"LIFE ETC."

No benefit can come from prohibited use...
If you're aware of what's happening in the real world (not in "the world of brides and mother-in-laws," as magazine news calls it), you're perhaps aware of an official institution's decision to ban a TV commercial in which a woman chooses to protect her car rather than help a man in danger.
The institution's representatives declared that the film was a bad example for little children because it could make them think that selfishness is acceptable.
I'm sure you've seen the commercial. Does an advertisement like this really tell you to save your car instead of helping a man who is going to fall from a building and land on it? If children are not able to see the element of humor in this, will we then ban all of the advertisements and songs that refer ironically to bad character? What about pop song lyrics? Why don't we ban pop songs with selfish lyrics, such as "Do I have to be hurt to make you happy?" *
Almost two years ago, a similar weird decision was made: a commercial that was made to advertise a meat product was banned during the daytime. Those who made the decision said that meat is an expensive product and the advertising film was too enticing. From this declaration, I get the idea that diamond jewelry is not as expensive as meat products and imported chocolate bars are not as enticing, because commercials about them are never banned. This also tells me that if the commercial you make is so successful that people can hardly resist it, it should be banned, or else you'd better give the product away for free.
Now, let's remember what we already know: an ad is something that is produced to create the desire to buy something. An advertisement tells us directly or indirectly to buy a car, a magazine, a chocolate bar or a diamond ring. Humor is used extensively in the advertising sector because it's the perfect way to say something indirectly and get past the "firewall" of individual ideas. There are even TV shows devoted to funny ad clips, such as Gülse Birsel's "Gag."
So, as long as you try to limit humor, you won't be able to find a logical dividing line. You'll end up either banning everything or being inconsistent. The same goes for trying to limit the effects of advertising: you either accept its role of persuasion even in the case of expensive things, or ban it entirely. Otherwise, your decisions won't make any sense.
* First line of the refrain of "Kıyamadım," by İzel.
P.S.: Please let me know your positive and negative reactions to this column via email.

orhan@ug.bcc.bilkent.edu.tr