GE

April 29, 2004 7:42 AM

Got GE?GE's new ads are great- esp. the piano with water drops. Any other Web ads impress you lately? I presume everybody remembers this thread.
posted by SandeepKrishnamurthy (36 comments total)

I don't have any impressive web ads, but I want to take this time to rant about a tv ad that really disturbs me. It's an ad for Six Flags, with this really old guy (well, in make up) who dances around a bus and gets people to go to Six Flags with him.

That guy is so creepy. Why is he so old? What is wrong with him? Why does he dance like that? Who's supposed to enjoy this? These are some of the questions that grip me whenever that ad comes on.

Man, I hope someone got fired over that.
posted by hammurderer at 7:52 AM on April 29, 2004

Oh, come on...
posted by mkultra at 7:53 AM on April 29, 2004

Wow! I had not seen that. It looks like a couple of my posts made it to that thread.
posted by SandeepKrishnamurthy at 7:55 AM on April 29, 2004

mkultra- my post was in this spirit. No shilling here.
posted by SandeepKrishnamurthy at 7:57 AM on April 29, 2004

It looks like a couple of my posts made it to that thread.

erm, seems like that thread was about you.
posted by davehat at 8:04 AM on April 29, 2004

Oh come on... This is not "Say, have you tried the new pepsi blue? It's really refreshing!". This is "Say, look at this cool advertising campaign with the pretty pictures.". The things are entirely different. It's nice though not stunning, but that's the only part that stops it from being part of "best of the web".
posted by fvw at 8:04 AM on April 29, 2004

So I'm dying to know, SandeepKrishnamurthy ... how much can a person make in the exciting world of Viral Marketing these days?
posted by crunchland at 8:07 AM on April 29, 2004

Oh for God's sake...you jackals can't imagine that someone might simply enjoy the world of marketing?

Geez...find a real problem to crucify and quit acting like a bunch of obnoxious, know-it-all, cynical jackasses.
posted by BlueTrain at 8:16 AM on April 29, 2004

[this is a fucking ad]
posted by bshort at 8:18 AM on April 29, 2004

Got GE? GE's new ads are great- esp. the piano with water drops. Any other Web ads impress you lately? I presume everybody remembers this thread.

no, the ads are rubbish and GE suck dead donkey dick (hope that answers your question SandeepKrishnamurthy).
posted by johnny novak at 8:18 AM on April 29, 2004

Did you guys try reading the thread mkultra linked to? He's an associate professor of marketing, maybe he actually finds this stuff interesting?

I know the agency and people responsible for these ads, there is no way in hell they hired someone to do half-assed viral marketing posts on mefi.

Oh no, I'm with the viral marketers too obviously! I've been on mefi for 3 years quietly going under cover. Is there no end to the madness of the advertisers!
posted by malphigian at 8:19 AM on April 29, 2004

you jackals can't imagine that someone might simply enjoy the world of marketing?

That may be the case, but it doesn't mean it belongs here.

SK- I realize that this may simply "be interesting" to you, but there's simply no way to justify this being anywhere near the "best of the web" target that posts here should aim for. If you simply want to discuss the merits of particular ads, use your own web site.

I stand by my "market research" comment.
posted by mkultra at 8:29 AM on April 29, 2004

I think there may be two issues:

1. This is a lame post
2. This is possibily a shill

It is almost certainly a bad post; there's no context, no associated news story, nothing. It's just one link to some ads from one company.

I reckon it's unlikely to be a shill, and if it is, it's a bad one, and his employers should ask for their money back.

