State Farm Advert part Deux
#2
genec
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Of course he couldn't ride a full size bike... he sold his bike years ago for gas money.
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Of course, in this one, you'll notice that the guy is passed at one point by a "real" cyclist....
Seems like this one, the joke is more on the pitiful cager with no options, than on the "impracticality" of bicycle-commuting, in the other ad.
Seems like this one, the joke is more on the pitiful cager with no options, than on the "impracticality" of bicycle-commuting, in the other ad.
#4
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If I cared it would be better if:
-They showed him looking back before merging instead of just giving signal and merging.
-On the freeway interchange overpass he was in right most lane instead of left lane.
Al
-They showed him looking back before merging instead of just giving signal and merging.
-On the freeway interchange overpass he was in right most lane instead of left lane.
Al
#5
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I'm getting sick of all this whining about commercials using bikes and cyclists as a point of humor.
People need to get over it. There are bigger things to worry about.
People need to get over it. There are bigger things to worry about.
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Obviously, the guy's like a 12th level white wizard or something. His mere presence is a danger to mortals.
#7
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Those trivial details? Although the ad was a bit lame, I thought it was nice that they at least presented the guy in the road like he belonged.
#8
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Here we go again.
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I'm getting sick of all this whining about commercials using bikes and cyclists as a point of humor.
#11
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I don't go into the BMX forum and tell them to stop discussing bunny hops or whatever else it is that they discuss there. I'm not interested, so I spend time elsewhere.
If you think people shouldn't discuss commercials, skip the threads that discuss commercials. Maybe you're the one who "needs to get over it. There are bigger things to worry about." If reading threads "about commercials using bikes and cyclists" makes you "sick," maybe you shouldn't read them.
Your post reminds me of that old (very old) joke:
Patient: Doctor! Doctor! It hurts when I do this.
Doctor: Then stop doing that.
#12
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Media portrayals matter. It's perfectly fair to discuss and debate them, especially in a forum devoted to advocacy. Of course, some criticisms are unwarranted, and then it's fair to criticize the criticism. But saying it's never OK to discuss commercials is just silly.
I don't go into the BMX forum and tell them to stop discussing bunny hops or whatever else it is that they discuss there. I'm not interested, so I spend time elsewhere.
If you think people shouldn't discuss commercials, skip the threads that discuss commercials. Maybe you're the one who "needs to get over it. There are bigger things to worry about." If reading threads "about commercials using bikes and cyclists" makes you "sick," maybe you shouldn't read them.
Your post reminds me of that old (very old) joke:
Patient: Doctor! Doctor! It hurts when I do this.
Doctor: Then stop doing that.
I don't go into the BMX forum and tell them to stop discussing bunny hops or whatever else it is that they discuss there. I'm not interested, so I spend time elsewhere.
If you think people shouldn't discuss commercials, skip the threads that discuss commercials. Maybe you're the one who "needs to get over it. There are bigger things to worry about." If reading threads "about commercials using bikes and cyclists" makes you "sick," maybe you shouldn't read them.
Your post reminds me of that old (very old) joke:
Patient: Doctor! Doctor! It hurts when I do this.
Doctor: Then stop doing that.
The insurance company offers car insurance, not bicycle insurance, so perhaps it was illustrating a point in a tongue in cheek manner that have absolutely nothing to do with cycling or "cycling culture" or whatever, in the same way that people watched the Energizer Bunny commercial for years and it didn't make us all hate rabbits. Seriously, if you want to single out a business for portraying bikes not as viable transportation, but merely children's toys, I can see a good case for blaming Walmart, because that's exactly the sort of facsimile bikes they sell.
This silly commercial having a direct effect for good or ill on how those perceive you? Uh, no. Raising a bunch of drama on the internet? I'm sure everyone at that company will have a hell of a lot of respect for all the hardy commuting cyclists out here after reading the dumb e-mails you guys are foaming at the mouth and writing.
Just do me a favor, don't compare yourselves to MLK or Ghandi in the letters, okay?
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#13
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I take it as humorous, Their message was presented pretty clearly, in a humorous way.
People are lazy and want to avoid anything that resembles excersize, or looking foolish.
All these comments and no one mentions the car passing on the right shoulder.
ken
People are lazy and want to avoid anything that resembles excersize, or looking foolish.
All these comments and no one mentions the car passing on the right shoulder.
ken
#17
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I agree. I frequently criticize people who compare cycling rights to the 1960's Civil Rights marchers or cops at CM rallies to Nazis. But again, it's perfectly fair to criticize media portrayals.
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1. I actually thought this was funny. They obviously pull it out of proportion by showing him on a free way, and successfully riding in heavy traffic.
2. They did show him trying to keep up with a successful commuter (or messenger). Giving us some validity while making fun of us.
And there was no ugly sarcastic comment about our sensible clothing.
#19
Senior Member
I was very impressed by the VC riding and effort put in by the guy but really, the message was, life can be hard after a car accident. Who's fooling who here? It mocks cycling as a commuting option. With the man in a suit riding a kids bike, how can you miss it?
To be fair, I've seen lots of other ad's that show cycling in the city to be tremendously virile or others that show cycling to be wonderfully relaxing. It just depends on what it is the advertisers want to sell. In this instance, they're selling commuting by motor vehicle. No wonder they're mocking cycling.
I don't cause the destruction auto's do and I subsidize the medical system so those individuals who choose to commute in those expensive and dangerous autos can continue to do so. The joke's on them.
To be fair, I've seen lots of other ad's that show cycling in the city to be tremendously virile or others that show cycling to be wonderfully relaxing. It just depends on what it is the advertisers want to sell. In this instance, they're selling commuting by motor vehicle. No wonder they're mocking cycling.
I don't cause the destruction auto's do and I subsidize the medical system so those individuals who choose to commute in those expensive and dangerous autos can continue to do so. The joke's on them.
Last edited by closetbiker; 04-20-08 at 10:07 AM.
#20
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I thought this was about the new version of the State Farm ad that shows the guy in bike shorts and suit. They dropped the gal making fun of him at the end... at least in the version I saw yesterday.
Az
Az
#21
Banned
The only thing missing in this commercial was the clown suit and the circus parade.
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#22
Senior Member
#23
Banned
#24
Senior Member
I thought the man on the bicycle was being very VC.
Look at his choice of lane position again.
At one point , he is at the rightmost of the traffic lane, and a car passes him on his right (the shoulder).
Look at his choice of lane position again.
At one point , he is at the rightmost of the traffic lane, and a car passes him on his right (the shoulder).
#25
Banned
This commercial, I feel is what most US motorists' perception of people who commute by bicycle, and with that many cars behind me and a shoulder wide enough for a car to pass easily, I'd have moved right and be letting them pass to the left happily than to the right in a vile mood.
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