IAO AGD BillBoard Sighting!

[manike]

If it was a billboard in the UK or Europe people would be much less bothered by it than they are with it being in the USA. We have much worse (!?), advertising products for women (maybe via men?) such as make up and lingerie.

It doesn't bother me either way to be honest. I see it and think 'good AGD is doing some marketing'.

That said, this one does come across as much more erm how to put it 'smutty'?

Sex and nice images that appeal to the market audience do sell products but there are ways of doing it with 'class' or ways that are 'crass'.

I don't know if this billboard fits into the 'class' version which I would usually associate with AGD products.

manike

[Thordic]

Originally posted by KHartley
Why do you think that in order for AGD's product to sell that you HAVE to have a naked woman on a billboard?????

No one ever said you HAVE to. But Tom CHOSE to, based on the fact it WILL draw a lot of publicity. If you think it'll draw more negative publicity than positive, especially in this sport, well, time will tell, but I'd put money on the fact it'll get AGD positive attention.

This confuses the heck out of me. Would you all be going goo goo if it was a naked male holding the marker down just covering his privates on that billboard? I highly doubt it.

If it was a female dominated sport, then AGD would be smart to use a male model. As it is, the market is over 90% male, and using a male would be bad marketing.

You want to say that if we don't like it don't look at it? Well, if it's thrown in our faces how do you honestly think that we have a choice NOT to look at it. Come on. Get real.

The point of a billboard is to make people look at it. If you don't like it, don't buy AGD products, don't post on AO, hell, don't buy KAPP or WDP products either. Oh yeah, JT and Crossfire (magazine) are pretty bad too. Why are you in this sport again? All these evil companies use sex! How dare we support them.

I have read some of the other threads where so many of you drool over some girl. It is shameful and I really do not believe it has any place on AO boards. As has been stated before this is not a "boys" only club.

Its not a "boys only" club, but out of the 5,000 members you have what, 20 girls maybe? You in the vast minority. If you want AO to have a more female-oriented atmosphere, start a push for more women to play paintball. Don't blame us for paintballs demographic.

As Sam said sex does sell but there is a HUGE difference between smut and class. That billboard in my honest opinion is just plain smut. No class whatsoever.

Have you talked to Tipper Gore lately? You two could do wonderful things on this whole censorship thing. Imposing your morals on the rest of the world is a great way to make friends, Im told.

And, Riotz, I drink diet Pepsi, do you think I buy and drink it because they show Brittney? Man, I think not. I buy it because I like the taste of it.

And now we get to least intelligent comment of this post, or at least the easiest to refute.

We don't buy AGD because of a chick on a billboard, we buy it because it WORKS GREAT. Pepsi uses women to attact people to buy thier product, and then they rely on their taste to KEEP those customers. It works well for Pepsi, seems like AGD is just taking a lesson.

The kids are not the ones handing out the cash to buy most of the paintball gear,it is their parents. You should not forget that. It seems to me that too many times it is forgotten who actually shells out the money for the product. Just because a kid uses the marker does not mean that HE/SHE paid for it.

I see TONS of little kids running around with WDP/JT/KAPP, etc products. Those companies have been using sex to sell thier products for FAR longer than AGD, in much more suggestive ways than this billboard. I fail to see parents caring about how the company advertises.

In the end, it comes down to what is going to make AGD the most money. Thats the bottom line. Taking the moral highground doesn't pay the bills.

If some people, such as yourself, are offended and won't buy AGD products, then thats too bad, because AGD will pick up 5 new customers who WILL buy their products.

[shartley]

Thordic,
I will only say your post made you look like a total rear. And I will leave it at that as to not break any AO rules.

[irbodden]

I personally find it in bad taste.

Besides the marketing for AGD, it makes paintball look like a sport filled with a bunch of scummy trash.

Everyone wants our sport to 'come out of the woods' and be a respected hobby for any proffesional. From doctors to lawyers, make the sport just like bowling or golf. But its not going to happen with trash like this.

You expect to get the game into mainsteam media? How better than getting wealthy people hooked on the game? It's not going to happen with ads like this, some people have 'class'.