And yes, Blue Train, I do enjoy the world of marketing, but in the privacy of my own home.
posted by johnny novak at 8:30 AM on April 29, 2004

By the way if anyone here is in advertising or marketing... kill yourself.
No, no, no it's just a little thought. I'm just trying to plant seeds. Maybe one day, they'll take root - I don't know. You try, you do what you can.
Kill yourself.
Seriously though, if you are, do.
Aaah, no really, there's no rationalisation for what you do and you are Satan's little helpers.
Okay - kill yourself - seriously. You are the ruiner of all things good, seriously. No this is not a joke, you're going, "there's going to be a joke coming," there's no fucking joke coming.
You are Satan's spawn filling the world with bile and garbage. You are fucked and you are fucking us. Kill yourself. It's the only way to save your fucking soul, kill yourself. Planting seeds. I know all the marketing people are going, "he's doing a joke... there's no joke here whatsoever. Suck a tail-pipe, fucking hang yourself, borrow a gun from a Yank friend - I don't care how you do it. Rid the world of your evil fucking makinations.
Machi... Whatever, you know what I mean.
I know what all the marketing people are thinking right now too, "Oh, you know what Bill's doing, he's going for that anti-marketing dollar. That's a good market, he's very smart." Oh man, I am not doing that. You fucking evil scumbags! "Ooh, you know what Bill's doing now, he's going for the righteous indignation dollar. That's a big dollar. A lot of people are feeling that indignation. We've done research - huge market. He's doing a good thing." Godammit, I'm not doing that, you scum-bags!
Quit putting a godamm dollar sign on every fucking thing on this planet!
"Ooh, the anger dollar. Huge. Huge in times of recession. Giant market, Bill's very bright to do that."
God, I'm just caught in a fucking web.
"Ooh the trapped dollar, big dollar, huge dollar. Good market - look at our research. We see that many people feel trapped. If we play to that and then separate them into the trapped dollar..."
How do you live like that? And I bet you sleep like fucking babies at night, don't you?"
"What didya do today honey?"
"Oh, we made ah, we made ah arsenic a childhood food now, goodnight." [snores]
"Yeah we just said you know is your baby really too loud? You know," [snores] "Yeah, you know the mums will love it." [snores]
Sleep like fucking children, don't ya, this is your world isn't it?
-- Bill Hicks


posted by matteo at 8:31 AM on April 29, 2004

Hmm...well if marketing is off-limits here, why not politics, or news, or flash, or any other category? Best of the web my ass...everyday there are shitty posts. Is there a post I don't like...well, why not trot out the "best of the web" excuse? That'll silence those bastards I don't like.
posted by BlueTrain at 8:40 AM on April 29, 2004

So, what exactly is the problem with linking to ads? I know a lot of other people here link to flash games or newsstories exclusively. Probably because they are interested in them and want to share.

Now SK links to ads and ad campaigns. Is that so wrong?
posted by sebas at 8:44 AM on April 29, 2004

This post doesn't scream "Pepsi Blue" to me but my problem is there was no real link in the post [linking to another post doesn't count]. But the post should be deleted because there is no link.

I haven't seen the GE ad so I have no idea if it is breakthrough enough to warrant a post. [although I'm in advertising/marketing I have ads turned off]. A link to the ad --or better yet an article about the ad-- would have been better. SK is not being a shill. Advertising can be an interesting topic, but this isn't it.
posted by birdherder at 9:08 AM on April 29, 2004

It is almost certainly a bad post; there's no context, no associated news story, nothing.

WHAT
THE
FUCK
johnny novak?

This is metafilter remember? The best of the web, filtered for your viewing pleasure. Not "Look what I saw on the news today". Not "I'd like to make the following point, and to support it I'd like to link to the following sites."

The quality of the material linked remains to be discussed, but the format is exactly what MetaFilter is for.
posted by fvw at 9:09 AM on April 29, 2004

In retrospect, I didn't realize the "got GE" line was a link to the ad. Never mind.
posted by birdherder at 9:13 AM on April 29, 2004

I'm not saying this is or isn't an example of subverting a community for marketing purposes, or that SandeepKrishnamurthy is guilty of such, but it certainly happens.

Linkfilter had some super-genius that never commented, never participated in the community and posted nothing but viral marketing links to this frighteningly blatant piece of work called TTR2 that practically makes Fark look like an intellectual paradise. (Here also is a bio of sorts on TTR2.)

