Epic theme this year

[kosmonooit]

Dude what are you on about?? have you lived a very sheltered life?

 

Not quite dOOd, way to the left of mainstream though ...

 

On advertising in general: Think back to the way tobacco and cigarettes used to be advertised (if you were around then): travel, glam, adventure, and many other appealing lifestyle aspects. Will you agree that was a complete lie? more that than, it misled so many people into what has to be one of the most destructive human habits there is. Now we have hard tack liquor being glamorously advertised on the sides of building and in-your-face bill boards on the highways: yet this is the drug that costs society so much: its a catalyst for domestic violence, child rape, blah blah.. but good for business yes. That is how advertising works, and how those make-believe artists do so well. They don't care whether the product is 'good' or not, as long as the campaign is successful.

 

Not that the Epic campaign is anything as bad as the above, but I maintain that this ad campaign glorifies war.

 

My opinions, and I am trying to keep them humble: so please no need to get personal here.

Edited April 6, 2011 by kosmonooit

[madmarc]

Dont know how many of you feel the same way, but I was quite disturbed about the theme used in advertising the Cape Epic 2011, that being military / war / battle. Although I don't watch DSTV and generally spared mass media advertising, I caught some of the daily summaries at the gym, and also couldn't help but notice ads at Woolworths and in the press.

 

War is terrible. In most cases senseless. How can they use this theme, for a bike race / adventure? Sure the event is an ordeal, and a test of strength often to the extreme. But war is more that an ordeal. It's a life shattering horror for most, we should never forget it. We should respect it, and respect the memory of those that have suffered, mostly innocent people. Perhaps that's the problem, we have forgotten.

 

I am not saying some wars are not unnecessary, but some, like the horrors of the WW1 could have been avoided. And without WW1 there would not have had WW2. (Ever seen "All quite on the Western Front"?). My one grandfather, whom I never met, was in those trenches. I have lived longer than him, he was a totally shattered person when he returned, suffering from 'Shell Shock'. Just one of the millions.

 

etc etc etc

 

Not that I am a pacifist. I would fight if absolutely necessary. I just feel this glorification of war has to be challenged and rejected. And it certainly has no place in the promotion of our beloved sport of cycling.

 

Anyone feel the same? Prepared to co-sign an open letter to the man at the tjop?

 

Are you talking about the Garmin ad or the epic ad - becuase i only saw garmin using the war theme the epic theme was 2 dumbass mechanics getting lost in the bush and trying to assemble a shock blindfolded

 

the Garmin ad did bring back fond memories seeing the old browns and staaldake - and whats more - there are many good memories of those days for some as not everything was bad.

[SCHWINN LOVER]

Not wearing my cycling helmet any more,it gives me flashback to my days on the border!!

[Top Fuel]

Not wearing my cycling helmet any more,it gives me flashback to my days on the border!!

:clap: :clap:

[Mojoman]

That garmin ad always reminds me of first player video games!