WAG - Angry backlash at commercials # 1225:
I’m trying to keep this as short, painless, and empty of pointed invectives on advertisers’ lack of intelligence as I can.
But I make no promises.
Any commercials – television, print, online, broadcast, etc – that feature references to holidays should be barred the day they reference arrive.
I believe I am being generous here. I am allotting an extra day more than I would think is wise. I would bar them from airing on the holiday itself, since in most cases, if the message hasn’t been received yet an extra 24 hours won’t make a difference either, but I am being kind.
After the clock strikes midnight, and the event has come to a close, however, there should be no more topical allusions to those holidays for another six-months (I would stretch it out farther, but this year I discovered Christmas items being marketed in the late summer).
As a addition, I would tolerate (not approve or like, but would allow) updated commercials that reference the completion of the holidays – signaling Santa’s relief and subsequent vacationing in the tropics or signaling post-holiday sales/markdowns – but even then these commercials should only be aired no more than a week after the originally cited celebration.
I’ve stated all that to say this:
I SHOULDN’T STILL BE SEEING COMMERICALS FEATURING THE PERFECT GIFT, CAROLERS, REINDEER, OR SANTA CLAUS’ PROLONGED QUEST TO DRAG PRESENTS DOWN THE CHIMNEY.
All of you advertisers who have committed commercial crimes identical or similar to the list stated above have gone too far by going on too long.
I understand you must have put spent a bit of money on the British actor who play your Scrooge. I’m sure some adolescent tech brain requested overtime pay for the time spent rendering your company’s logo in Christmas color. Re-cutting old footage of merchandise with fresh shots of Santa’s workshop must have cost extra money somewhere.
Get over it.
The holidays came, you made your money. WHY DON’T YOU MOVE ON?
We have… or rather, we’d like to if you’d let us.
If you give us a break, in both literal and spiritual terms, you know we’ll come back to see those recycled holiday commercials in another couple of months (and though you didn’t this year, could you try waiting till after Halloween this year?). We won’t do it eagerly, but you’ll at least have given us a chance to build up our patience or restore our tolerency level for a while.
I know abuses will still occur until New Years, at the least, but I hope I’ve given voice and some comfort to those equally distressed/irked by the approach that comes too early and stays too late.
Holidays are special and meant to be remembered year round – but that is to take place in the heart – the human marketplace of ideas and not just the marketplace.
'I_ll__see__you__in__August__Santa'