Some of us feel very strongly (usually negative) about advertising. Some of us feel very strongly about the societal and psychological ramifications of certain pervasive forms of advertising.

And it frustrates me to no end when people don't see why this just might be a problem.

Here's why it's a problem when it's actually intentional marketing and advertising (And even sometimes when it is unwitting or unintentional): When in the context of a community blog, it's an abuse of a network of trust. It is worse than email spam. It is worse than comment spam on blogs. It's a Trojan virus, and what's worse, it's intentional and directed, guided to target by the hand of a thinking, breathing human being.

A while back I decided to never again forward any link to anything commercial, no matter how entertaining, and generally make it a habit to not watch them*, either. It's one thing to be a whore, but it's another thing to be a cheap free whore.

Is this joyless? Fuck no. There's plenty of free entertainment and funny stuff on the web. Go watch that.

Here's a media/art experiment to try if you like to push your own limits and/or engage in OCD-like behavior that may or may not drive you totally batshit: Try - just try - to go a week going about your normal daily life without consuming any advertising. For the hardcore "any" means video, film, audio, and print of all forms. Extra points for avoiding word of mouth. Try a day. Try any waking hour. Try 15 minutes. But seriously, aim for a week.

It'll make you very aware of how we're constantly bombarded with psychologically manipulative messages that nearly constantly attack our self worth and esteem. Your family life/work/leisure time/life will become manageable/non existent/more fulfilling/totally perfect if you buy this. And if you don't, you'll be miserable. Worm.



(* I did load the GE page to get an overview, but didn't open any videos. If I want electronic eyecandy I'll load up Nullsoft's AVS and twiddle until my eyeballs are full.)
posted by loquacious at 9:17 AM on April 29, 2004

Megacraptastic! Did I just advertise something? ARGH. What a WASTE!
posted by loquacious at 9:21 AM on April 29, 2004

You know, loquacious, if I tried going about my normal daily life without advertising, I'd get fired. Cause that's how I get paid. I'm the Creative Director for a small ad agency. Thus I love checking out great advertising, because the really good stuff is truly beautiful, produced by incredibly creative minds (mind you, there's precious little really good advertising, but still). And seeing good ads inspires me to do better at my job. And if it happens to be on the 'net, that makes it the best of the web and therefore appropriate for MeFi.

Because, you know, this is a community. And in a community you have to put up with crap you don't like because there's a slight possibility that other people might have interests which deviate ever so slightly from your own.

Don't like X? Don't click on a freakin' link that clearly identifies itself as being about X. Substitute your own X, whether it's Iraq, the American political system, ads, Flash games, whatever.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 9:36 AM on April 29, 2004

I don't think there's anything wrong with the post, per se.

I wasn't thrilled by the ads in the post, but I appreciate some here might.

SandeepKrishnamurthy clearly hadn't read mkultra's link (I guess he has now). Aren't you supposed to email the person you take issue with on Meta?
posted by davehat at 9:40 AM on April 29, 2004

WHAT
THE
FUCK?

FVW

Are you saying this is a good post?
posted by johnny novak at 9:42 AM on April 29, 2004

Good ads? Yeah there are some. The Citibank identity theft ads are excellent, especially the ones where the theft victim returns to their own unhappy face at the end.

But its far easier to cast stones. The Enzyte commercials make me nearly homicidal. In fact, I just wrote about it this morning (and yes, that is a self link).

As for Matteo's posting of a call for marketers to kill themselves. Not all marketing wanks are evil bastards. Some of us actually hate the bad folks that give the rest of the profession a bad name.
posted by fenriq at 9:43 AM on April 29, 2004

I think I just found the best marketing slogan. Just imagine a giant billboard with

WHAT
THE
FUCK
BUSH??

Vote Kerry in 2004!

That would be awesome.

Or if another big company makes a little snafu:

WHAT
THE
FUCK
WALMART??

Shop at KMart for even lower prices!

