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Main Page Truth in advertising
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Posted by: USMCMP5811

Truth in advertising ... Medway septic truck slogan doesn't mince words
By Rick Holland / Daily News Staff
Wednesday, October 5, 2005

MEDWAY -- Any school kid could get sent to the principal's office for sounding out one of the words carefully painted on septic trucks owned by Paul Trufant. Cleaning up the four-letter part of the message, the phrase on the trucks would read "Poop happens."

But on a daily basis, one or both of Trufant's septic trucks pull out onto Lovering Street, just across from the entrance to the McGovern Elementary School, where nearly 450 kids ranging in age from 6 to 8 years old attend classes.

"It's not something I'd want my granddaughter to see," said Beverly Rechle, the grandmother of a McGovern student.

"I don't think it's a good thing for my son to read," said Debbie Lawton, mom to a McGovern School first-grader. "If he saw it, I'm sure he'd say, 'How come I can't say that word, but the truck can?'"

Joan Brodeur, another McGovern parent, said the message undermines the effort to let children know what's appropriate and what's not. "It kind of contradicts what we're trying to teach kids...it's not a good thing," she said.

"I don't think it's appropriate," said Jane Celli, the mother of a second-grade student. "It's a very cute slogan for that company, but (parents) can't (choose to) censor it."

The school's principal, Wendy Rocha, said the locker room language on Trufant's trucks had not been brought to her attention by any students or parents.

Should such a message be written on a wall in school, however, Rocha said she and faculty would likely use the issue in an "open circle" discussion with kids, a forum in the school's "social competency" curriculum, during which students share their thoughts and opinions with teachers.

"We would use it as a lesson to discuss how we want to be as citizens in a school community...is that the kind language we want to use in our school?" Rocha said.

"It's potty talk," Lawton said.

"I don't want to be offensive to any kids," said Trufant, 60, whose career includes about 10 years spent as a Medway Police officer during the mid-1960s and 1970s.

Trufant said his trucks have traveled the roads in towns throughout the Milford area over the last 10 years. In that time, he said he's "never, ever, ever had a single call" about his two pumping vehicles with the swear word painted on them.
A lifelong town resident, Trufant has been a firefighter in Medway for nearly 40 years and serves as deputy chief of the Fire Department. In his role as town constable, he is an elected official as well.
When it comes to concern for kids, Trufant mentioned he has donated his time and equipment to build soccer fields at the Burke School and baseball diamonds at the Cassidy Complex. He is a proud grandfather of 10, and dotes on his youngest daughter who he just sent off to college.
Elsewhere, when the town's backhoe has broken down, Trufant has loaned his; during snowstorms, he says his company pitches in to help town plows clear the roads.
By any measure, Trufant is the kind of person towns and people depend on.
But the offending phrase on his trucks is not one he believes is worthy of much concern for parents.
"There are so many pedophiles out there, why aren't (parents) more worried about pedophiles?" Trufant said.
Despite the flap over his trucks, he said the message is a matter of principle -- one he says he will not relinquish.
"This is America, not Iraq...it's freedom of speech," Trufant said.

I smell a DemaRat with the PC.

Way to go Paul........ I'm with you 100%

Posted by: mikey742

Those parents need to get a life there are far more dangerous things out there to be worried about than the word poop on the side a truck.

Posted by: KozmoKramer

It’s not "poop" written on the truck Mikey – the slogan is actually "Shit Happens".

And I agree with the critics. Although I'm not in favor of censorship, I still believe we need to apply a standard of civility and modest expression, especially if you’re going to park your trucks in front of an elementary school.

Posted by: MSP75

I would have an issue with "Shit Happens". "Poop Happens". Now that is kind of funny and I wouldn't mind it. If someone complained about "poop" then I would tell them to get a life.

Posted by: mikey742

I see that what happens when you try to read on the overnight. I can see the problem with "shit happens" on the side of a truck that kids see every day.

Posted by: LenS

Is that something like "Yankees Suck"?

A lot worse stuff is shown/said on TV every day in primetime.

Take a look at some T-shirts that boys/girls wear. Are we going to ban them from public view too?

Either the 1st Amendment applies to speech/writing/signs or it doesn't. The fact that "it's near a school" or that schoolchildren might see it is a red herring.

Posted by: KozmoKramer

Len - I'm not in favor of all the "Yankees Suck" stuff either. In fact its wholly inaccurate . (They’ve won about 30 +/- World Series haven’t they.) I simply believe, (without getting too Puritanical on us), we do need to maintain certain standards of decency in a civil society.

We can’t permit ourselves to degenerate to "anything goes". Common decency has to have a place in our culture. And prohibiting 8 or 10 vulgar words (simply from common view) doesn't stifle our 1st Amendment rights...

Posted by: CJIS

I like it and think it is a very good catch phraise (very true too) for the company. I say keep it.

Posted by: KozmoKramer

I like the one "We're #1 in the #2 Business..."

Posted by: srf13

Either the 1st Amendment applies to speech/writing/signs or it doesn't. The fact that "it's near a school" or that schoolchildren might see it is a red herring.If parents complain about the slogan and put pressure on the business, I don't believe that is a suppression of 1st amendment rights. If the government were to tell him to take it off, that would be a different story. A great professor of mine once said: The 1st amendment only guarantees you a right to speak, it does not guarantee you a right to be heard.

Posted by: LenS

Quote:

Originally Posted by srf13

Either the 1st Amendment applies to speech/writing/signs or it doesn't. The fact that "it's near a school" or that schoolchildren might see it is a red herring.

If parents complain about the slogan and put pressure on the business, I don't believe that is a suppression of 1st amendment rights. If the government were to tell him to take it off, that would be a different story. A great professor of mine once said: The 1st amendment only guarantees you a right to speak, it does not guarantee you a right to be heard.

I agree with you.

Pressure by customers is fine. Pressure by government in these matters is both illegal and improper.

Posted by: badogg88

I think it shouldn't be on the truck. I don't even think shit can be said on TV. It's not a fact that these parents should get a life, but you don't want 5 and 6 year olds running around saying "Shit Happens Shit Happens" on a regular basis. Words are only words, but if YOUR 5 or 6 year old was in a supermarket with people around saying "Shit Happens" how would you feel? Just my 2 cents.

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