When an adverts goes too far

[Riotguards]

so yeah, surfing the web i'm doing all things i usually do and then suddenly BAAM, i find a video posted about a product, me being curious i go check it out

now i understand that advertisers are trying to one up each other and/or promote their products however they can

which for the most part is pretty acceptable but this video just left me speechless, literally speechless, even though i play games and watch videos of somewhat similar situations (abeit a lot younger and less realistic) this one just put that knife in me and made me feel really bad

go watch it and tell me what you felt when you watched it and tell me your opinion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4JzxG0cnpg#t=45


and if you have any other adverts you feel that pushed you the wrong way, not something that was just poorly done but the method they used just pushing that boundary you find offensive or too close to home

 

[Barbas]

It uses shock tactics to sell things to people. As was mentioned in the YouTube comments, it's an unpleasant but effective marketing technique. Someone has already started a petition to remove the advertisement:

https://www.change.org/petitions/life-alert-emergency-response-inc-remove-the-basement-commercial#share

I'm not sure about it, myself. Maybe it would've been better off as a PSA, because at least people are more prepared for those to hit you with shock tactics. Using fear to sell a product just rubs me the wrong way...

EDIT: This was written in the YouTube comments by the person who created the petition:

I tried to communicate my opinion on this commercial to them through their Facebook page. My comment was deleted with an hour, and I was banned from commenting on the page. I simply said that there are people who have anxiety disorders and that the commercial nearly gave me a panic attack. I didn't cuss at them or anything

I don't use Facebook, but if someone wants to look at their page, here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/lifealert

 

[Frezzato]

That was both grotesque and hilarious to me. It was horrifying, but it also reminded me of the original "I've fallen and I can't get up" commercials that were beyond cheesy. The new commercial almost seems like a parody, a "gritty reboot" of the old ones from the 80s.

Spoiler: One of the originals

-

These didn't rub me the wrong way, but a part of me wonders just how far is too far. I honestly think somebody's going to get killed or seriously hurt because companies or people are so desperate to go viral.

Spoiler: The Last Exorcism 2 Prank/Commercial

Perhaps this one could have gone badly, but it didnt.

Spoiler: The LG Meteor Prank/Commercial

I have to admit, this one is kind of cool.

Spoiler: Dinosaur Prank in Brazil

This one's not a commercial, it's just bizarre. The absurdity of it all really makes me giggle though.

 

[tippy2k2]

Here is the video embedded for those who wish to see the commercial

I'm of two minds on this commercial. On one hand, using fear in this way to sell a product is at best, sleazy as hell.

However...this is EXACTLY why this product exists. Was it a little heavy handed? Certainly but it's one of those things that people don't think they need...until they need it. It's easy to overlook a little old lady saying that she doesn't go anywhere without her life alert; it's another thing to show WHY she doesn't go anywhere without her life alert.

As to the question at hand, I still give my vote as the very worst commercial to Dead Space 2. The topic died virtually immediately but this is my post from the "Worst Ads" [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.850239-Worst-ads#21004208] topic a week ago or so.

I still argue (and will continue to argue until someone does the impossible and proves it wrong) that the Dead Space "Your Mom Hates this game" ad is the worst and most insulting ad to have ever disgraced television.

Spoiler

At best, it's incredibly stupid and insulting to gamers implying that violence and death is the only thing we should care about in a game.

At worst, it actively HURT the entire game industry. This commercial clearly is directed toward kids (since what kind of a sad and pathetic adult would EVER be swayed by the argument that their mommy will hate it and therefore you should buy this game?) at a time when states (specifically California) was in the middle of a giant court battle to determine if gaming should become on par with alcohol and cigarettes and make it against the law to sell M-rated games to minors.

And I still stand by it

 

[Queen Michael]

Jesus

Joseph

and Mary.

That was tasteless.

And those LifeAlert people are causing more accidents than they're fixing. My grandma falls now and then, and now she can't tell people she's fallen and she can't get up since that phrase is copyrighted. Suuuuuuuuch a hassle.

 

[Riotguards]

I'm of two minds on this commercial. On one hand, using fear in this way to sell a product is at best, sleazy as hell.

However...this is EXACTLY why this product exists. Was it a little heavy handed? Certainly but it's one of those things that people don't think they need...until they need it. It's easy to overlook a little old lady saying that she doesn't go anywhere without her life alert; it's another thing to show WHY she doesn't go anywhere without her life alert.

As to the question at hand, I still give my vote as the very worst commercial to Dead Space 2. The topic died virtually immediately but this is my post from the "Worst Ads" topic a week ago or so.

i do agree on one purpose it brings awareness to the problem that this type of event is not as rare as people might think

however its so heavy on this point that it just makes it generally unpleasant to watch as this women struggles to call for help that will never come (or the way the ad puts it)

i mean in my opinion i think it would have been even better if she had been at least "saved" or at least the audience knows she's going to be alright because then it serves both the shock and doesn't push you to the point of uneasiness



now on the dead space 2 advert, i think it was a stupid advert, sure it got the internet talking but this isn't a game rated for 12 year old's, they should be advertising to their customers who are 18+ (and yes i know kiddies do buy it but at least pretend you don't know about it)

the advert honestly looks as if it was targeting said audience, i mean its obvious they're targeting children who only wish to do something that their parents wouldn't agree with

why else would they show disgusted parents

 

[sky14kemea]

That was both grotesque and hilarious to me. It was horrifying, but it also reminded me of the original "I've fallen and I can't get up" commercials that were beyond cheesy. The new commercial almost seems like a parody, a "gritty reboot" of the old ones from the 80s.

Oh thank God I'm not the only one who thought that when they heard her say "I've fallen and I can't get up."

I can kinda see where people are coming from with it going too far. It's like they're trying to make it a horror film with the music over it.