I bet somewhere out there is a marketing manager just waiting to cash in on this.
posted by sebas at 10:05 AM on April 29, 2004

Here's a media/art experiment to try if you like to push your own limits and/or engage in OCD-like behaviour that may or may not drive you totally batshit: Try - just try - to go a week going about your normal daily life without consuming any advertising. For the hardcore "any" means video, film, audio, and print of all forms. Extra points for avoiding word of mouth. Try a day. Try any waking hour. Try 15 minutes. But seriously, aim for a week.

Interesting idea. I managed it until I hit the back button on my browser to return to the front page and saw the sidebar. No, wait Kerio killed it. I managed an hour at home on the web, walked down St John's hill and saw 5 billboards in 10 minutes.

Seriously, how is this possible in this day and age / world that we've built for ourselves? Isn't the answer simply to think more critically about the advertising that we are exposed to and not to seek it out as 'entertainment?'
posted by dmt at 10:08 AM on April 29, 2004

GhostintheMachine: If you'll notice I'm perhaps the only person in this thread that is against this particular link and still being rather civil about it. At least I could explain why I felt it sucked instead of just shouting "SUX1!"

Now that I've got that out of my system: Quit your job or go suck on a tailpipe or something.

I'm neither impressed nor sympathetic about your career choice. Art Center of Pasadena is a short bike ride away down the street. Every time I go to Pasadena I'm drowning in turtleneck-wearing advertising and design hipsters of purportedly refined tastes. The only thing that I can see that's truly refined is their desire to whore their creative talents out to the highest bidder.

I've done some marketing and a lot of graphic design. Not usually in any sort of actually artistic or intellectually rewarding fashion, of course. It was some of the darkest days of my life. It was for a civil engineering firm. I'm surprised I got my soul back, but I'm still not quite sure if it's in one piece even five years later.

The Bill Hicks monologue matteo posted is spot on. Marketing is probably the most useless career known to mankind, save for perhaps lawyers, or lawyers who specialize in cases involving marketing.

"Stick it up your nose," he said.

"Which is precisely the sort of thing we need to know," insisted the girl. "Do people want fire that can be fitted nasally?"

Metafilter: Snarky!
posted by loquacious at 10:17 AM on April 29, 2004

Additionally, for GhostintheMachine, and in general:

So, if someone posts links to child porn or goatse.cx or tubgirl we're supposed to just look the other way and not criticize the link? I think I'd rather see tubgirl than "beautiful" advertising. I get enough advertising whether I want it or not. I come to places like Metafilter to escape that world and to hear critical and dissenting voices.

I have major issues with GE's business practices and many of their products as well, not just the advertising at hand.

Communities also look out for their "members" and sometimes attempt to get them to modify their thinking or behavior in a manner that is conducive to growth and other ostensibly altruistic crap like that.

Some of us see the current state of consumer and corporate culture as a terribly detrimental thing to our society and culture. Some of us seek to educate and be educated and attempt to raise constructive discourse to change these aspects that disagree with us.

As a member of this community, I seek to debate these things and vocalize my support or dissent. This is dissent against something I disagree with. Get used to it.
posted by loquacious at 10:57 AM on April 29, 2004

*yawn*
posted by Down10 at 11:17 AM on April 29, 2004

Marketing is probably the most useless career known to mankind, save for perhaps lawyers, or lawyers who specialize in cases involving marketing.
&
Quit your job or go suck on a tailpipe or something.
followed by:
I'm perhaps the only person in this thread that is against this particular link and still being rather civil about it.

Right. Self-awareness is not a forte of yours, eh? Instead of berating this site with your "high-minded" rhetoric and BS rationalizations of why marketing is bad, why not link to tangible reasons for your disgust? Or, better yet, understand that since you post within a community, it's probably not in your best interest to alienate people based on profession, since there are several marketers/lawyers here. You are entitled to your opinion; you are not entitled to act like an arrogant schmuck simply because you have a pet peeve.
posted by BlueTrain at 11:23 AM on April 29, 2004

I'm perhaps the only person in this thread that is against this particular link and still being rather civil about it.

