There is a fantastic interpretation at The Daily Kos about a consultant who apparently “knows more” than the General who commanded our troops during this conflict.
It is a lovely exchange (sarcasm) . . . and a brilliant interpretation of it (not sarcasm).
28 Jun 2007 EWriter 0 comments
I have had a business in some form or another since 1995, and overall, I am pretty tolerant about marketing. We live in a Market-driven economy, and advertising is part of the game.
When Spam comes into the Inbox, I chalk it up to aggressive marketing, tweak the Spam software a bit, and move on. When the advertisment post cards are sitting on my car on Sunday morning, I read them and move on.
From the earliest days of MySpace, I remember watching the advertisements surface within the interface. I remember actually being excited that Tom’s good idea was making money for him. And, dabbling with Google Ads myself, I certainly was not complaining.
When Fox bought MySpace, however, I was curious how things would change. What advertisers would pay to get their banners into the rotation, and who would opt out . . . or would be priced out of that marketplace.
The most noticeable changes after the ownership change were the addition of movie-trailers on the home page–including some temporary home page re-designs coordinated with a particular movie release.
The worst change, however, has been the addition of the STUPID True advertisements. They might actually be the most annoying banners ads in the history of the internet. And, if you are listening TRUE, let me tell you how your ads affect me. I am NOT compelled to click on the link of the pretend chat camera that has some poorly-acting woman pretending to be a stereo-typical “bimbo-blond” who has forgotten that the chat cam is on–while she just happens to be in her bath towel in the slightest way. I am, however, compelled to tell every single person I meet about your demeaning campaign–and encourage them to use your competitor’s services. If that is the effect you wanted, you scored a direct hit!
The newest generation of these advertisements are absolutely the worst. They show a camera angle looking up a woman’s skirt, down another woman’s shirt, looking at someone’s butt at the gym, and staring at a woman’s thighs under a dinner table, etc. In each of the advertisements, the “camera angle” gets caught by the girl, and there is some link that says “click to turn on the audio” while she is supposedly yelling at the Peeping Tom (sorry Tom, it is a colloquialism, nothing personal).
These advertisements are demeaning–to everyone involved. The women reinforce dangerously stereotypical and negative traits–in addition to objectifying themselves as simply legs, a butt, breasts . . . . I guess TRUE is paying the actresses enough money to demean themselves in front of millions of people on the internet.
It is also demeaning to me–your intended audience. It reinforces that women ARE objects, or at least that our civilization believes that to be correct. The women have no voices (figuratively, and literally). And, it demonstrates that it is acceptable social behavior to look up a woman’s skirt–when she isn’t looking.
The pretend web-cam concept also underestimates your audience. Do you really think the most web-savvy generation to date doesn’t understand that it is fake? There is NOTHING that I love more than being treated like an idiot. So, thanks again for breaking new ground on this one, TRUE.
Most importantly, your advertising campaign tells me something about the TRUE online dating service. Your campaign tells me that everything about your organization values Quantity over Quality–cash, rather than values.
It also tells me that if you are really producing content for your target audience, and your current campaign is built upon demographic research, I can infer that you have a bunch of idiots using your service who do not mind being demeaned, and that fools who click on demeaning advertisements are padding your membership numbers. Sounds like EXACTLY the place where I want to look for my mate . . . .
One word of advice: FIRE your advertising team.
29 Apr 2007 EWriter 0 comments
There is a whole collection of fantastic lego-mation type movies and clips.
23 Apr 2007 EWriter 0 comments
Finally, the next episode of Chad Vader: Day Manager is available. I LOVE this show . . . .
20 Apr 2007 EWriter 0 comments
Just a little pic of my new favorite thing to do . . . .
19 Apr 2007 EWriter 0 comments
I was talking with a friend a while back–who had some interesting words about her generation.
She described her generation as the hardest-working, socially conscious, politically active group to hit the American shores. I loved that moment–seeing her idealism and her fervor. It remembered me of when I thought the same thing about myself and MY generation–about the time when I started college.
Today, we may count the number of e-mails you send to your Senator as a measure of activity. Ten years ago, it may have been the number of telephone calls you made in support of your measure. In the 60’s, however, before the advent of e-mail, activity levels may have been measured by the number of protests or marches attended. There is no real way to measure her assertion (or mine, when I made it).
That idealism, in my mind, is a vital part of the maturation process. As you leave the nest that your parents created for you, you get your first taste of your own strength and abilities to create change. Too young to feel trapped, it is YOUR responsibility to make changes in society. Perhaps later in your life you will lose the ability to make change–when your responsibilities overtake your time and life. Or, perhaps you may lose the desire to affect change. You may want to simply make money instead.
Whenever I see that idealism in someone I meet, I think of you, my friend. Your description was perfect.
Here’s to you and your generation, Katrina.
19 Apr 2007 EWriter 0 comments
A friend of mine recently sent me a link to an article published on the Atlantic Online in March of 2003. It was titled, “Caring for Your Introvert: The habits and needs of a little-understood group,” and written by Jonathan Rauch.
The article was filled with all sorts of great quotes like this one:
Maybe she was trying to tell me something?
18 Apr 2007 EWriter 0 comments
| Our two ships, the Esperanza and the Arctic Sunrise, today confronted the Fisheries Agency of Japan whaling fleet and called on it to "Leave the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary immediately." In inflatables carrying banners which read "defend the whales" and "stop the whaling," crew from the two ships declared their intention to stop the hunt. While our ships were relaying their message, two 'catcher ships' arrived on the scene with dead minke whales hung from their hulls, ready to be transferred to the fleet's factory ship, the Nisshin Maru. However, the Esperanza was blocking access to the Nisshin Maru's stern ramp and one 'catcher' tried to push the Esperanza out of the way twice. The Esperanza pulled back for the crew's safety and no casualties are reported. "This whale hunt is unnecessary, unjustified, and unwanted," said Expedition leader Shane Rattenbury. In a radio call to the whaling vessels, from the bridge of the Arctic Sunrise, Yuko Hirono, of Greenpeace Japan called upon the whalers to stop killing whales "and leave the internationally recognised Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary." |
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14 Apr 2007 EWriter 0 comments
This is really a fantastic op-ed article about the checks and balances of our government. You should read it if you get the chance.
08 Mar 2007 EWriter 0 comments