Most Horrendous and Tasteless Running Shoe Ad... EVER!

124

Replies

  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Like someone else said, poor execution. The joke itself, I am ok with. The visual was a bit much for me.

    I dont get the whole abuse part, nor do I believe it is encouraging that or even trying to educate. To me, it was a joke about the shoes making you go faster/farther.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Oh stop it, it's meant to be funny, I love dogs as much as anyone else but we need to lighten up as a society. Smile from time to time it's meant to be funny and clever and promote a running shoe. Plus I'm pretty sure it's not a real dog
    I have a pretty fantastic sense of humor, but I don't see anything funny about that ad. It's pretty stupid, actually.
  • Kamikazeflutterby
    Kamikazeflutterby Posts: 770 Member
    Humans can run longer than any other mammal. Before projectiles were invented (bows and arrows) people ran their prey to death. The reason why we don't die (albeit with proper preparation) doing things like the Ironman or Ultramarathons is because our ancestors had to be able to out run our prey or starve.

    Partially correct. Humans cannot run longer than any mammal, but you are right that there's a theory that we ran prey to death. There's also a theory that we just used our ability to run to beat other scavengers to remains, it just sounds less dramatic that way.

    Either way, animals bred for endurance are more likely to have innate endurance running abilities without training. We have to work for it before we're in danger of harming doggie distance runners.


    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/health/27well.html
    http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/sports/physics/animal-kingdom-top-marathon-runners-sled-dogs

    And just for fun, Man vs Horse
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_versus_Horse_Marathon
  • chelseascounter
    chelseascounter Posts: 1,283 Member
    this is so bad it's funny :laugh:
  • allaboutthecake
    allaboutthecake Posts: 1,535 Member
    Awe come ON! This is Hilarious!! Read the Fine Print at the bottom "Ranger is not really dead, he's just playing dead". Now...how many dog lovers wouldn't LUV to have a pet who was such a fine actor that he got a paid gig!! :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

    The human actor isn't even dripping with sweat.....:laugh: :laugh:
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    Am I the only one who saw that pic and thought "this is evidence for the endurance running hypothesis of human evolution?"

    on a more serious note... yes I agree that pet owners need to be aware that most other mammals are not adapted for running long distances. We sweat over our whole bodies and have very little hair compared to other mammals. Most other mammals evolved to sprint (either to escape danger or catch prey) for short distances. Humans are crap sprinters but can run marathons. It's thought that our ancestors circa 2 million years ago hunted by running their prey literally to the point of heat exhaustion, i.e chase it, it gets away, track it, chase it again, it gets away again, track it, chase it.. never let it rest or cool down, for hours if necessary, until it collapses from heat exhaustion. But humans with our relatively hairless bodies and ability to sweat all over can endure the distance and the heat and survive the chase and win. So don't expect your pets to be able to do the same as they're not physiologically adapted to it. And humans wouldn't want to run marathons wearing a fur coat that they're unable to remove.

    As for the ad... tasteless, well somewhat, but I'm expecting they're going for shock value to get more attention to their brand, and obviously the dog's acting. And I think it's a good thing for pet owners to be trained in how to do CPR on their pet, and if the ad gives people the message that a) most other mammals can't do endurance running like humans do and b) learning CPR for your pet is a good idea, then actually I think it's a very good ad. I'd never heard of CPR for dogs before, nor was I aware that some people take their dogs on very long runs that are too much for dogs to cope with.

    ^ I'm pretty much with this.

    My first reaction was, well of course we can outrun our pets. Take care of them.

    It was mildly amusing, but the negative reactions seems way over the top to me. But, in some ways, it has a positive message of not over running your dog and learning to care for them.
  • sorcha1977
    sorcha1977 Posts: 133 Member
    So if you saw this in REAL life: A man who ran his dog SO hard that he has to give it CPR. Would you be disgusted and call it abuse or would you think, "Gee I wonder what kind of runners he has on?"
    I am sure they meant it to be funny and to prove a point. With many people: they failed. I'm sure some people "get it". I don't.

    Newsflash: advertisements are not "real life".
  • eric_sg61
    eric_sg61 Posts: 2,925 Member
    Kids will go to bed starving tonight and that ad is what gets your panties in a bunch.............1st world problems
  • jonsey_s
    jonsey_s Posts: 222
    Oh get a grip.

    It's called humour.
  • Velum_cado
    Velum_cado Posts: 1,608 Member
    It's not funny, but, meh.
  • DaniettaF
    DaniettaF Posts: 212 Member
    i didn't think it was funny...i found it to be extremely bizarre

    This ^

    I don't really see what all the fuss is about.
    I love dogs, I have owned one, and I love all animals - ask anyone, but I fail to see why this has caused such an uproar.
    There are a million bigger issues in the world than this to get upset about.