...

Now that I've got that out of my system: Quit your job or go suck on a tailpipe or something.

Civil-to-totaldickhead in what, two, three sentences? Amazing.

I really don't give a flying fuck what you think about my career choice. It is fun, it is profitable, and it beats the crap out of your life, if your posts in this thread are any indication. Your indignant self-righteousness must be a real pleasure to be around (athough I do give you marks for the Adams quote, so you can't be a total asshole).

As for crap like tubgirl, weak weak argument man. If your mind conflates the two, you have some serious problems. You're free to criticize any link, and I'm free to defend them. That's the "critical and dissenting voices" you're supposedly looking for on MeFi. Or do you only like critical and dissenting voices that parrot your own? (See, I can put together a ridiculous argument, too).

The problem I have with you saying something like "I seek to debate these things and vocalize my support or dissent. This is dissent against something I disagree with. Get used to it.", is that you're not seeking debate. Telling me to "quit my job" or "suck a tailpipe" (translation: commit suicide) is not debate. Debate considers the possibility that the other side might have a legitimate point of view. You're sermonizing. You want agreement or silence.

You have a perfectly valid opinion buried beneath your righteous indignation (there's too much commercialization in the world), and it's one I agree with. We disagree about what constitutes an acceptable level of advertising, however, and you need to accept that. I'm not debating the merits or lack thereof of GE, but I am pointing out that the community here at MeFi does contain a significant number of members interested in marketing and advertising. I suggest you get used to that.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 11:33 AM on April 29, 2004

I work in technology, but for an advertising company. There- do I have enough cred now? Most advertising is badly made, manipulative, and insidious. But, there is good advertising. Some of it is very interesting and merits discussion.

This post, however, is nothing more than "Hey, look at these ads. They're great. What other web ads are great?" Setting aside my personal opinion that this is all just a veiled attempt to turn the MeFi community into a research group, there's absolutely no context to the discussion. Why should I care about them?

As to the "this is no different than any other post about a flash thingy" argument- I see ads all the time. I don't need to come here to find them. There's nothing novel about them.
posted by mkultra at 11:46 AM on April 29, 2004

Agreed, emphatically.

I've crossed several lines, broken the rules of civil debate, sniped at cliched and easy targets in the process, and even needlessly offended people that are more or less like-minded. I got more than a little carried away.

If you'll accept them, I offer my apologies.

And I do actually enjoy discussing opinions that differ from my own. Where's the fun or purpose in debating a non-debate? That's certainly not what I come here for. Of all the discussion-oriented places on the web MeFi has some of the best contrary-to-my-own opinions I've ever seen, and is almost always thought-provoking and timely.

I don't intend to stifle that at all.

I'm a little intense sometimes, and plaintext completely loses the intonation that I'm not actually peeved, annoyed, taking any of this personally or not enjoying the debate.

I hope that the valid portions of my arguments haven't been rendered completely moot through my churlishness. Again, my apologies.
posted by loquacious at 11:56 AM on April 29, 2004

mkultra, I agree completely with your points. I wasn't debating whether or not these were good ads (only the notepad thingy is worth the attention) or that this is a good post (it's pretty lame), just that posts dealing with advertising & marketing in and of themselves can be MeFi-worthy.

on preview: loquacious, apology accepted (and one offered in return). There are some of us out here reading Advertising Age and Adbusters, and we get mighty testy being lumped in with the rest of the soulless moneywhores of advertising.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 12:07 PM on April 29, 2004

How spun are these G3(sic) adds. Last year they ran a TV commercial highlighting their engines in airplane flight. They coincided the add with the Wright Brother's 100 year anniversary of their first flight, 100 years flying.
The wrong was they lead you to believe G3 was there that day and made it possible. The Wright Brothers machined their own engines because no engine manufactures could meet their needed specs in order for a successful flight. Have deplored GE since becoming a Nikola Tesla fan, spin that G3.
posted by thomcatspike at 4:47 PM on April 29, 2004