DailyDirt: Ads Gone Wrong

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Commercials are always trying to get people's attention -- sometimes by being controversial and sometimes by being shocking. But even when a company tries to broadcast only sensitive and feel-good messages, there will always be some folks pointing out that companies don't really care about people as much as profits. Here are just a few advertisements that might have just missed getting their message across. If you'd like to read more awesome and interesting stuff, check out this unrelated (but not entirely random!) Techdirt post via StumbleUpon.
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Filed Under: ads, advertising, commercials, economist, failures, jokes, publicity
Companies: dove, dr pepper, ford, gm, hyundai


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  1. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 6 May 2013 @ 5:18pm

    Maxim for Nerds...?

    Isn't that Wired magazine?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 6 May 2013 @ 6:43pm

    showing the evolution of humans -- starting with a chimp-like ancestor and ending with a modern upright person

    oh, that's a 'geeky joke' !!!!

    and the Grand Canyon was carved out by the great flood of Noah.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    zem, 6 May 2013 @ 7:35pm

    And why do you expect more?

    An add exists to try an make you buy something. While it may use art, science and morality in the sales pitch it is NOT ART, SCIENCE OR MORALITY.

    When you view advertising with the respect it deserves (ie not much) there is no suprise when they get it wrong.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    Pixelation, 6 May 2013 @ 8:42pm

    My favorite is the "Bad Terrorist" VW commercial.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. icon
    Michael Ho (profile), 6 May 2013 @ 10:47pm

    Re: Bad terrorist

    That was not a real ad -- it was a viral video made without VW's consent.

    http://www.snopes.com/photos/advertisements/vwpolo.asp

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 6 May 2013 @ 11:23pm

    In what backwater nation would the idea of evolution possibly be considered controversial? Oh..

    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. icon
    Rikuo (profile), 7 May 2013 @ 1:38am

    Re: And why do you expect more?

    Au contraire, some ads do elevate to the level of pure art.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGykVbfgUE

    They've done a whole series of ads based on that one, and they are AWESOME. Still haven't bought Old Spice, but I love watching the ads.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  8. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 7 May 2013 @ 4:56am

    Re: Re: Bad terrorist

    link to this | view in thread ]

  9. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 7 May 2013 @ 9:23am

    I think the Evolution one looks funny.. And it's a joke sort of. I don't see how it bothers me, unless they do that as forcing the belief to people who don't believe Evolution.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  10. icon
    RyanNerd (profile), 7 May 2013 @ 9:30am

    Re: Maxim for Nerds...?

    What are you talking about? I have a Nerdgasm every time I read The Economist.

    link to this | view in thread ]


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