It's been awhile since I updated, so here's three things.
1. Interesting Conversation with AnnaME: anna, what is society's problem?
ME: a recent dear abby column posed that question to its readers.
ANNA: one problem? of society?
ME: yes.
the problem
ANNA: THE problem
ME: what is it?
ANNA: i think the problem in american society is the tendency towards simplification. to assume that every problem has a simple, one step solution
ANNA: to even ask a question that defines "the problem" is asking for too simple an answer.
ME: I like your answer; it is so meta
( more stuff )ANNA: well, i mean, the point of this whole exercise is to come up with one problem, so we can convince ourselves that if we just fix this one thing, our society will be PERFECT, which is retarded
ME: 'the problem with society' is so broad that it's ridiculous
ANNA: but it's totally what people do with all problems
ANNA: that's why everyone running around like mad, thinking that their problem is the only true problem
ME: well that's why advertising works
ANNA: I know; buy this thing, be happy
ME: because it's easy to convince people that their only problem is that their ipod isn't big enough
ME: speaking of which, I think I need a bigger ipod
2. Apropos of that, here is some excellent copyI would like to shake the hand of whoever had the unenviable task of writing copy for every feature and function of the attractive and affordable Creative Zen Stone mini MP3 player, including the stopwatch:
"The stop watch function allows you to time yourself in various activities, then work to beat your previous time."
ME: THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION
ALISON: more information about stopwatches can be found on the internet
3. Another thing I have been meaning to tell you about on the subwaySo there's this series of ads on the subway. Each one depicts one person--late teen, young adult, maybe 19-ish--and a realistically-outlined transluscent silhouette of another, like he or she has been removed from the photograph. One shows a boy playing video games, missing the boy who is supposed to be playing with him. One shows a girl sitting on her dorm bed eating ice cream, missing the girl who should be eating ice cream with her. One shows a girl under a blanket watching a movie, missing the boy who is supposed to have his arm around her. (You can see I have had a lot of time to inspect these and I have come to the conclusion that they are very well designed. The sets are well dressed, with a lot of detail. But that's not really relevant.)
So here's the question I pose to you, reader: what do you think these PSAs are about? The obvious theme is a young person being drawn away from the people and activities that should properly occupy his or her time. Drinking? Drug use? Maybe that's too specific for such a general theme. Substance abuse, maybe?
I'll tell you. Problem gambling. PROBLEM.
GAMBLING.
Is that really such a huge overarching problem with Canadian youth that THAT'S what we need to waste these cunning ads on?? I mean, problem gambling is, yeah, a problem, but I am not convinced it is THE problem.
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lauraredcloud at 05:37pm on 17/04/2012 under dialogues