This topic revolves around a UK television advert from an anti-smoking campaign that aired around April 2015. The advert depicted people with serious health issues, including a woman with an ostomy, suggesting that these conditions could be consequences of smoking. The originator of the discussion felt that the advert unfairly portrayed living with an ostomy as a negative outcome rather than a life-saving medical solution. This led them to file a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority, which was ultimately rejected. They sought feedback from others to see if their reaction was justified.

Here are some insights and advice shared by others:

1. Many people agree that the advert can be seen as stigmatizing because it uses an ostomy as a scare tactic instead of highlighting it as a positive, life-saving medical solution.

2. A member who has an ileostomy due to cancer, and who has been a lifelong smoker, shared that while they can't definitively link smoking to their cancer, they understand the concern about the negative portrayal of ostomies.

3. Another person suggested that all advertising can sometimes feel intrusive or annoying, and using the TV’s "off" button or skipping adverts can help avoid distressing content.

4. Someone else mentioned a dating program called "Too Ugly for Love," noting that media portrayals that frame ostomies as "ugly" or shameful can be disheartening. Their personal strategy is to avoid watching such shows.

5. Overall, the responses encouraged the originator to acknowledge their feelings as valid, focus on the health benefits their ostomy provides, and consider disengaging from media that depicts ostomies negatively rather than internalizing those messages.