Who to complain about offensive junk mail?

fluffnutter

avstar wrote: »

I'm speaking for all parents in my area, we all have a duty to protect children who we don't even know from being tempted onto the internet and looking at inappropriate material.

bitemebankers wrote: »

No, we absolutely don't. I have no duty whatsoever to protect anyone else's kids from stuff they might find online, legally or otherwise. Children are the responsibility of their parents/legal guardians.

I personally think that all adults have a basic level of responsibility to all children. But that's not a reason to be outraged on their behalf. I'd bin the leaflet and move on.

Tiddlywinks

avstar wrote: »

Hi all, who can I complain to about offensive junk mail?

Me and my neighbours got a leaflet dropped through the letterbox yesterday which I wasn't very happy about, promoting a local writers new e-book.

It directs you to the website where you can read the first 6 chapters of her graphic novel for free.

Fine and dandy but the leaflet explains how the content is very explicit, about "a drug addict who will do anything!!! to feed her addictions."
The leaflet explains how it's not acessable thru google or bing (prob due to it's explicit nature?) and gives a step by step guide how to access it online. It says over 18s only and not to access if easily offended. Also says the first 6 chapters are available for free now but will be withdrawn soon for "being too explicit"

I'm not easily offended "Shades of Grey" and all that, but I think dropping this leaflet through the door of houses with children is just wrong! So your child goes to the door first and gets the leaflet, the temptation is there, with a step by step guide how to access the material bypassing Google & Bing's filters :eek:

Surely putting this material through someone's door is not allowed? Am I over-reacting? Was just shocked that you get this thru the door.

From your description, the leaflet did not contain any explicit text... it just acted as a signpost to a website.

As other posters have said, if a child follows the signpost then that is the fault of the parent for allowing unsupervised internet access with no parental controls.

There are bigger 'offences' out there to worry about.

Idiophreak

Could be worse. Someone posted a whole catalogue through my door. Fine, there were sections on toys, gardening equipment and so on - but there were *pages and pages* of women stood around in underwear. Shocking!

xoxo_2

Yes, you're over reacting.

Now, can we have the website link so we can all check it out?

pulliptears

Idiophreak wrote: »

Could be worse. Someone posted a whole catalogue through my door. Fine, there were sections on toys, gardening equipment and so on - but there were *pages and pages* of women stood around in underwear. Shocking!

Makes me think of the days in Primary school where the teachers would give us old Kays Catalogues to cut up and the boys would always go to the underwear section.

Disgusting I tell thee!!!

:D:D

alwaysonthego_2

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halibut2209

Definitely need to see the link before offering an opinion

unholyangel

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

I would be furious if this happened to me.

Unfortunately, as it is an individual not a company the 'writer' is the only person to complain to - but there may be laws about sending unsolicited offensive material. Perhaps someone who knows about this may help - or your local council may have views.

MSE encourages people with small businesses to do local leaflet drops, but this is going too far.

You'd be right

Unsolicited publications.

(1)A person shall be guilty of an offence if he sends or causes to be sent to another person any book, magazine or leaflet (or advertising material for any such publication) which he knows or ought reasonably to know is unsolicited and which describes or illustrates human sexual techniques.

Unsolicited Publications

Idiophreak

unholyangel wrote: »

You'd be right



Unsolicited Publications

Can't see anything in the description of the leaflet that suggests it "describes or illustrates human sexual techniques", though...

halibut2209

Unsolicited publications.

(1)A person shall be guilty of an offence if he sends or causes to be sent to another person any book, magazine or leaflet (or advertising material for any such publication) which he knows or ought reasonably to know is unsolicited and which describes or illustrates human sexual techniques.