, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Nora definitely has issues.
32. Patrick | January 22nd, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Noura:
He’s amusing, you’re lame. Thats the difference when you get down to it.
33. A.f | January 23rd, 2009 at 12:13 am
THIS ithis is beyond normal…FOR MANY reasons i think this is GRAPHICALLY designed…i really wanna know how this is offensive…ITS trying to prove a point..I find it offensive putting dead teenagers on TV telling them ur going to hell if u don’t pray now and ur gonna die a nasty hurtful death
34. me7sin | January 23rd, 2009 at 1:37 am
khalisaw il swalif
35. kuniv | January 23rd, 2009 at 2:38 am
Freak
36. Realist | January 23rd, 2009 at 3:52 am
Ok is KEMS any good?
37. Sarah | January 23rd, 2009 at 4:18 am
well i find it disrespectful to arabic language cuz they wrote w elbajy rather than w elbagy. hehe get a life people.
38. come on | January 23rd, 2009 at 7:15 am
come on guys this is def. photoshoped .. you cant judge that they torn it apart just cuz the picture shows that
39. J | January 23rd, 2009 at 8:30 am
Q8life, roll it and smoke it
40. Q8Life | January 23rd, 2009 at 8:40 am
The national currency is a matter of pride & honour (one of the symbols that define a nation’s identity) for any nation and any tampering with it amounts to contempt of it’s honour. The KEMS ad is nothing short of a public rape. Are the Kuwaitis not proud of their currency? No nation will tolerate a public disrespect of its national honor.
The ad idea shows poor creativity on the part of the agency. There was no need to play around with the national currency to highlight the offer details.
What is the reaction of the other ad agency heads? Will any other nation allow such an ad to be released (I am talking of the foreign agencies that operate hear & I think Mark works for one of them).
I am surprised with the comments:
For some it is just a piece of of paper.
For other it can used to snort cocaine.
So much for a nation’s pride. I would like see some Kuwaiti patriots see into this.
41. KTDP | January 23rd, 2009 at 8:52 am
“q8 life needs to get a life.”
I now regret posting such a lame 80’s style comback ….. and am going back to watching teen wolf …..
42. Q80 BOY | January 23rd, 2009 at 9:18 am
wtf kems Fast Teleco all the way !!!
43. Sean | January 23rd, 2009 at 10:56 am
i would have thought tht someone wud have raised the issue already..normally regulations with advertising and such are pretty strict.. ohh well.. ps..i think its a lil on the disrespectful side.. its illegal to destroy money on purpose coz well its an authorised note..
44. moodz | January 23rd, 2009 at 11:08 am
i dunno if you remember in some movies where the lead actor would tear up a $100 bill in two, give one half to some guy and then promising the other half when the “job is done” ?
anyways for me tearing up a 20 KD bill in real life is only bad if it is for throwing away the money while you could have given it to needy people. its like throwing away food
Otherwise we need to mature guys. This ad is clearly conveying the message of “splitting the value of 20KD in two” or “50% discount” and not an attempt to disrepect some legal tender or sacred national symbol
this mentality of constant censorship and calling everything out of the ordinary a “blasphemy” is what makes of this country a mind numbing place to live in
that doesn’t mean i like the ad. i think it could have been more subtle and more creative.
45. Frankom | January 23rd, 2009 at 11:36 am
i received an e-mail from some one called Rajesh who wanted me to publish something about that ad
it could be offensive for some people specially the word
وبالله نستعين
they split it into 2 half
47. dj_will | January 23rd, 2009 at 11:51 am
Patrick says:
Noura:
He’s amusing, you’re lame. Thats the difference when you get down to it.
WHY ARE YOU SUCH A KISS ASS, this is not the first time … let the poor girl speak her mind … and those of that disagree .. don’t disagree with people .. disagree with the main subject .. don’t hate the player, hate the game
48. kuniv | January 23rd, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Yeah i think patrick is gay too…”don’t hate the player, hate the game”
lol that was too much bas yeah pat is still gay
49. gilly | January 23rd, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Well obviously there is an unethical edge to this ad but I wouldn’t go so far and call it ‘offensive’. They’re conveying a message about lower internet prices, not criticising the currency. But still, Kuwait isn’t the most liberal country out there, they should’ve kept that in mind. Maybe fold the money in half rather than tear it? Show a before after of a big pile of money then a smaller one? I dunno…I’ll leave the brainstorming to the real advertisers :P
50. Q8Life | January 23rd, 2009 at 12:29 pm
You cannot let ad agencies play with the national symbols. Tomorrow if the Kuwait Towers are split into two in the ad, will it be OK? There are certain things of national significance that cannot be allowed to tamper or play with. They are matter of national pride.