[irbodden]

Originally posted by Thordic
No one ever said you HAVE to. But Tom CHOSE to, based on the fact it WILL draw a lot of publicity. If you think it'll draw more negative publicity than positive, especially in this sport, well, time will tell, but I'd put money on the fact it'll get AGD positive attention.

Man..

What are you thinking? It might please the average backwoods trash, but do you expect the sport to grow with ads like this?

If you ever want people with CLASS to play, you'll need to show them the paintball community has CLASS. Which I am starting to doubt..

[Muzikman]

Originally posted by irbodden
I personally find it in bad taste.

Besides the marketing for AGD, it makes paintball look like a sport filled with a bunch of scummy trash.

Everyone wants our sport to 'come out of the woods' and be a respected hobby for any proffesional. From doctors to lawyers, make the sport just like bowling or golf. But its not going to happen with trash like this.

You expect to get the game into mainsteam media? How better than getting wealthy people hooked on the game? It's not going to happen with ads like this, some people have 'class'.

Muzikman Claps...

15 years old (or is it 16) and more mature and logical than what most 20 somethings would be on the subject. I knew I liked this kid for a reason and it isn't his 22 other guns...

[MagDog68]

Originally posted by shartley
Thordic,
I will only say your post made you look like a total rear. And I will leave it at that as to not break any AO rules.

If I had any attention span I would have read this entire thread, but as I get bored easily I will just comment on this post.

Sam - I respect you and your opinions, but I don't like the fact that you can tell everyone on this board that they are right or wrong and the second someone comments on your wife's post you call them a "rear." Sounds hypocritical to me.

~Fred

[shartley]

Originally posted by MagDog68


If I had any attention span I would have read this entire thread, but as I get bored easily I will just comment on this post.

Sam - I respect you and your opinions, but I don't like the fact that you can tell everyone on this board that they are right or wrong and the second someone comments on your wife's post you call them a "rear." Sounds hypocritical to me.

~Fred

Ever hear "it is not what you say, but how you say it"?

Noone has ONE problem telling ME off or saying I am out of line... BUT when I do so, I get posts like yours? Wouldn't that be more on the lines of hypocrital? Same standards for everyone please.

Plus, his post was not just a "comment", and to think a man would not stand up harder for his Wife or children is silly. Think about it. I think most people would WANT a father, husband, friend, etc. like me... but I could be wrong.

[Mango]

I never jump into marketing threads because, quite frankly, I'm the least qualified person to discuss the topic. But I will say that I was at first disgusted with the add from the initial shock that AGD would do something so bold. But lets face it, walk through any shopping mall in america and you see scantily clad models in the windows of just about every clothing store.

But this billboard is just what AGD needs to spark interest. It will get people to stop by the booth and see what AGD is up too these days. Well thats my opinion on the whole thing.

But another thing, look at advertiseing for, lets say, the X-games. They hardly show any women at all. They just show guys flying on dirtbikes, or skateboarders doing nutty tricks. So once again, I'm confused as to what works and what dosent.

[MagDog68]

Originally posted by irbodden
Everyone wants our sport to 'come out of the woods' and be a respected hobby for any proffesional. From doctors to lawyers, make the sport just like bowling or golf. But its not going to happen with trash like this.

You expect to get the game into mainsteam media? How better than getting wealthy people hooked on the game? It's not going to happen with ads like this, some people have 'class'.

OK - where have all you people been for the last 35 years? How is this any different from Brittany Spears ripping off her outfit to dance on stage in a thong and bra or the WWE using "Women Wrestlers?" Does anyone watch Anna Kournikova for her tennis abilities, or could it be because she was just voted the sexiest woman in the world by FHM magazine? I am pretty sure that the ATP has exploited this for its own gains.

Sex sells, plain and simple. If it wasn't accepted by the "mainstream media," I doubt many advertisers would use it so much.

