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Life's Short, Get a Divorce

Posted: May 9, 2007 10:35 am
by Tiki Bar
Local controversy has gone national... Attorney Corri Fetman was on the radio show I listen to last week, and again today, getting both positive and negative reactions. It seems the billboard has since been torn down, and the national news shows like Good Morning America and the Today Show are covering the story.

http://www.nbc5.com/slideshow/news/13273423/detail.html

From NBC5.com Monday:

Billboard: 'Life's Short -- Get A Divorce'
Lawyers Explain, Chicago Reacts

CHICAGO -- Some think it's in poor taste, while others wish they'd thought of it themselves: "Life' Short. Get A Divorce."

At least, that's what an all-female local law firm recommends in a new billboard situated near "Viagra Triangle," a bustling, upwardly-mobile area of downtown known as a place men can pick up women.

The billboard for divorce lawyer Corri Fetman's firm is turning heads here in Chicago.

It's likely in part due to the suggestive pictures of cleavage and a man's 6-pack hanging suggestively over Gibson's Steakhouse, but also because of the message some feel it portrays.

Critics say the billboard promotes divorce, but Fetman said she just wants people to live with integrity.

"The message really is that life is very, very short, and you need to be honest with yourself and have some personal integrity," said Fetman. "If you are unhappy, take some action and do something about it."

"If you plan on getting divorced why get married?" one restaurant customer said.

"I think it's great. It shows they've got guts and it gets your attention," said another. "And the people are hot."

"There's no commitment these days," said one man. "It shows a lack of commitment."

Fetman and her partner Kelly Garland said the billboard is meant to be taken lightheartedly.

But some, like the Womens Bar Assocication's president, are not impressed.

"Lawyers already have a bad name. It un-dignifies lawyers," Karen McNulty said. "It takes lightly the issue of divorce. It's more disappointing than shocking.

Attorney Mike Berger said divorce is a time of great stress, and that this is "nothing more than a beer commercial."

"I don't find it gutsy ? it's distasteful," he said. "This makes light of the situation and promotes divorce."

But Attorney Rico Mirabelli likened the ad to a car ad and said it was placed in a populated area for a reason.

"It's not going to make anyone go out and get a divorce," he said.

As for Fetman, she says, "Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. If you don't like it, don't look."

Posted: May 9, 2007 10:38 am
by buffettbride
Nope. Not offended. Far bigger things to worry about in life. If my husband decided he wanted a divorce because of a billboard then I'd say there were far more problems between us than just a silly billboard.

Posted: May 9, 2007 10:40 am
by ToplessRideFL
buffettbride wrote:Nope. Not offended. Far bigger things to worry about in life. If my husband decided he wanted a divorce because of a billboard then I'd say there were far more problems between us than just a silly billboard.
BINGO

ANd yes... I think its in poor taste...but no worse than the Billboards about Father's rights, Battered Women, Scientology, Churches.....Jesus Saves... or most any billboard out there. They all should be outlawed. :roll:

Posted: May 9, 2007 10:44 am
by CaptainP
A billboard is advertising, designed to get attention for your company.

This is a VERY successful ad. He got NATIONAL attention

Posted: May 9, 2007 10:44 am
by UAHparrothead
This is just a sign of the times. Last fall Tennessee voted to ban same sex marriages and unions. Some of the churches put up signs proclaiming that one just vote for the ban to "Protect Marriage". I find it disheartening that these churches push so hard to ban sam sex unions and yet do nothing to help in the more than 50% divorce rate in the US. I am not against divorce it is necessary in some cases, but 1 out of 2 marriages ending in divorce is sad indeed.

Posted: May 9, 2007 10:45 am
by buffettbride
CaptainP wrote:A billboard is advertising, designed to get attention for your company.

This is a VERY successful ad. She got NATIONAL attention
Fixed it for ya. :wink:

Posted: May 9, 2007 10:45 am
by pbans
billboards are inherently offensive.....this one is just stupid.....

Posted: May 9, 2007 10:58 am
by SharkOnLand
If it had cleavage on it, I'm OK with it. :pirate:

Posted: May 9, 2007 11:02 am
by Wino you know
SharkOnLand wrote:If it had cleavage on it, I'm OK with it. :pirate:
It does and I am.

And I DO like the title of this thread, but for some people, life isn't short enough.

Posted: May 9, 2007 11:10 am
by Catch&Release
I agree with the post above that "billboards are inherently offensive".