Moreover, there are certain rules of the Central Bank which say that the currency notes should be treated with utmost respect in all cases. If it is torn it has to mended properly and treated with care.
51. Dave | January 23rd, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Honestly Q8Life, you need to find a hobby.
52. moose | January 23rd, 2009 at 1:21 pm
wat
53. Sfsa78 | January 23rd, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Thats not offensive. What is offensive is teachers by law teach our children in school that they will burn in hell for eternity if they dont prey and believe in superstition.. This is what really is offensive.
54. mhl | January 23rd, 2009 at 2:35 pm
its not like they actaully tore a real 1 kd bill its computerized…
55. TweeZ | January 23rd, 2009 at 3:22 pm
@ Q8life
the money in the ad is not real! It’s been photoshoped!
So what do you want us to do about it ya3ni? start a lynch mob and charge kems with fire torches?!
If you find it offensive, then KEEP IT TO YOURSELF! Because you obviously made yourself look like an idiot!
56. TweeZ | January 23rd, 2009 at 3:24 pm
@ Sfsa78
I agree 100%
57. TweeZ | January 23rd, 2009 at 3:26 pm
You know what really pisses me of? There are Kuwaitis that are so sensitive that their exagerration magnifies the event into something…..WOW!
58. sogeking | January 23rd, 2009 at 3:29 pm
it’s not offensive one bit
because a currency isn’t like flag
money is life dirt
59. mentabolism | January 23rd, 2009 at 3:43 pm
if the rules say you shouldn’t tear up a note, you shouldn’t..
but has this note actually been torn or was it photoshopped..?
60. hilaliya | January 23rd, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Say hello to my little friend!
61. Q80Warlock | January 23rd, 2009 at 4:15 pm
I don’t know the AD looks like it belong to the 20th Century, looks very bad.
62. teach | January 23rd, 2009 at 4:16 pm
I find it offensive that I don’t have more money.
Give me more money.
Give me all your money.
Give me it now.
Money. Me
Give it.
Now.
Money.
Ahem…………………..got to go see my therapist now, and that’s MoRE bleedin’ money.
63. moi | January 23rd, 2009 at 5:56 pm
baaaaaaaaa3
64. ?!? | January 23rd, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Sfsa78
Thats not law…that’s what Allah said in the Holy Qur’an
and please do not talk about islamic issues if u know nuthing!
Q8life
dont waste ur time explaining…
65. zaydoun | January 23rd, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Not offensive… just lame
66. whteva | January 23rd, 2009 at 8:40 pm
yawn! all u guys need a timeout :O
67. Patrick | January 23rd, 2009 at 9:11 pm
@ Dj_will
I was responding to her, not you.
@ Kuniv:
UBER GAYZ!!!01010!01)!
lol. Get a life.
68. Q8Life | January 23rd, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Guys, agreed that it is photosopped. But what is revolting is, the concept.
A currency note is an identity of a nation and hence the pride of its people. Dare they allow anybody to malign it in any form.
I doubt any of the comments are from any Kuwaiti. I would like to hear a Kuwaiti citizen accept the idea.
Anyways, I have written to the Amiri Diwan and the Central bank for their views on the concept of the ad.
Till then, let the debate go on.
Anyways what are the national symbols of a country?
69. Noura | January 23rd, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Patrick
my comment was for mark, not you :)
…. ma n5ali9.
tc.
70. Noura | January 23rd, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Patrick
my comment was for mark, not you :)
…. ma n5ali9.
thnx dj-will.
tc.
71. Patrick | January 23rd, 2009 at 10:05 pm
This doesn’t necessarily have to relate Kuwait. Take any country and its currency or any “identity of a nation”, if anyone gets insulted because a national monument or the countries currency has been split into two, then you have to really lighten up, there are more important things that you should worry about, like extremists.
72. Q8 browser | January 23rd, 2009 at 10:40 pm
lol Q8 life is hilarious
geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet a lllllllllllllllllllife man
73. Mo Hat | January 23rd, 2009 at 10:41 pm
So when our currency was the INDIAN RUPEE that’s the pride of our nation? Q8Life you fail, you’re over-exaggerting a LOT, stop being such a whiny *insert your own idea what this word will be here*
74. YUAN | January 23rd, 2009 at 11:19 pm
why you guys thinking that its an offensive way of advertising?
again, it is being approved, so meaning there’s nothing wrong with that, because if there is, they wouldn’t allow such ad.
and if many believes that it is offensive or disrespect, well most probably, higher authority who’s concern with that consider its not
75. ucf | January 23rd, 2009 at 11:58 pm
“بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم ” on the note is cut in half
dont say that its not offensive
76. lensman | January 24th, 2009 at 12:05 am
Get a life! Q8Life!
