Response to Robert McCarthy on Negative Advertising

After some of the students writing their A type blogs about shiney suds their was a debate of ethics in advertising. I have chosen to respond to Robert McCarthy's interpretation of ethics in advertising.

McCarthy asks if any of us remember negativity in advertisements that we remember. He also asks if it was a big deal or blown out of proportion or not. I am going to evaluate a few adds and which they offended me and why as well as how they were recieved by the public eye.

The first advertisement I will describe that I found personally offensive was Xyience Extreme Supplements used with diet and exercise. The offensive commercial consisted of a brunette girl with hot pants, a bra, and crawling around on the ground while dancing like a stripper in the commercial. Also in this commercial it did not describe the product at all. Only after the scene it stated the product and the fact that it was sold at GMC and like stores but nothing else about the product. I found it offensive but it wasn't heavily advertised only on Spike TV which their were only a limited of male viewers which would indicate why it was advertized on the tv channel. Generally speaking their were only a few people including myself that I heard were offended.

The second advertisement that I will mention that I found offensive was Martha Coakley advertisements in the Massachusetts senate campaigne. I am well aware that political campagines are very cut throat but in this regard republicans and democrats were pinned against each other and were labled as something black and white. For example the advertisement either stated directly or implied that all democrats are "anti-war, pro-choice, pro-enviromental induviduals for example and all republicans are pro-war, anti-abortion, and all like George W. Bush. I found this offensive. In this case I was not the only person offeneded by this commercial. From what I heard on the news and other fellow Massachusetts residence they were offended if they supported Coakley or not because of her team judging the parties by extremeties and not activily talking in her commercial about some of the positive changes she would make if elected.

The third and last advertisement that I will comment as offensive in my opinon is also in a sexual regard as well. The company is godaddy.com where girls in skimpy clothes or fully clothed then stripping layers on the commericials. These commericials are typically shown during NFL Football games and Nascar Games.
Most people in today's world are so desensatized to sex on television that they may not notice it anymore or they may accept it as a current social norm in the 21st century. I will state I do not accept these things as appropriate for television as a advertisement. It may be geared toward a specific target market but other markets of people see it and it causes a digusting or repulsive reaction to the product. I think in this regard advertisements have gone too far in being this explisic.

Do any of you think commericials have gone sexually too far for television for a general audience? Do you think these kinds of ads really serve any purpose for their product?

Tiger Woods: Marketing, Morals, & Infidelity

Tiger Woods’ deeds of infidelity are known throughout the country and plastered all over the news. Again the media has blown one person out of proportion just because of their celebrity status. This news may not have been shocking if it had been someone else, say Paris Hilton, but it was Tiger Woods. Tiger Woods before this epiphany had happened was the pinnacle of something proper. He is a successful, fair skinned black golfer, who seemed to have manners, good family values, and seemed soft spoken and refined. After all of this happened and his image was ruined, some think it will be forever but only time will tell, but in the mean time he decided to take a leave of absence. Many of the companies that had supported, sponsored, and used him in advertising have retorted and are now refusing to use him ever again. This indicates that companies that market certain images have a moral code and that they do not want to displease their customers. Nike had stated they would not use him in an advertising campaign again but went back on it, thinking it was too harsh.

In this situaton it provides to be an example of the public relation issues that can come up in marketing. There are many other examples that have happened before, after, and will happen even after this issue with Tiger Woods blows over. Another hot issue that affects a companies PR is also Toyota's recall and how customers may not feel 'safe' driving their cars. Companies need to overcome these PR issues whether it is a figure's personal life or a product that failed. A company can use SWOT analysis to either overcome or fail this situation. They can use these PR issues as either an oppertunity to overcome and be a better company or let the threat instated overcome them.

This issue brings awareness to our moral code in America because it came from someone we did not expect, someone who was supposed to be full of virtue, and this may be the reason why it bothered so many people. Each and every day people do these things but because it came from someone with a reasonable amount of importance people were flabbergasted. A poll on www.allaboutlifechanges.org/marital-infidelity.htm indicated that 90% of people disprove of infidelity but statistically 60% of men and 40% of women have affairs themselves. People in America have lost sight of their moral code yet act like hypocrites in the public eye when someone important is involved. It is not only a sin but it is illegal and punishment is dwindling. But it also should be considered it is a different world now, not the world that our grandparents lived in.

Question: Why are the American people so shocked with Tiger Woods’ action when the majority of people are guilty of infidelity themselves? Do you think weeks, months, or years down the road this will hurt his career or those who market him and why? What can oppertunities can Nike gain in SWOT Analysis from this situation with Tiger Woods? How can Tiger Woods fix or revamp his image?