The True Believers™ down in Florida are suffering fainting spells over a billboard ad that declares all religions to be fairy tales:
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla.—It looked harmless enough, but the words on a billboard unnerved so many people that a popular restaurant nearby actually lost business. The billboard was on Colonial Drive near Old Cheney Highway.
Although the popular Straub’s Seafood restaurant often advertises on it, it wasn’t their billboard. The sign was taken down after Channel 9 started asking questions.
The billboard came down around 4:00 Friday afternoon and nearby business owners are relieved. Straub’s Restaurant can replace the sign with the night’s specials.
At first glance, the sign looked like a children’s cartoon, but the message next to the fairy princess stirred emotions.
“When you condemn all religions and say they are a fairytale, that is wrong,” said Rich Stormes, a nearby business owner.
Oh my goodness! Someone get the smelling salts! I think poor Mr. Stormes is about to have a case of the vapors! Fair warning! I’m including a copy of this terrible abomination immediately below! You may want to have small children and women leave the room before you look at it!
Click to embiggen!
The billboard went up a week before Easter and business at the restaurant went down.
“Easter Sunday is usually a busy good day,” said John Russel, an employee at Straub’s. “Easter Sunday business was down by two-thirds.”
Since the sign is so close, John Russel’s customers thought the restaurant paid for the billboard. To clear any confusion up, Russel put up a sign of his own and called MediaNet, the company who owns the billboard.
“It’s been causing us some problems. I think it’s causing a bit of controversy city-wide. People have been contacting the media,” Russel added.
I can at least sympathize with the business owner here. If folks were misconstruing that it was put up by his business when it wasn’t and business has dropped off since it went up as a result, well, I can’t really fault the guy for being upset about it. Still, I find the whole situation pretty funny.
For their part the company that owns the billboard claims it’s an illegal posting that was put up in the dead of night which is why they took it down. The local business owners don’t really buy that argument, but I suppose it is a possibility that can’t be ruled out short of some group coming forward and claiming they paid for it.
This was sent in by several people over the weekend.
And I can’t tell you how many religious billboards I have driven by that I bet so much as a finger was never raised for.