BAUT ads that make you wonder.

[NEOWatcher]

Every once in a while, I will see an ad on the board that makes me do a double take or make me cross my eyes for a second. I was wondering if any one else had these experiences. And I'm not talking about the normal ones that make you sick.

This time it was: "Astronomy Ringtones"
I just think vacuum and equate that with silent mode. Not much of a download there.

[farmerjumperdon]

Advertising in general amazes me. I think Madison Avenue, more than any other industry, has led the charge to the lowest common denominator. I find most advertisements to be totally meaningless, at least the simply majority to be deceptive if not outright lies, and all of it to be of extremely little value.

I think the industry has been the number one factor in the transition from substance to appearances as being what counts. Looking good seems to now be more important than actually performing.

But that's might just be me.

[NEOWatcher]

...I find most advertisements to be totally meaningless... Looking good seems to now be more important than actually performing.

Just like the one at the top now... about guaranteed satisfaction for jingles.

...at least the simply majority to be deceptive if not outright lies, and all of it to be of extremely little value...

I agree... we need some better "false advertising" definition and enforcement.

[Gillianren]

I agree... we need some better "false advertising" definition and enforcement.

Quite right. It's unfortunate that, for example, the Orbit gum ad in which Snoop Dogg is sent to Hell for his dirty mouth, chews their gum, and goes to heaven must add the disclaimer "gum will not get you into heaven" when other errors are allowed to spread unchecked. (Well, I don't know if they must. But they do, at any rate.)

[Trebuchet]

Haven't ringtones become a popular means of virus/spyware distribution?

[Donnie B.]

I'm guessing here that the Orbit ad put in the disclaimer as a joke, not out of necessity.

After all, the Toyota ad doesn't mention that their trucks are not actually meteor-proof.

Of course, one well-aimed meteor could lead to the lawsuit that makes them insert that very disclaimer!

[Gillianren]

If it were in larger print, I might agree, but it's in little, tiny, weasel clause (actually a technical term!) print.

[Peter Wilson]

Its worse than that. They don't even allow gum in heaven.

[Maksutov]

Not BAUT ads, but then who knows what may eventually pop up?

For me one of the most useless ad series is the current Bridgestone/Firestone campaign. It consists of models dancing, getting wet, and getting their paws all over each other. That's it. The ads are "selling" inferior quality tires.

One of the most hilarious is the Coors Light "Taste the cold" series. Apparently Coors finally gave up trying to convince anyone that their brew has any taste whatsoever, so they came up with a campaign that has nothing to do with the flavor of their product and renders, within the context of the ads, the word "taste" meaningless. How appropriate.

[LurchGS]

There are some ad campaigns that are fun )Frontier Airlines, for instance(..but in general, I don't bother to watch ANY ads. I absolutely do not make any buying decisions on media ads.

Face it, though - so long as people actually respond to that tripe, Madison Ave will continue to pump it out (GIGO, if you ask me!)

(and, at risk of diverting the topic, these same rules apply to movies.)

---------------
Join the Pepsi Generation. Or else

[Gillianren]

For me one of the most useless ad series is the current Bridgestone/Firestone campaign. It consists of models dancing, getting wet, and getting their paws all over each other. That's it. The ads are "selling" inferior quality tires.

Every time--every single bloody time--one of those ads appears, my best friend informs my cat that those ads have nothing to do with tires, and regardless of the quality of the tires, she's never going to buy them, because the ads annoy her so. I agree, though I'm tired of hearing it, and my cat doesn't care.

[PhantomWolf]

Its worse than that. They don't even allow gum in heaven.

Actually that's Singapore.

[Maksutov]

Its worse than that. They don't even allow gum in heaven.

Actually that's Singapore.

One wonders if Snoop Dog would receive a good spanking there for his violation?

[Maksutov]

There are some ad campaigns that are fun )Frontier Airlines, for instance(..but in general, I don't bother to watch ANY ads. I absolutely do not make any buying decisions on media ads.

Face it, though - so long as people actually respond to that tripe, Madison Ave will continue to pump it out (GIGO, if you ask me!)

(and, at risk of diverting the topic, these same rules apply to movies.)

---------------
Join the Pepsi Generation. Or else

I have never heard almost of all of these various ads (mute button). The only reason for being familiar visually with a few of them is I'll switch back from The Weather Channel to see if coverage of the game has resumed.

Now to figure out a way to block those $%^@#* popup ads that cause annoyance and no interest in what they're pushing during the game.

[Gillianren]

Now to figure out a way to block those $%^@#* popup ads that cause annoyance and no interest in what they're pushing during the game.

Especially that wretched one that pops up on TNT for their show The Closer, which I watched once and disliked, where she shines a flashlight at you.

[Van Rijn]

I was amused yesterday when I saw "van Rijn" in all four ads at the top of the page . . . all for Rembrandt's art, of course.

[NEOWatcher]

I was amused yesterday when I saw "van Rijn" in all four ads at the top of the page . . . all for Rembrandt's art, of course.

That's better. I was giving up hope when I saw the thread turn into an ad-rage. (not that I didn't contribute)

Anyway, along the lines of this, I was listening to a tv ad yesterday that said something like this:
People who eat breakfast, like our cereal, weigh less.
I heard:
People who eat breakfast, like our cereal way less.

And I still like the one with the Celeron deprocessor.

[farmerjumperdon]

That's better. I was giving up hope when I saw the thread turn into an ad-rage. (not that I didn't contribute)

Anyway, along the lines of this, I was listening to a tv ad yesterday that said something like this:
People who eat breakfast, like our cereal, weigh less.
I heard:
People who eat breakfast, like our cereal way less.

And I still like the one with the Celeron deprocessor.

Yes, sorry for the rant and near derailment. But it was worth finding out that a company actually added the disclaimer about not going to heaven. But then again, they didn't really need to did they? How would someone prove they didn't go to heaven (after dying of course)? I guess it just proves the silliness of it all.

[NEOWatcher]

And now... "Pluto got framed" keeps showing up. Show your anger at the astronomers.

How's that for getting on the bandwagon?

[mugaliens]

Advertising in general amazes me. I think Madison Avenue, more than any other industry, has led the charge to the lowest common denominator.

Hmmm... Does that reflect negatively on us because we get so much of these ads?