    Its almost as ridiculous as everyone going ape about Miley Cyrus at the moment.
  • DaniettaF
    DaniettaF Posts: 212 Member
    Kids will go to bed starving tonight and that ad is what gets your panties in a bunch.............1st world problems

    Definitely first world problems!!! I nearly said it myself.
  • metaphoria
    metaphoria Posts: 1,432 Member
    This reminds me of the time I said I like to play Kitten Cannon on the computer, and a woman responded like I was actually shooting cats into the air in my back yard.

    *disclaimer* I've never knowingly used a live animal as ammo. I just like the cartoon game.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Kids will go to bed starving tonight and that ad is what gets your panties in a bunch.............1st world problems

    Definitely first world problems!!! I nearly said it myself.

    I never really understood this argument. Yes, we are all aware of many far more important things that go on in the world on a daily basis. Does that mean that we can't discuss anything else?
    Not to mention political and religious discussions are not allowed on the main forums and this topic actually is sort of fitness related.
  • _Waffle_
    _Waffle_ Posts: 13,049 Member
    Everyone relax. It clearly says at the bottom of the ad that the dog is just playing dead. It's an amusing advertisement. Everything doesn't need to be taken so literally.
  • brower47
    brower47 Posts: 16,356 Member
    My dogs look like that 22 out of 24 hours a day. I one day pretended to give my GSP CPR when my mom asked if he was dead. She laughed, he raised his head and looked at me funny before sighing and 'playing dead' again.

    The unnecessary stress hormones some people subject themselves to due to piddly stuff like this is what's really horrendous.
  • Skrib69
    Skrib69 Posts: 687 Member
    Love it or hate it, the ad has done it's job - you are all talking about it! This is why such adverts are run - I am sure many of you remember the Beneton campaigns of a few years ago.


    Personally, I think it is fine!
  • Skrib69
    Skrib69 Posts: 687 Member
    My dogs look like that 22 out of 24 hours a day. I one day pretended to give my GSP CPR when my mom asked if he was dead. She laughed, he raised his head and looked at me funny before sighing and 'playing dead' again.

    The unnecessary stress hormones some people subject themselves to due to piddly stuff like this is what's really horrendous.

    QFT!!! And our dog would happily out-run my wife who is a keen runner
  • Cindyinpg
    Cindyinpg Posts: 3,902 Member
    I am not stressing over it. I didn't like the ad and thought it was tasteless. I wanted to see what others felt, particularly from a marketing standpoint. Here seemed like a good place to discuss it, as many people here are undoubtedly runners and buy this product or others like it. Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion, but I am not upset one bit about this or any ther advertisement. First world problem, like others have said, but worth discussing IMHO because it is interesting how different people react to different marketing tactics.
  • brower47
    brower47 Posts: 16,356 Member
    I am not stressing over it. I didn't like the ad and thought it was tasteless. I wanted to see what others felt, particularly from a marketing standpoint. Here seemed like a good place to discuss it, as many people here are undoubtedly runners and buy this product or others like it. Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion, but I am not upset one bit about this or any ther advertisement. First world problem, like others have said, but worth discussing IMHO because it is interesting how different people react to different marketing tactics.

    The title you gave to your thread would run contrary to this given the qualifier of 'most', the capitalization of 'ever' and the use of an exclamation point.
  • sunglasses_and_ocean_waves
    sunglasses_and_ocean_waves Posts: 2,757 Member
    I laughed! Maybe I'm a horrible person, but opening the post ever reading that title made me LOL. Not a good ad, but Heaven help me I laughed. If I scroll up, I might laugh again.
  • wild_wild_life
    wild_wild_life Posts: 1,334 Member
    I am not stressing over it. I didn't like the ad and thought it was tasteless. I wanted to see what others felt, particularly from a marketing standpoint. Here seemed like a good place to discuss it, as many people here are undoubtedly runners and buy this product or others like it. Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion, but I am not upset one bit about this or any ther advertisement. First world problem, like others have said, but worth discussing IMHO because it is interesting how different people react to different marketing tactics.

    For me a lot of it was the red banner saying "Can you handle the downsides of a more efficient run?" along with the picture. As if it were a minor inconvenience/side effect of running better. I didn't even read the fine print until later. It seems to me the image is going to be what strikes people, not the fine print. It just didn't strike me as a joke at all.

    I think the fact that the company pulled the ad and apologized says a lot about the public reaction though. It was just poorly thought out.

    As for the first world thing, yeah, I guess we should cure world hunger, war and malaria before we worry about respect for life . . . oh wait . . .
  • FitCurves444
    FitCurves444 Posts: 169 Member
    I think that from your address of "animal advocate", everything is animal abuse if you disagree with "it".

