‘Erotic stimulation’ like this has no place in newspaper

I have long been aware that sex sells, but to have your family newspaper carry advertising for “new men's sex pill makes Viagra obsolete” is pushing the envelope toward pornography. It took up a half page on the inside of the front page.

Having worked in the newspaper industry for many years, I am aware just how much ads this large cost to run and know that The Sun News is making a pretty penny from this large ad. For so long now, sex has been shoved down our throats by increasingly suggestive and erotic TV commercials, not to mention the actual TV programming itself. It's a slippery slope, and we've slid a long ways so far.

I know that you have a “Newspaper in Education” program and that customers who go on vacation are asked to donate their papers while they are away to that program. For that reason, and for the fact that many children on their own start to read the newspaper at an early age, I vehemently disagree with your policy of running such advertising. It is tasteless and unnecessary.

I'm sure that any parent confronted with a question from his or her child about ads such as these are uncomfortable about answering them.　 We need to remember that children are not as innocent as they used to be because of the society in which we now live. But giving them more erotic stimulation in your newspaper goes far beyond what should be allowed.

I would hope that your director of advertising would look past the monies you are making on ads such as these and consider the moral consequences instead.

This story was originally published July 6, 2016 at 11:46 AM with the headline "‘Erotic stimulation’ like this has no place in newspaper."