In the comments section of the PilotOnline post I linked to yesterday about the new tourism slogan, I noticed that somebody said the ad campaign was using a gang symbol in it. Seems that poster was dead on. PilotOnline has an article about it:
The gesture, a heart fashioned out of both thumbs and index fingers, is also one of the many hand signs associated with the Gangster Disciples, according to several Web sites. The FBI Web site classifies the Gangster Disciples as “one of the most violent of four African-American gangs that hang out on the south side of Chicago.”
You’d think that the Department of Tourism would have vetted this ad before releasing it for stuff like that, right?
Tourism officials were made aware of the possible conflict earlier in the week, before hundreds of T-shirts and bumper stickers were handed out Wednesday at Neptune Park in Virginia Beach. At that time, officials thought the gang was “a small group confined to South Carolina” and went ahead with the launch, Bailey said.
Come on – they knew about the gang-related stuff and didn’t look into it before they handed the stuff out?
“We are taking this very seriously, and we’re trying to figure out the best way to handle this,” Bailey said.
Um, yeah. Kinda like closing the barn door after the horse is already out. I think you should ask for some of that $400K back.
EDIT: The story linked to above has been updated to say that the ad campaign will be “altered.” The latest statement from Alisa Bailey:
Out of respect to those who have concerns about the use of this symbol, we will adjust the creative images in our ad campaign to eliminate any further misinterpretation of the heart/hand symbol.”
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
There was a New York City ad campaign that featured a slogan that essentially meant, “Read books, receive felatio.” It ran on the side of buses for six weeks before irate parents started calling in and explained what the slang behind the slogan actually meant.
Bloomberg didn’t believe it could be true, so he took a copy of an ad down to the mail room to ask the interns what they thought. When they all started smirking, he realized he’d been had by his publicity company.
It kinda reminds me of what happened with McDonald’s about two or three years ago. Basically, someone in the ad department decided that, for their double cheeseburgers ads, the slogan “I’d Hit It” would be appropriate.
Never mind the fact that that phrase is normally only used to imply sexual desires. Research is always crucial in ad copy.
Gangster Disciples is actually a gang I haven’t read anything about. I read your headline and clicked on the image before reading on, and from seeing just THAT thought, “gee this looks like its trying to be gangsta.” The hand symbol, the attitude, and even the vines around “Virgina is for lovers” look kinda coastal urban.
While they’re at it, can we get that guy to do a Crip Walk? That would be funny.
Jokes aside, this sounds like a pretty serious screwup. What were they thinking?
Is there a video version of that poster? And is the guy yelling “West siiiide!”?
I have no problem with the hand symbol for their new slogan. So we are going to let a negative (the ‘gangsters’) ruin a positive. Let the bad guys ruin it for the good?! ‘Live Passionately’ is a MUCH better slogan than VA is for Lovers. I’ve always disliked it since it strictly implies only one thing…sex! At least this way all ages and all creative and historical passions are included. I believe the heart symbol –whether created by hand or not– has always had a positive attached to it before this so-called gang used the symbol and turned it into a negative. Only a fool would believe that it would ”send the wrong message”. And if young people DID believe that….then I believe we parents are not doing our job and are letting the culture raise them. Keep the hand symbol in the ad. It’s the best ad yet!
“‘Live Passionately’ is a MUCH better slogan than VA is for Lovers. I’ve always disliked it since it strictly implies only one thing…sex!”
Um, no. ‘Lovers’ CAN refer to sex and does to many people, but in no way strictly implies it. If it did, a hell of a lot of classic pop would not be anywhere near as innocent as it pretends to be. Lovers used to go on picnics and walks on the beach, share a malt at the burger joint and sorts of sweet things. I saw we should keep lovers and take it back from all these people with sex on the brain. You know, like Bob Marshall. 😉
‘Live Passionately’ can also be read as live recklessly, do drugs, drive fast, have sex (make PASSION anyone?). The phrase ‘Live fast, die young’ comes to mind. I fail to see the improvement especially with this ad’s tone.
J., you must be the summer intern that actually introduced that hand gesture into the campaign. How did you keep a straight face that whole time? I congratulate you for extraordinary achievement in subversiveness . . .
To ‘Cory’, The term “Lovers” fails to include all persons. Virginia is not just a ‘honeymoon, sweetheartsy getaway’…although it can be for some.
“Make PASSION” ??? What era are you from, anyway? I suppose they are trying to appeal to a younger generation..They are referring to a love of our state and and all it has to offer: It’s history, the arts, recreation, beaches, and the like. The ad campaign was intended for people who exercise their brain power. (I’m sure it wasn’t meant to say, “Come to Virginia and live fast, die young!” Puh-lease! Get a grip!)