77. A. | January 24th, 2009 at 12:26 am
I’d find it offensive if it really was tore in half. But its a ad, and it looks computer generated to make it seem been cut in half. So chill out guys :)
78. M3T4L | January 24th, 2009 at 12:36 am
I think the only offensive thing here is those prices and for such a low-quality low-speed bandwidths :S ppl in the middle east must start to learn how to “demand” much better quality services and for reasonable prices too.
79. Flux | January 24th, 2009 at 1:35 am
@ ucf
it does not say that dipshit!
80. moodz | January 24th, 2009 at 2:18 am
@ ucf: the word “Allah” should never be put on a bank note or any other item that can be cut, stepped on, handled carelessly. so if the note is torn its the mistake of those who ordered to put “bismallah” on it. you cant use it as an excuse to not cut the kuwaiti dinar in two
@Q8life: it doesnt matter if we’re not kuwaiti. I wouldnt mind cutting my own currency in two for some damn good purpose. i wouldnt feel offended. its not the symbol of my country, nor my culture, nor my religion nor anything else. if you go back to history, bank notes or “money” were originally made to make people’s life easier as they had to barter everything. instead of bartering, the government issued a legal tender that promissed the value of the bartered goods. IT IS ONLY A FINANCIAL TOOL nothing else. no symbol. get over it. and open up your mind for God’s sake
81. hohoo | January 24th, 2009 at 2:58 am
mark remove this shit all the comments attack that poor blooger and u sitting and rofl’ing!!! its just too offensive for him.
82. BoBader | January 24th, 2009 at 7:51 am
Well, if our national symbols are a piece of paper or a piece of flag then we really have a problem. People minds are becoming so empty that they think government issued paper and brick and mortar are national symbols.
83. Q8Life | January 24th, 2009 at 8:08 am
Well, it seems there are no intellectuals here. So I am not replying to any of your comments anymore.
I stand by my views. I know there are many supporters for my thoughts, but probably they are enjoying their well deserved weekend holiday. I will restart the debate Sunday morning. So bye for today.
Thanx Mark.
84. bO_s3ayD | January 24th, 2009 at 8:58 am
I dont like and yes I think it’s offensive. I don’t know why you guys are cool with it
85. Randy | January 24th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Who gives a f&%$
86. XV | January 24th, 2009 at 10:07 am
go find something useful to do guys instead of fighting over a legal ad on a paper
87. Dave | January 24th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Q8Life: “Well, it seems there are no intellectuals here. So I am not replying to any of your comments anymore.”
I hope you are including yourself amongst us supposed non-intellectuals because all your posts so far have been the epitome of overblown, thoughtless, tub-thumping ‘reasoning’.
88. HeartBeat | January 24th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Q8Life:
The add was approved by the ministry of “what ever” and that is the vertical small font line on the left hand side of the AD. So your comment about this AD “must have been designed by a foreigner and not a Kuwaiti” is False.
Also your comment about the pride of a currency print is funny! Are we only the proud people? Are you saying that American do not have pride cause they let their flag drew on floor? and what such a pride have done to us?
Nothing but such stupid ideas and stupid pride has kept us and the rest of the Arabic proud countries 1000 light years behind.
Cheer up.
89. Evil Knievel | January 24th, 2009 at 11:58 am
89 comments over a torn KD!?? wow …
back to your question… it used to be (or maybe still is) to temper any bills in Germany. So theoretically it is illegal… but wtf … it’s a good add! :)
90. Kuwait | January 24th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Why don’t people just see it as 2 500fills notes.
… Oh wait.
91. AbdulKareem | January 24th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Omg is this guy for real?
Q8Life, i’m sorry, but you’re completely over exaggerating. Ask yourself, what is money? It’s paper printed in a bank, and that’s about it. Is there anything holy about it? No. Does it belong to you? No. Does ripping it in half affect you or your family? No. Does this advertisement affect anybody negatively (besides the ISP competitors?)? No.
So why on earth do you care. It blows my mind that someone would actually CARE about this, when there is far more important issues to think about and focus on in the world today.
Just sad.
-Kiki
92. caleb | January 24th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
i dont think a country and a people group that rape and beat their maids continuously, have a justice system that defends the perpetrators and put the victims through more hell, a country that functions on wastha and a race based remuneration system, need to be worried about their honour and pride – this dinar thing is shit. worry about things that mattter moron!
93. TanGo | January 24th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
does anybody know The Law governing this matter?
