When Will They Learn? Yet Another Video Game Law Declared Unconstitutional

GM Slow To React... Or Right On Schedule With Create-Your-Own Ad Controversy?

from the GM-gets-the-second-bounce-as-well dept

Mon, Apr 3rd 2006 6:41pm — Mike Masnick

News.com has an article suggesting that GM somehow screwed up with its online create-your-own ad program that allowed tons of anti-GM ads to be created and passed around online. The article uses the headline that GM was somehow "slow to react" and then quotes all sorts of horrified marketing experts who can't believe GM didn't plan ahead for this and filter all the ads. Except... if you read the quotes from GM, it seems that the story may be quite different. They say that they won't block the negative ads, and that they recognize there are differences of opinion and not everyone agrees with where GM stands. They have started screening for "offensive" content, which makes sense. However, it seems like perhaps GM understood what would happen a lot more than the so-called "experts" in the article give them credit for. In this day, anyone opening up such a contest has to know that it'll be used for "anti" ads. It's happened so often that they must have expected it. In fact, by then being open about it, GM is getting even more mileage from this campaign, and making it appear that they are more open to listening to those who disagree with them. Rather than reflecting negatively on GM, as the experts (and the reporters) would have you believe, GM actually comes out of it looking pretty good. So, it's questionable as to whether or not GM was "slow to react" or if they are simply doing everything according to plan.

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13 Comments

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Chris, 3 Apr 2006 @ 7:50pm

Unfortuantely they are censoring non-offensive sub
See here: http://consumerist.com/consumer/top/consumermade-ad-mocks-chevy-164318.php

Either you guys are wrong or Chevy considers criticism of their urban assualt vehicle's wasteful ways "offensive."
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nonuser, 3 Apr 2006 @ 8:41pm

you're right Mike
I'm sure the creative team anticipated all this and they sold the brass on the (correct) theory - craploads of attention by a target demographic has to be good. But this is Detroit we're talking about, so don't be surprised if some VP goes ballistic and puts the kibosh on it, if they haven't already.
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Mousky, 3 Apr 2006 @ 9:09pm

Lucky vs Smart
GM cannot get its act together in the manufacturing and sale of vehicles but it can supposedly get a marketing campaign right. I don't buy it - GM got lucky.
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alternatives, 3 Apr 2006 @ 9:15pm

making Lemonaide
The Internet is giving them lemons, so they are trying to make as much lemonaide as they can.

The 'positive' ad they will cherry-pick for free is worth the negative ads being passed about in the group that, mostlikey, was not going to buy the product anyway.
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Darin Codon, 4 Apr 2006 @ 12:26am

GM Allowing Negative Ads
I don't want to speak for GM, but, facilitating negative content is a really good idea for comjpanies who want to thrive in the digital age.

Enabling open dialogue is a key to democracy and survival of companies who want to thrive in it.

There are obvious examples in tech and I see this as a very positive trend.
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Anonymous Coward, 4 Apr 2006 @ 12:56am

GM will be long gone by the time most Americans realize global warming was real. But for now they're probably hitting their conspicious consumption anti-tree hugging demographic right on the head.
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Andrew Strasser, 4 Apr 2006 @ 2:09am

A new addage
Get your tracking device and your Ice cap melter all in one place.

I mean seriously they'll spend millions, maybe even billions on advertising their product.

What is being done to fix the problems Glbally that their products are creating at a very hightened speed?

This:

"Either you guys are wrong or Chevy considers criticism of their urban assualt vehicle's wasteful ways "offensive."
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Dominic Jones, 4 Apr 2006 @ 3:36am

GM thick-skinned, like Tahoe drivers
By allowing this free expression -- within the bounds of decency -- GM is demonstrating that it can take a barb or two and not get flustered. Just like the people who might want to drive a Tahoe. In fact, GM has hit a high for credibility.
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Anonymous, 4 Apr 2006 @ 5:25am

Maybe GM will take a hint...
Maybe GM will finally realize that their stuff sucks (and not only gas) and that the likes of Honda and Toyota are going to put them out of business soon. Unless all American brand name car manufacturers start taking a hint and making some thing that actually lasts more than 100k miles and gets decent milage, Detroit will soon be a ghost town.
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Wizard Prang, 4 Apr 2006 @ 7:04am

Do we really care?
How many car ads push good gas mileage as a selling point? None that I have seen.

Are we really interested in saving money and the environment, or do we want to leave that to someone else while we take the V-8 option pack?
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David McArthur, 4 Apr 2006 @ 7:41am

How many car ads push good gas mileage as a sellin
The REV4.

But it is a Toyoda
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Wade Menard, 4 Apr 2006 @ 10:18am

Re: A new addage
"What is being done to fix the problems Glbally that their products are creating at a very hightened speed?"

Having more E85 compatible vehicles on the road than any other company?
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Anonymous of Course, 4 Apr 2006 @ 11:17am

Arrogance, Ego, Ignorance
The climate will change, it always has and it always
will. There's little man can do, except, perhaps,
advance or retard the inevitable.

That said. I despise wastefulness. Economy of
action is a virtue. However if a person wants to
spend /their/ money on an SUV- let them. It will
look lovely up on blocks in their front yard when
the price of gasoline is too dear.

If the Spectrum had been a smashing success,
GM would have tooled up for economy vehicles
and turning them out like popcorn. They're in
business to make money, not save the world.
That's your job. I mean if you're not driving some
minimalist three-cylinder automobile you're a bit of
a hypocrite in my opinion.

GM has made some mistakes and had some
successes. Let the empty headed echo chambers
say what they will.

The down side of being big is it takes a long time
to change direction when required. I hope GM can
develop a big, safe, fuel-efficient, vehicle in time to
stay afloat. So many people depend on GM for
their livelihood. For them to fold would be disastrous.
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