And, to MB, No, actually I am a young mom of three wonderful children (16, 12, and 7) whose minds are not poisoned by society thanks to the good parenting of myself and my husband. I have lived live here in Virginia all my life and am very proud of my state and the new slogan you and others are blaspheming.
And another thought…if some well-known, violent gang decided to use the ‘thumbs up’ symbol….Would people have to just quit that too so as not to offend a few? Hmmm…Where IS this country headed, anyway?
The wrong direction. Thanks for the discussion. 🙂
“Blaspheming”?
Goodness.
Yes. Here’s your definition:
blas·pheme
Pronunciation: blas-‘fEm, ‘blas-”
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): blas·phemed; blas·phem·ing
Etymology: Middle English blasfemen, from Late Latin blasphemare — more at BLAME
transitive verb
1 : to speak of or address with irreverence
2 : REVILE, ABUSE
intransitive verb : to utter blasphemy
I believe the second definition is the correct one for the use of this word here. Revile. Sorry to confuse you. 🙂
“The term “Lovers” fails to include all persons. Virginia is not just a ‘honeymoon, sweetheartsy getaway’…although it can be for some.”
True, though you changed your argument.
“Make PASSION” ??? What era are you from, anyway?”
Grand Theft Auto (you know, what all those crazy young kids have been playing lately) has an in-game romance radio talk show called Lonely Hearts that has some steamy things to say about putting more passion into your life.
Oh and I’m 22, born and raised in Virginia and my grip is quite firm.
I think you missed my point, which was simply that ‘passion’ can be twisted around to mean sex just as easily as ‘lovers.’ The original slogan refers to how great a place Virginia is to start a family. Seeing as we continue to be rated as such, I’m quite happy with it staying.
(Though to briefly amuse your assumption… the heart symbol, which looks nothing like a human heart, has been suggested by some to have originally represented the spread open vulva. So for those into exercising their brain power I’m not sure, the ‘have passion’ argument would be THAT crazy.)
“And another thought…if some well-known, violent gang decided to use the ‘thumbs up’ symbol….Would people have to just quit that too so as not to offend a few?
I think you are making a little bit of a leap here from people’s personal freedoms of expression and what is appropriate for state government iconography at a given time. I’m almost left to wonder if we would still be having this conversation if we were in Germany and the symbol of issue was the swastika. Though in fairness, the Asian swastikas that are symbols for well being were fairly altered (they’re flipped the other way among other smaller details) to form the Nazi swastika. They can be told apart by reasonable informed persons.
The heart symbol, like the swastika, can be formed in many different ways. Sitting here I’ve thought up five other ways to make hearts with my hands. The form that the ad shows is a very specific version which at this time is related to a violent gang. It is not a matter of the add showing any heart; it is that they are showing the clearly recognized version used by the gang. Major gang activity from out of state being gradually on the rise in Virginia, it is simply in poor taste.
Symbols change all the time and from place to place. I laughed my butt off watching the contestants on America’s Got Talent over the show this go around. They would hold up their hands in front of the camera, when they were vote #2 to be called in that night, and give a reversed hippie peace symbol to say ‘vote for me, number two.’ In the UK, a reversed peace symbol means “up yours.” A thumbs up, by the way, is also an insult meaning “up yours” in many countries and equal to giving someone the finger. Does that mean we stop using the thumbs up? No. But if the president went to Greece and gave one to a crowd during a speech, he’d look like an idiot.
Context is everything. I appreciate your feelings about letting one group call dibs on the meaning of a major symbol, but I think when it is a matter of a clear variation, we can make calls against stuff like this. It’s the difference between being outraged over using one of the emblems of the KKK and the crucifix in all its forms. That’s a bad example when talking politics, but what I’m trying to say is that I’m fine with the heart symbol, just not THAT heart symbol.
Any place this president goes and gives a speech proves once again proves that he is an idiot!
Uh, thanks, J. I don’t know what I’d do without your helpful definitions and worldy wisdom.
What’s that saying? Something like ‘Don’t argue with a fool because people might not be able to tell the difference”….? I seemed to have stated an opinion around a few here. It’s refreshing to know that many people I have spoken with after this ”discussion” don’t agree with changing it and you seem to be in the minority.
This is all a game about being ”politically correct”. Since you are in your early twenties….your responses seem to fit the stereotype for your age. But don’t worry…you’ll eventually grow out of it! Most of us do. 🙂
Have a good one!
To MB: You are so welcome! Glad I could help! 🙂