overreaction or legitimate concern?

[Thanatoast]

GM Pulls 'Jack Flash' Corvette Ad
By Michael Ellis

DETROIT (Reuters) - Protests from seven safety groups prompted General Motors Corp. to pull a television ad that shows a young boy driving a Corvette sports car so recklessly that it goes airborne, officials of the automaker said on Wednesday.

The ad, featuring the Rolling Stones song "Jumpin' Jack Flash," has aired repeatedly during the Olympics. The groups, including Consumers Union and the Center for Auto Safety, complained that it was "the most dangerous" spot they have seen in recent years.

Directed by singer Madonna (news - web sites)'s husband Guy Ritchie, the spot shows a boy's daydream of racing the Corvette through downtown streets and through a construction pipe. The safety groups said in a letter to GM released on Wednesday that the spot could encourage children to take their parents' cars for a drive. the rest (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040825/tv_nm/autos_gm_ad_dc_8)
I think this is an overreaction. Are there ten year olds out there dumb enough to steal their parent's car and take a joy ride? Yes. Are there adults dumb enough out there to drive that poorly as well? I see them on the highway every day. It's like people think kids can't tell the difference between fantasy and reality. Come on.

[themadchemist]

It even has the "This is a dream" disclaimer! And the ad-makers thought they'd thought of everything...

[Sun Baked]

:rolleyes: When is anybody going to start letting parents be responcible for their kids. (I guess when a majority of parents start being responcible for their kids. ;))

This is pretty stupid.Why should anyone be responsible? http://forums.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2722

Especially when there are lawyers around to point the blame at someone else.

[LeeTom]

Unfortunately, kids do go for joyrides way too young... THIS (http://www.komotv.com/stories/32738.htm) happened just a few days ago on Bainbridge Island, across from Seattle.

That being said, I do think it's overreaction. Kids that are going to take their parents' cars are going to take their parents' cars, no matter what. Hell, I did it at 14. I was just smart enough not to go 80mph.

Lee Tom

[zimv20]

once upon a time...

i had just started a new job and was 1 or 2 weeks in. i worked with a woman who had 2 daughters, i think they were 10 and 13. she was always mad at them for something or other, one day she was especially mad, going on and on about how bad her kids were.

"oh, come on," i said, "it's not like they stole a car or anything"
"that's exactly what they did!"

anyway, i haven't seen the ad, but my initial reaction is that the incident was an overreaction.

[Neserk]

:rolleyes: When is anybody going to start letting parents be responcible for their kids. (I guess when a majority of parents start being responcible for their kids. ;))

This is pretty stupid.


What he said.

[skunk]

Apple Pulls G5 Ad
By Our Correspondent

CUPERTINO (Reuters) - Protests from seven safety groups prompted Apple Computer Corp. to pull a television ad that shows a young boy using a PowerMac G5 so recklessly that it blows his house apart, officials of the computer maker said on Wednesday.

The ad, featuring an explosion and little else, has aired repeatedly. The groups, including Consumers Union and the Center for Computing Safety, complained that it was "the most dangerous" spot they have seen in recent years.

Directed by some clown or other, the spot shows a boy's daydream of using a computer to demolish a house. The safety groups said in a letter to Apple released on Wednesday that the spot could encourage men to take their parents' houses apart.
This could easily get out of control... :)

[zimv20]

This could easily get out of control... :)

England Pulls Skunk
By Our Correspondent

ALBATROSS-UPON-RUBBISHHEAP (Reuters) - Protests from seven safety groups prompted the United Kingdom to pull "Skunk," who was using an online forum so recklessly that it resulted in all contributions being spelled correctly, officials of the online forum said on Wednesday.

The forum, featuring misspelled mudslinging and little else, was corrected repeatedly. The groups, including the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Best Litle Publick Safty Group We Could Come Up Wit, complained that it was "the most dangerous" behavior they have seen in recent years.

(more)

[skunk]

LOL! :D :D

[IJ Reilly]

Very good -- probably the best laugh I'll have today, but that's probably my fault.

[mactastic]

The MacRumors Veterans for Truth will be coming after you soon Skunk.

You'll never make Spelling Police if we have anything to say about it... :D

[mouchoir]

the rest (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040825/tv_nm/autos_gm_ad_dc_8)
I think this is an overreaction. Are there ten year olds out there dumb enough to steal their parent's car and take a joy ride? Yes. Are there adults dumb enough out there to drive that poorly as well? I see them on the highway every day. It's like people think kids can't tell the difference between fantasy and reality. Come on.

they can't (always)!

remember the case of that kid that nearly killed himself years ago, by jumping through a glass patio door after watching 'teenage mutant ninja turtles'.

[skunk]

I'll be waiting in my castle. :p

[mischief]

On the subject of odd commercials (or combinations if you like....):

I was watching the Olympic recap last night and saw 3 short duration adds all lumped together. All were 15 seconds.

Kia Sedona Add, Wierd nonfat snack-bar add involving a car with a similar interior, second Kia Sedona Add. Due to the similar tone, camera angles and vehicles in the last two adds I was left with the following resulting impression:

"Kia Sedona, the nonfat mini-SUV."

Damn funny.

Why isn't anyone complaining about the GM adds involving a jacknifing 18 wheeler or the YEARS of dangerous offroad adds for the Ford Explorer (Highest rollover risk of any SUV)?

[yellow]

I actually saw that add and thought that it was pretty stupid. I understood the premise, but didn't think that kids would. Hey that kid on TV was driving a car, why can't I? Is pulling it an overreaction? Probably. Just don't forget... it's really, really, really, easy to overestimate the average intelligence of a television viewer.

[Thomas Veil]

Who among us hasn't, after seeing those Mitsubishi car ads, felt the urge to climb on the back of an open 18-wheeler and throw barbecue grills and bowling balls at cars following us? :rolleyes:

[zimv20]

so that's why "Mike's BBQ Grill and Bowling Ball Emporium" was out of stock...

[mischief]

Who among us hasn't, after seeing those Mitsubishi car ads, felt the urge to climb on the back of an open 18-wheeler and throw barbecue grills and bowling balls at cars following us? :rolleyes:

Haven't seen the add but have had the urge.

[blackfox]

Man, not having watched TV for a couple years has put me at a serious disadvantage w/ regards to pop. culture conversations...

I wanna play the reindeer games....damn.

[Thomas Veil]

Haven't seen the add but have had the urge.
http://www.seewhathappens.com/ It's at the bottom of the page. Fulfill your urges vicariously. ;)