Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Media Dear Everyone Who Thinks Joking About Suicide Is Indefensible in Any Context...
Posted by David Schmader on Wed, Dec 3, 2008 at 1:05 PM
...you probably will not appreciate the new print ads for Diet Pepsi Max.
The lonely Pepsi calorie also considers acidic self-immolation and slashing its wrists while overdosing on pills and strapped to a earthbound rocket.
(Thank you, MeFi.)
Share via
5
I tnink suicide humor is totally defensible. And those of you who don't: fucking blow your brains out with a sawed off shot gun!!
9
UNPAID COMMENTER nails it. I have no objection to suicide jokes, but those ads just make me associate "Pepsi Max" with "ick".
10
It's not tasteless, it's just revolting.
Oh, you mean the humor, not the Pepsi? That's relatively inoffensive.
Oh, you mean the humor, not the Pepsi? That's relatively inoffensive.
12
Ziggity- are emo/goth kiddies really all that interested in counting calories? I would presume Pepsi Max to be marketed towards health conscious individuals, and depression is NEVER healthy.
13
Diabolical Gen Xers have just entered significant positions in the marketing world. Their nihilistic worldview will now dominate advertising. Sadly, Utopian B-Boomers and nonplussed Millenials will wonder "What Is Up With That?"
14
I was more making a joke, but now that you make the connection, you should consider that people with self-image issues and/or persistent weight problems are more likely to be depressed AND more likely to drink shitty soda that claims to be good for them.
16
I'm sure they're going to sell a ton of the stuff if they print a big "poison" skull and crossbones on the label, like the one Lonely Calorie is drinking.
17
The ad is lame.
@8: when we moved to Washington when I was 14 (12 years ago) my brother and I were totally caught off guard because EVERYONE calls it pop up here. (We moved from Oklahoma). EVERYONE!
We swore we'd never call it pop, or even worse... soda pop.
@8: when we moved to Washington when I was 14 (12 years ago) my brother and I were totally caught off guard because EVERYONE calls it pop up here. (We moved from Oklahoma). EVERYONE!
We swore we'd never call it pop, or even worse... soda pop.
18
Soda pop is sooo redundant.
Anyway, I like the calorie cartoon minus the suicide and branding. Who the hey agreed to make this for them though? Geez.
Anyway, I like the calorie cartoon minus the suicide and branding. Who the hey agreed to make this for them though? Geez.
19
I really don't know who the target audience is for this campaign. I hope whoever is responsible is fired at Christmastime. I don't think it's offensive, per se, just stupid.
Though if I were close to someone suicidal or who'd killed themselves, I could see myself feeling very different about it.
Though if I were close to someone suicidal or who'd killed themselves, I could see myself feeling very different about it.
20
I don't see it anywhere on their site, can you help convince me that Pepsi really paid for these ads and printed them somewhere? It's not going to make me like Pepsi anymore or less, I'm just confused, this seems more like an artist trying to make a statement than a company trying to make a profit.
24
I'm supposed to want to drink their sugar water after seeing THAT?
What next, Excedrin ads featuring frames from the Zapruder film?
Or does PepsiCo now own stock in Big Pharma?
What next, Excedrin ads featuring frames from the Zapruder film?
Or does PepsiCo now own stock in Big Pharma?
25
your previous attempt at a suicide joke was about native suicide. it's not just a joke, it's sadly an epidemic. don't try to defend your original lack of taste and poor judgement by pointing out that other people do it to.
32
30: "never let decency stand in the way of a good chuckle. "
I agree that it is important that everybody agree to stop laughing about mental health problems at all times forever so that we as a society can grow. But your use of sarcasm is also part of the problem. Your words can hurt. Never forget that.
I agree that it is important that everybody agree to stop laughing about mental health problems at all times forever so that we as a society can grow. But your use of sarcasm is also part of the problem. Your words can hurt. Never forget that.
38
I just got done blogging about suicide and used the ad as the illustration (I credited Slog and Metafilter).
40
Advertising Agency: BBDO, Düsseldorf, Germany
Creative Director: Toygar Bazarkaya
Art Director: Michael Plückhan
Illustrator: Johan Potma of the Zozoville Gallery (Berlin)
Copywriter: Kenny Blumenschein
Germans. psch.
Creative Director: Toygar Bazarkaya
Art Director: Michael Plückhan
Illustrator: Johan Potma of the Zozoville Gallery (Berlin)
Copywriter: Kenny Blumenschein
Germans. psch.
41
Maybe not the best way to advertise your product.
Cartoon characters in ads are supposed to be funny. No?
This isn't funny. But it does remind me of a friend of mine @ sergioavenia.com.
Cartoon characters in ads are supposed to be funny. No?
This isn't funny. But it does remind me of a friend of mine @ sergioavenia.com.
43
as someone who has been suicidal in the past, and has lost my father to the same cause i certainly don't see myself as an expert in any light, but i see this ad being more shocking and distasteful as a way to catch someones eye. i can see how the developers tried to make it funny, but it is a really grotesque version of dark humor (which i am very fond of by the way).
anyways, funny.. no. totally insulting.. not really.
using shock value as a way to get attention... yes.
anyways, funny.. no. totally insulting.. not really.
using shock value as a way to get attention... yes.
Most Commented on Slog
-
Life and Death in a Recliner in South Carolina by Dan Savage
-
Pit Bulls! by Dan Savage
-
Becoming a Man by Dan Savage
-
SL Letter of the Day: Hot & Drunk by Dan Savage
-
$2,600,000,000 by Dan Savage
-
All The Best Men Are Taken by Dan Savage
-
I Hate You, Garrison Keillor by Jen Graves
-
Unreal Americans by Dan Savage
-
Precious: Brutal New Classic or African-American Bruno? by David Schmader
-
Meanwhile in Vancouver by Dan Savage
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (43) RSS