Home > General Rants & Raves > Public Service Announcement or Hysteria-inducing Stupidity in Advertising?

Public Service Announcement or Hysteria-inducing Stupidity in Advertising?

February 28th, 2007 Leave a comment Go to comments

I immediately looked on Snopes when I saw this raw image as I just couldn’t understand how on Earth someone thought this was a good idea:
Fakebomb_2

Put a clear plastic bag with a fake bomb contained within in conspicuous spaces of a public mall with a "public service message" written on the front.  The point was to suggest that with a little attention to detail, people can avert a tragedy.

The message reads:

It’s this obvious if you are alert.  If you spot anything suspicious, please inform security.
Dummy Explosives
A public service initiative by R Mall

So, if I see a bag that contains an explosive, I should get close enough to read the tagline that says "Boom!  You’re Dead!?"

In Boston our police force blew up little aqua teen hunger force brite-lites that were part of an advertising stunt.  Could you imagine what the hell they’d do with this?

This stroke of brilliance comes from what appears to be an Indian advertising company called Y&R in Mumbai.  Unbelievable.

/Hoff

Categories: General Rants & Raves Tags:
  1. Gautam Sarnaik
    March 1st, 2007 at 01:50 | #1

    It is really frightening to see such a thing. In future how many visitors in this same place might _ignore_ something suspicious thinking it is just another 'publicity stunt' ?
    I think awareness needs to be created in the 'right' people's heads first.
    Regards
    Gautam

  1. No trackbacks yet.