    This ad is not painting a picture of a bad dog owner. In the contrary, people who love their pets usually get them involved in outdoor walks/hikes/runs with them. This ad is the idea that the shoes will give you so much endurance, that you will out-run your dog. Dogs usually run faster, further and longer than "their" human, that's the point. At least that is what I see.

    But, you don't have to like the ad or even buy the shoes. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I am certain that more people will agree with you........ and the shoe company will not take your opinion lightly. I just don't think this is the right place or channel to get on your animal rights soap-box. You are not going to get all of the support or agreement that you sought out for out of this ad in MFP. You are more likely to get a "Get a grip, Lady, this ad is not the most horrendous and tasteless running shoe ad.....EVER!"
  • Cindyinpg
    Cindyinpg Posts: 3,902 Member
    I am not stressing over it. I didn't like the ad and thought it was tasteless. I wanted to see what others felt, particularly from a marketing standpoint. Here seemed like a good place to discuss it, as many people here are undoubtedly runners and buy this product or others like it. Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion, but I am not upset one bit about this or any ther advertisement. First world problem, like others have said, but worth discussing IMHO because it is interesting how different people react to different marketing tactics.

    The title you gave to your thread would run contrary to this given the qualifier of 'most', the capitalization of 'ever' and the use of an exclamation point.
    Well, in my opinion it IS the worst ad for runners ever. Exclamations points and capitalization does not imply that I am upset or invested in this on a personal level. Disgusted maybe, but I will not lose any sleep over it. I apologize if the title made me appear to be over-reacting and I understand where some of the posters are coming from when they say it is meant to be funny, but I stand by my opinion that it is tasteless to the extreme and I am glad they will not be using it anymore. But I don't care whether it hurts the company or not. I was only interested in the thoughts of others. :flowerforyou:
  • Mother_Superior
    Mother_Superior Posts: 1,624 Member
    h8154E262
  • MercenaryNoetic26
    MercenaryNoetic26 Posts: 2,747 Member
    He's playing dead pretty good there!
  • conniemaxwell5
    conniemaxwell5 Posts: 943 Member
    As a life long dog owner, I don't view this ad as cruel, but I don't appreciate the image of a dog in distress to try and sell me shoes. I get it, I understand the message they're sending, but the image is sad and painful and I probably wouldn't have taken the time to read the print in the ad because I would have wanted to skip past it as quickly as possible.
  • Lleldiranne
    Lleldiranne Posts: 5,516 Member
    I'll be honest: I don't know what I would have thought if I'd seen the ad in a magazine or something. I was kind of primed to be offended by the title of the post. Those of you who are having strong reactions on either side, think about it … did you click on the title ready to be up-in-arms about a horrible ad or ready to defend the humor/strategy of advertising? I'm not saying everyone was, or that any responses were anything but genuine, but one thing that marketing does is lead us in to their viewpoint (or alternately push us away … depending a lot on your previous ideas) and then present something like this. Yes, side note, I know, but I'm all for meta-cognition and self awareness. [note: not blaming the OP for this, it may have been unintentional; we do things like this all the time. But ad people capitalize on it!]

    My other thought is that, regardless of the point of the ad, yes, we runners do need to be aware of the needs and limitations of our pooches who run with us. I have a 6 year old Aussie Cattle Dog (Blue Heeler). She LOVES to run with me, and I'm not even particularly fast or much of a distance runner (3 miles in 40 minutes or so right now, a lot of it walking still) … but I've noticed that she is starting to wear out before I do. Yet, if I'm not careful and observant, she'll happily soldier on because she wants to run with her human and she wants to please her human. She's also getting to be middle aged; a year ago she was doing this kind of running with me with not many problems. So it's my job (and all dog owners' jobs) to pay attention and slow down for her, take breaks, provide water, or leave her home for longer runs.

    If the ad makes people a bit more aware of that, great! I don't know if many people will think of that on seeing the ad, though. On the other hand, I don't think it would induce me to buy their shoes, or to not buy their shoes.
  • GiddyupTim
    GiddyupTim Posts: 2,819 Member
    Yeah, I like dogs.
  • Rurouni_Kou
    Rurouni_Kou Posts: 180 Member
    I laughed! Maybe I'm a horrible person, but opening the post ever reading that title made me LOL. Not a good ad, but Heaven help me I laughed. If I scroll up, I might laugh again.

    Same here. I love the ad, but the thing is I have a dark and morbid sense of humor and I, unlike the advertisers, know better than to subject people to my humor to try and sell something since for most people it won't go over well and there'd be a storm of protests over it.

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