While driving on the 407 I read the sign, “No transponder video toll charges added.” I thought, “Huh. Well, that’s nice of them. No charges!” But when i received my bill *gasp* there they were…video toll charges!!!
Well, the 407 Customer Service people kindly explained that if I do not have a transponder then I will have video toll charges added. To which I replied, “Then the sign should read, ‘No transponder? Video toll charges added.’”
Stupid me? No, stupid them. It is small (yet obviously) important pieces of the English language that allow us to communicate properly. Just one tiny little question mark changes the sentence to read some different - the exact opposite actually.
Do you think I could get back those charges over this? I may actually try. Ill let you know how it works out.
While I don’t think that this Intel Ad was intentionally racist I do understand why it could be bothersome to most people.
I recognize the sprinter from other ads, but did they have to make them exactly alike? Perhaps a mix or ethnicities and genders wouldn’t make them look like robots, or slaves.
Of course they came out with their apologetic statement and pulled the ad. But apologizing for what exactly? Being insensitive? Does the PR department have to apologize whenever someone makes a stink? I know there are people out there that don’t agree that this ad looks rasict, so, what about their opinion?
It doesn’t count because the squeaky wheel gets the oil.
In today’s age, creative marketing has really taken on a new meaning. With fake commercials on you tube (here’s a link to a great blog about it) and Actors posing as consumers (in the middle of the street in real life) who knows what is real anymore! Take this article for example - was the guy really lucky? Or was this just a sham and the ultimate sales pitch?
Like I said, in today’s age of marketing, who knows? But at least its creative.