94. golgi apparatus | January 24th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
im guessing q8life would find it offensive if i went back in time and ripped a ruppee
95. teach | January 24th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
”ripped a ruppee”- is that Hindi street talk for ‘fart’ ?
96. Boilermaker | January 25th, 2009 at 9:12 am
wooowa!! stop the hatred ppl! anyways, question: I heard KEMS block lotsa sites.. is that true? Its time for me to renew my internet subscription, any recommendations? :p
97. Desert Girl | January 25th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Not offensive. Ripping the flag in half = offensive.
Xanax + Vodka is the Breakfast of Champions by the way. Don’t knock it till you try it. Kuwait is a much prettier place. :D
98. TanGo | January 25th, 2009 at 9:58 am
it seems KEMS also found the Ad offensive to some, and have changed their add / check AlQabas of today January 25!
99. Andy | January 25th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Q8 Life – Unlike Kuwait, my country – the UK – has a picture of our Queen on every coin and banknote. It used to be an offence to destroy or deface them. However, being rational about these things, the law was repealed in 1981 as it was an empty piece of legislation.
Banknotes are not, “an identity of a nation and hence the pride of its people.” They are simply tokens.
Burning a flag would definitely be seen as insulting as this is truly, “an identity of a nation and hence the pride of its people.”
…Oh, what would your view be to cutting up a credit card with the Kuwait Towers on? That’s what the bank does every day…
100. JoJo | January 25th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Actually by law one can cut the note in 2 halves and claim the value of each half from the Centeral Bank. So there is no offence in what KEMS has done,,, & probably they did not do it actually,,,, just a photoshop job
101. MHz | January 25th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Nice Add…
102. Qutaiba | January 25th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
It is just amazing how we (in the arab world) can take a simple issues and beat itto death with arguments !!!
Mark started the whole thing by just asking if people find it offensive or not !! thats it…. Q8life has the right to state his/her opinion without being attacked for it. Q8life is free to state whatever he/she wants regardless of what me or other think.
The interesting thing in all the counter arguements is that no one tried to respond to the issues raised by Q8life in his/her view on this.
Also it is so typical from some to divert from the original topic and start this Kuwait (kuwaiti) bashing regarding domestic workers, rapes,.. ..etc of all the generlization against every Kuwaiti!!!
No wonder the world is moving forward and we are still where we are.
103. Patrick | January 25th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
“No wonder the world is moving forward and we are still where we are.”
You’re still where you are due to choices by the government, not the people.
104. Mr.pedro | January 25th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
why not just use 1/2 KD ?!
105. MHz | January 25th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
If they used 1/2 KD …. it wouldnt make sense i guess.
The add is tryin to show and stress more on “paying half the price from what you normally pay”
Thats what i understand from the 1KD note being torn in half.
106. Q80 BOY | January 25th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
actually kems changed their ad. It’s now a pic. of a jar of sweets, half is white while the other half is coloured, that is’nt “offensive” is it???
107. fatima | January 25th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Ha. You guys have a lot of time on your hands huh? Its only offensive if you want it to be.
108. Damon Dash | January 26th, 2009 at 3:06 am
Q8Life should Get A Life
sorry if anyone beat me to that lol
109. Baziz | January 26th, 2009 at 6:22 am
I think it is a very creative ad and not offense at all. A picture does send a thousands words, however, KEMS did not mean harm in showing up a teared up 1kd note… They were trying to sell their services by telling people, that money spent on the net is going to be cut in half if you subscribe for a year..
Kudos to the guy who made the ad ,because in my own personal opinion, it is very creative. It might be insulting to others, but again, KEMS just wanted to use the ad to send a message.
I think instead of bitching about an ad with no harm intended.. Q8life should post about the torn,weathered and dirty Kuwaiti flags around buildings and schools. After all, a flag in my own opinion symbolizes the culture, not their money.
110. TweeZ | January 26th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Or the round-a-bout in Salmiya next to AUK that has the pictures of past rulers. That symbolizes the entire history of Kuwait and yet it is in bad shape.
111. raheel | January 26th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
i didn’t even notice the ripped kd.
112. Q8Life | February 1st, 2009 at 11:10 am
Folks this is what the US law says about the currency:
Defacement of currency is a violation of Title 18, Section 333 of the United States Code. Under this provision, currency defacement is generally defined as follows: Whoever mutilates, cuts, disfigures, perforates, unites or cements together, or does any other thing to any bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt issued by any national banking association, Federal Reserve Bank, or Federal Reserve System, with intent to render such item(s) unfit to be reissued, shall be fined not more than $100 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
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