"88" and "18" are forbidden numbers!Ariel detergent has sparked outrage in Germany after placing a neo-Nazi code on a new line of promotional packages.
The boxes feature a white football shirt with a large number '88' - which far-right extremists use as a code for 'Heil Hitler' to skirt the country's ban on Nazi slogans.
The number was intended to show how many loads of laundry buyers would be able to do with one package.
However, it is common knowledge in Germany that neo-Nazis have given the number a new meaning. The symbol derives from that fact that 'H' is the eighth letter of the alphabet.
The brand's parent company, Procter & Gamble, has issued an apology for 'any false connotations' after shoppers took to Twitter posting pictures of the offending powder.
Haessig said the company has stopped shipping the offending powder.
They have also pulled a liquid detergent that was being promoted as 'Ariel 18' - which represents 'AH', as in Adolf Hitler.
SOURCESounds like old Adolf still has a lot of influence
Our product does 87 and 3/4 loads and not a bit more. On a related note, Fritz Gruber is selling his vintage Olds 88; all reasonable offers will be considered.
ReplyDeleteIs it a foregone conclusion that no one in Europe ever celebrates their 88th birthday???
ReplyDeleteAIB/44
ReplyDeleteI guess pianos are verboten too, now.
Why should P&G offer an apology as it was not that company's intention to use simple digits as codes for organizations or activities or views with which the company has no connection.
ReplyDeleteBecause fanatics use certain numbers in unintended ways an entire society is denied the use of those numbers. Really? What happens if 6 is used for fuhrer and 15 for Adolf Eichmann? Or how about 222 for bring back Buchenwald? At what point are so many numbers banned that we have to go back to roman numerals?
ReplyDeleteWait - that won't work either. Besides 200, CC might mean Carl Clauberg, infamous for his "medical experiments" in the concentration camps.
Oh well. Numbers are way over rated anyway.
These numbers just don't add up.
ReplyDeleteThese numbers divide society
ReplyDeleteYes it's dumb but this is the fault of their marketing people for not properly checking the ads.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's also the text book companies fault for not checking to see that the math problems answers in their books might be 88 or 18. It's the sort of "let's just roll over, they should have checked to see nobody would be offended" response exhibited by Anon 4:22 that perpetuates this insanity. While we're at it, ban 18th birthday parties. Someone might be OFFENDED!
ReplyDeleteI prefer 69, 420, and 1.618
ReplyDeleteNumerology infests everything!
ReplyDelete"Numerology infests everything!"
ReplyDeleteAs does religion.