~Fred

[MagDog68]

Ever hear "it is not what you say, but how you say it"?
I have read plenty of posts from you that have been condescending, so don't act victimized.
Noone has ONE problem telling ME off or saying I am out of line... BUT when I do so, I get posts like yours? Wouldn't that be more on the lines of hypocrital? Same standards for everyone please.
True Sam, many people do react to your posts this way, but you should expect it when you have dubbed yourself "The Enforcer" and delight in making teenagers look stupid

Plus, his post was not just a "comment", and to think a man would not stand up harder for his Wife or children is silly. Think about it. I think most people would WANT a father, husband, friend, etc. like me... but I could be wrong.
True, but I think your wife is probably old enough to defend herself Sam, without the childish names. I am merely pointing out that your reply was in line with what you usually complain about. People making personal references rather than arguing the facts.

~Fred

[shartley]

Originally posted by MagDog68



OK - where have all you people been for the last 35 years? How is this any different from Brittany Spears ripping off her outfit to dance on stage in a thong and bra or the WWE using "Women Wrestlers?" Does anyone watch Anna Kournikova for her tennis abilities, or could it be because she was just voted the sexiest woman in the world by FHM magazine? I am pretty sure that the ATP has exploited this for its own gains.

Sex sells, plain and simple. If it wasn't accepted by the "mainstream media," I doubt many advertisers would use it so much.

~Fred

I am not Rick, but....

You can not compare what Britney does as part of he ACT on stage to sell her SONGS, with mainstream marketing. And the other examples don't wash either since they don't (to my knowledge) post nude or topless (at least not in a public place). Female wrestling? Again, you are not seriously putting that in with mainstream marketing are you? That is the product they are selling. LOL

The difference is one is selling just that. The Billboard and similar things are selling an item NOT related to sex or sexuality, WITH smut. ie. sex and sexuality done in a classless manner

If your way of thinking held true you would see an ad on the wall in Sears with a half nude woman holding the strap wrench. But you don't. If you wanted a poster like that, you can get them from many compaines such as Snapon, but you PAY for them and put them up yourself. That is what the issue is. What is a choice for the consumer to see and what is not.

And you can not say that you can choose not to look at a huge billboard..... the reason is that it is put in a public place and to make that determination you HAVE to see it first to know if you want to look or not.

I think we can all agree that it is each of our personal opinions as to if we LIKE something, but it is another knowing what something IS. It is like arguing that a skunk is not a skunk because you say it looks similar to a cat..... sorry, it still stinks no matter what you want to call it.

[MagDog68]

Grow up man - look at the world you are living in! You are going to argue about semantics, but not the issue of people using sex as a way to sell. I don't know what children you are raising, but I think Brittany is more responsible for 10 year old girls dressing like hoochies than any Paintball ad.

You can argue the details, but the simple fact of the matter is that SEX sells! You can't argue that. This billboard will get the attention of paintball players, we aren't looking to sell paintball products to nuns.

~Fred

[shartley]

Originally posted by MagDog68

Ever hear "it is not what you say, but how you say it"?
I have read plenty of posts from you that have been condescending, so don't act victimized.
Noone has ONE problem telling ME off or saying I am out of line... BUT when I do so, I get posts like yours? Wouldn't that be more on the lines of hypocrital? Same standards for everyone please.
True Sam, many people do react to your posts this way, but you should expect it when you have dubbed yourself "The Enforcer" and delight in making teenagers look stupid

Plus, his post was not just a "comment", and to think a man would not stand up harder for his Wife or children is silly. Think about it. I think most people would WANT a father, husband, friend, etc. like me... but I could be wrong.
True, but I think your wife is probably old enough to defend herself Sam, without the childish names. I am merely pointing out that your reply was in line with what you usually complain about. People making personal references rather than arguing the facts.

~Fred

[MagDog68]

Originally posted by shartley

If your way of thinking held true you would see an ad on the wall in Sears with a half nude woman holding the strap wrench. But you don't. If you wanted a poster like that, you can get them from many compaines such as Snapon, but you PAY for them and put them up yourself.

The half naked woman is getting the attention of someone driving by at 55 miles an hour - you cant compare that to someone in a Sears browseing the tool department.

OK - that sounded stupid, but it is your argument. The issue boils down to sex, anyway you look at it.

~Fred