However, I was in a marriage that was unhappy for the last 2 years out of 5. Before we ultimately filed for divorce I spent my morning commute to work thinking "what are we doing. This is not working and we've done everything we can."

Seeing that billboard would have struck a very true chord with me if I drove past it when I knew my marriage was not going to be saved. Life is short, why cling to something broken/unhappy that can't be fixed.

Truth is often quite succint!

Posted: May 9, 2007 11:12 am
by ~Hippolyte~
Shannon, where are you? Do you still have the YOU WAS ROBBED in your signature?

Posted: May 9, 2007 11:12 am
by Dezdmona
While I support free speech and would do nothing to stop this woman from advertising her business, I do find the ad problematic.

Marriage is HARD, and for some folks going through hard times in their relationship, an ad like this could be just enough to influence them to divorce rather than continuing to work on their marriage.

Today's society has become desensitized to overt sexuality, violence and accepting of lowered morals and ethics.

I just see it as sad to promote and encourage it.

Posted: May 9, 2007 12:10 pm
by AlbatrossFlyer
the 6 pack abs belong to the personal trainer of the lawyer behind ads... :lol:

Posted: May 9, 2007 12:14 pm
by LaTda!
Dezdmona wrote:While I support free speech and would do nothing to stop this woman from advertising her business, I do find the ad problematic.

Marriage is HARD, and for some folks going through hard times in their relationship, an ad like this could be just enough to influence them to divorce rather than continuing to work on their marriage.

Today's society has become desensitized to overt sexuality, violence and accepting of lowered morals and ethics.

I just see it as sad to promote and encourage it.
Well, society is grumpy enough. Maybe if people would just make changes that make them a whole lot happier (like I did) the world would be a better place.
Maybe we are focusing on the wrong areas here...

IF it IS broke, FIX it..

Posted: May 9, 2007 12:18 pm
by pbans
Maybe it's not the message, but rather the pictures that make it all seem rather shallow.....I wonder if the message was up there with a woman with a black eye....if people would be offended.....
I think it's the implication that 'get a divorce because there are a gajillion hotties out there' is what is a little bothersome.....the concept of divorce is what it is....

Posted: May 9, 2007 12:20 pm
by green1
One of the quotes said it best for me, "I am not surprised just disappointed".

Posted: May 9, 2007 12:31 pm
by Dezdmona
pbans wrote:Maybe it's not the message, but rather the pictures that make it all seem rather shallow.....I wonder if the message was up there with a woman with a black eye....if people would be offended.....
I think it's the implication that 'get a divorce because there are a gajillion hotties out there' is what is a little bothersome.....the concept of divorce is what it is....
I encourage folks to escape violent and abusive relationships.

It's the idea that people should abandon their marriage simply for "greener pastures" and sexual freedom or "just because" that bothers me.

Posted: May 9, 2007 12:34 pm
by ScarletB
ToplessRideFL wrote:
buffettbride wrote:Nope. Not offended. Far bigger things to worry about in life. If my husband decided he wanted a divorce because of a billboard then I'd say there were far more problems between us than just a silly billboard.
BINGO

ANd yes... I think its in poor taste...but no worse than the Billboards about Father's rights, Battered Women, Scientology, Churches.....Jesus Saves... or most any billboard out there. They all should be outlawed. :roll:
Billboards are not allowed in Vermont where I live. You can get a state road sign with the name of your business on it and how many miles it is to it and hotels and businesses can put a sign out ON their property but that's all. The only downside is that there's nothing to read on a long road trip. But our scenery should take center stage anyway!

Posted: May 9, 2007 12:38 pm
by Wino you know
ScarletB wrote:Billboards are not allowed in Vermont where I live.
Hawaii either.
Too bad the other 48 states don't follow suit.

Posted: May 9, 2007 12:38 pm
by pbans
Dezdmona wrote:
pbans wrote:Maybe it's not the message, but rather the pictures that make it all seem rather shallow.....I wonder if the message was up there with a woman with a black eye....if people would be offended.....
I think it's the implication that 'get a divorce because there are a gajillion hotties out there' is what is a little bothersome.....the concept of divorce is what it is....
I encourage folks to escape violent and abusive relationships.

It's the idea that people should abandon their marriage simply for "greener pastures" and sexual freedom or "just because" that bothers me.
that's what I meant....