March 29, 2004

• It's interesting how the ad plays off puritan values - and that it is a Texas version of the ad.
• If we are to be subjected to advertising, it might as well be as entertaining and interesting as possible. However, I have noticed that often the more 'interesting' an advertising campaign is, the more right the marketers incorrectly feel they have to make it more obtrusive or unavoidable.
• I don't have a problem with it, provided it's interesting/entertaining and is labelled as commercial content. Others may differ. However, those who disingenuously self-promote (or shill for their corporate overlords) on this site should be subjected to merciless cacadation.
• I'll weigh in as a con. If there's to be a rule about advertising related posts, it should be no advertising related posts. That said, I liked the transformer, and I also like this skiing ostrich [Windows Media].
• I appreciate many TV ads today purely on their aesthetic vaue. Would I go as far as to call it 'art'? Don't know; some of them, and a few music videos, strike me as the modern version of sponsored works. 'Yes, I'm a whore, but at least I create beautiful things in the process'. Mmmmhh... As for viral stuff, those long-winded campaings building anticipation, via short, cryptic ads which don't reveal the product indentity make me angry, for inflicting their memes on our attentyion spans.
• our attentyion spans. Sorry for laughing at that. Unworthy, etc.
• Viral marketing doesn't work - tell everyone you know.
• Big, fat NO!!! Even though I do get sucked in sometimes, no, no, no.
• That old man scares me. Like Urkel and Kojak smooshed together. I want my Daddy! Waaah!
• I don't have a problem with advertising that is at least somewhat entertaining. It means someone is putting an effort into keeping your interest by coming up with something different and creative. And posting it here doesn't bother me much either, since the focus is apparently on discussing the ad, not Six Flags itself. So, I would say the term "Corporate Whore" does not apply in this case. Unless you were paid to post the ad, in which case you owe me and the other readers a case of Dr. Pepper (TM).
• Or unless this becomes something compulsive :)
• I hate that commercial. It is obvious that the "old guy" is not old. As soon as I saw the guy in makeup I said to myself, "oh no, here comes another old people acting weird commercial." Not to mention the irritating music. Thumbs down.
• I had the same thoughts as jccalhoun. And the Vengaboys aren't going to change anyone's worldview.
• First of all, this commercial has a fundamental redeeming value: it is not rude. It's not obscene and from my perspective, does not try to be funny in an unpleasant way. This means that, unlike most commercials, it does not make me biased against their product. The advertisement has a reasonable argument too: that if you want to have fun, consider Six Flags. I don't think the old man is insulting per-se, because I think it shows a lack of age discrimination, which is good. However, the fact that he cannot walk properly at the very beginning could be a problem. Having said that, there are several problems I have with it
• Disclosure: I am a marketing scumbag executive. That said? I think the line between interesting post and marketing fuckery lies at the point of self interest. If I post an FPP (do we use that term here?) that points up some interesting marketing/advertising/whatever oddment that I have nothing to do with? OK. If I post the latest press release from my company's website? Not OK.
• i couldn't get the video to play smoothly...what is 'six flags' anyhow?
• Six Flags is an amusement park chain in the USA. if you enjoy standing in line for two hours for a 5 minute rollercoaster ride its the place to go. viral marketing affects me minimally. i don't watch TV, i don't have cable. i do appreciate well done commercials. i also feel that any commercial with a squirrel in it is a well done commercial.
• How do I feel about viral marketing? I feel great!!! YEAH!!! But I still eat yogurt and toast for breakfast.
• Disclosure: Stupid shit annoys the piss out of me. My thoughts: commercial was obnoxious but, thankfully, forgettable; the guy dancing unnaturally was quite disturbing; and that song is (still) irritating. Overall, it left me with a very negative impression. Finally, Six Flags is going to have to offer me much more value in their commercials in order to convince me to drive 2.5 hours to their nearest park so I can shell out ~$50 to stand in line all day. /focus group
• i'd like to say keep the advertising out of this - i really don't like ads, i try to avoid them, and even the clever ones get old after a bit - and i don't generally buy products from companies that have really annoying ads or blatant disregard for their customers - but i have to admit that i've found some good products by reading the threads here and at mefi. (i've been buying pom wonderful juice after a mention on mefi, and due to a recent thread here i bought (and quite liked) quorn, just this weekend.) so, let's just say if the product is worth mentioning on it's own merit, go ahead and talk about it in a related post. but don't post it on the front page, unless the ad campaign is unusual or controversial enough (or you're clever enough) to make the campaign itself worthy of discussion. how about that?
• niccolo: This miracle of genetics, or at any rate, eating patterns, is one I have observed holidaying in New Caledonia. The beaches of Noumea feature a plentiful supply of nearly nude thirty-somethin French women; slim-hipped, gazelle like, and with 3 children in tow. Meanwhile, their paunchy husbands loll about beside them.
• rodgerd: Where, pray tell, could I find their 20-something, gazelle-like, American counterparts? (Sans offspring, obviously.) For long have I hunted in pursuit of these mysterious American gazelle women of legend. But, alas, they are as elusive and swift as the savannah wind itself.
• I think McDonalds and corn syrup did for most of them, and breast implants finished off the rest.
• wedge - teach college. 20-somethings abound. and for some reason they seem to spend a lot of time hunched over the lab benches, showing off their butt-floss which invariably peeks up out of the low-rider pants. personally, it makes me rather uncomfortable... it's hard to teach when you're afraid to make eye contact lest you be considered a pervert. seriously, i guess it makes me an old prude, but i don't need to know what color undies the kids in my classes wear. and no, it won't help your grade. (i'm just sayin'...)
• Actually that's nice to hear, clf. That, alone, puts you a notch above. IMHO.
• Outdoor-education training programs are another good place to find them, Wedge. Entirely too many sun tattoos, but you get excellent muscle tone in exchange.