Removing any last vestige of hope for disillusioned children, the South African Advertising Standards Authority has banned an advertisement for the country’s Post Office that gave children an address to write to Santa Claus with their Christmas wishes. In a ruling this week the Authority said the Post Office was selfishly “profiting from the natural credulity of children” rather then providing a bit of uplifting hope.
“It creates the impression, in the mind of the credulous child, that by writing to the given address she/he will be writing to Santa Claus, who, according to the Santa Claus myth, will then bring him/her the requested presents,” it said.
The Authority banned the advertisement, upholding a complaint from the self esteem police which said it encouraged “a falsehood that could break the fragile spirits of the already disillusioned youth of South Africa.”
