Given the responses that share my point of view, I would question your view that I'm contrary.
I do retain my sense of humor, even in adversity. When it comes to Will Ferrell's zany portrayals, I recognize them as satire, usually unsubtle satire, but satire nonetheless. I get the feeling that P&G's ad agency feels the same way. Of course, sometimes the best response is no response. On this one, I think you may be in a bit of a hole. My advice is to stop digging. I say this as your friend. Bill Potts Roseville, CA http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Paul Trusten, R.Ph. Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2008 19:08 To: U.S. Metric Association Cc: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:40444] RE: Procter & Gamble anti-metric ad Bill, you have established your reputation for being contrary. But,I can be contrary, too. I like to laugh at things, and I'm the biggest punster since Alfred Hitchcock, a lover of Norm Crosby's malapropisms, and George Carlin's antics, but I have NO sense of humor at all when it comes to American jokes about the metric system. Levity on this subject is the biggest obstacle we face in convincing the U.S. public to accept metric. How can they take seriously as a standard of measurement something they continue to poke fun at? It isn't humor as much as it is ridicule, and I can't take any of it. There's a difference between something people are laughing at and something that they consider to have the standing of "a joke." During my visit to Australia, Kevin Wilks, former secretary for the Australian Metric Conversion Board, was emphatic about U.S. metrication being, first, a psychological battle. Too many people have been making fun of metric over the decades, and, of all people, P&G should not be pulling this stuff. No, I'm not laughing. Each giggle sets us back yet another year. Paul T. Quoting Bill Potts <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > Actually, it tickled my funny bone, Paul. > > Consider for a moment who "Jackie Moon" is. Perhaps the following will help: > > ----start of clip---- > Will Ferrell stars in Semi-Pro, a comedy set in 1976 against the > backdrop of the maverick ABA-a fast-paced, wild and crazy basketball > league that rivaled the NBA and made a name for itself with > innovations like the three-point shot and slam dunk contest. Ferrell > plays Jackie Moon, a one-hit wonder who used the profits from the success of his chart-topping song "Love Me Sexy" > to achieve his dream of owning a basketball team. But Moon's > franchise, the Flint Michigan Tropics, is the worst team in the league > and in danger of folding when the ABA announces its plans to merge > with the NBA. If they want to survive, Jackie and the Tropics must now do the seemingly impossible-win. > ----end of clip---- > > This is one of at least two commercials being used to promote two > products at a time, namely the upcoming release of the movie, Jackie > Moon, and a tangible product. The tangible products in the two > commercials are Old Spice and Bud Lite. I haven't yet looked at the > Bud Lite commercial, but a simple Google search on Jackie Moon will lead you right to it. > > Jackie Moon is supposed to be somewhat ignorant-or maybe gloriously > ignorant. His comments on the metric system are, therefore, those of > an ignoramus. At least, I'm convinced that's what the creators of the > commercial had in mind. I think the fact that his initial exaggeration > refers to a liter of sweat may be indicative of what we already know > to be P&G's metric orientation. > > The objective of such a commercial is simple. They want you to > remember the product, so that you'll instinctively reach for it the > next time you're shopping for something in its category. Presenting it > in an outrageous manner is often part of that. > > Finally, we should remember that it's the ad agency, not its client, > that produces the commercial. If they can convince the client to sign > off on it, then we get to see it. If it can be shown that somewhat > tasteless commercials are successful, the client is happy and the ad > agency gets its hefty fee for producing it, and the TV network gets > its hefty fee for showing it. Obviously, Will Ferrell is very much in > demand for such assignments. > > As metrication activists, we mustn't lose our sense of humor. Having a > sense of humor doesn't mean agreeing that every joke or spoof is > funny, but it does involve recognizing when something is intended, > even if misguidedly, to be a joke or a spoof. > > I shall not be complaining to P&G. > > Bill Potts > Roseville, CA > http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Paul Trusten > Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2008 09:07 > To: U.S. Metric Association > Subject: [USMA:40432] Procter & Gamble anti-metric ad > > I"M READY TO VOMIT! Procter & Gamble is supposed to be our friend on > the metric system. Somebody in their advertising department goofed. > Take a look at http://www.oldspice.com/products_new.html. > > Watch the video, and write to http://www.pg.com/getintouch/syt.jhtml. > Let's get this damned thing off the air if we can! > > -- > Paul Trusten, R.Ph. > Public Relations Director > U.S. Metric Association (USMA), Inc. > www.metric.org > 3609 Caldera Blvd., Apt. 122 > Midland TX 79707-2872 US > +1(432)528-7724 > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > -- DIGNITY, SELF-RESPECT, AND INTEGRITY IN PHARMACY Paul Trusten, R.Ph. Acting Secretary Phone +1(432)528-7724 The Pharmacy Alliance 3609 Caldera Boulevard, Apartment 122 Midland TX 79707-2872 USA mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://oleapothecary.blog.com
