I'm used now to having ad agencies 'move' lighthouses across the country or place them in 'non-existent' counties in Maine.

But this is ridiculous:

A Pharmaceutical company is playing the patriot card by having the American flag being raised by a single male in front of:


Macquarie Lighthouse of Australia.

Do they think we wouldn't know? Was it a way to pad their expense account (Trip to Australia for 10: $25,000.) Do they think we're stupid?

These advertisers and their agencies are using lighthouse images because they know Americans are in love with their lighthouses. So don't they think we'll know which lighthouse they are using? And did they pay anything towards the upkeep of each lighthouse for the privilege of using its image to promote their product?

It's time to start a letter-writing campaign to advertisers who pull this kind of crap.

Just as soon as I catch the name of that Pharmaceutical company, I'll post it and their address here. (Seems like their ad isn't working; I didn't catch their name and I've seen the ad 3-4 times now.)


[This message has been edited by JChidester (edited 10-28-2001).]

[This message has been edited by JChidester (edited 10-28-2001).]

[This message has been edited by JChidester (edited 10-28-2001).]

[This message has been edited by JChidester (edited 10-28-2001).]

I think it's a Claritin ad. But I won't swear to it.

You seriously expect Truth In Advertising?

Isn't that a contradiction in terms?

I've seen that one myself and I thought it was Macquarie, but I was only 99.9% sure.

Dennis

I thought it was Macquarie, too. But this time, I was in my office with my HL Macquarie sitting next to me and I KNOW it's Macquarie.

You mean that isn't a real light in a real place? Next you'll tell us that wasn't a real Chevy Blazer being used in place of a lantern room and beacon in one of GM's commercials a year or so ago.

Lighthouse lovers are only a small portion of the population. If everyone in the world felt like all of us, there wouldn't be one endangered light in sight. Oh well....maybe someday...

Bob

This situation rubs all of the lighthouse lovers the wrong way..but what gets me even more is to find a teeshirt that says Lighthouses of FL on it and there is a light from VA or NC on it.....no researching for that product. The poor store owner doesn't have a clue either.
Derith

Derith,

Now there's no escuse for that.

We all expect "poetic liscense " with TV, Movies, Ads etc- but a product that represents itself as a certain thing should be that thing.

You're right though- most store owners would not know, unless they were a Lighthouse buff also.

My wife bought a t-shirt for me in Cape May that has a Lighthouse on it and says Cape May, Nj, but the Lighthouse only exists in the artist's mind.

That's life. It's still a nice t-shirt.

Dennis

Our friends from Florida are here visiting us this week and they brought me a sun hat from Atlantic City and it has Cape Hatteras on it...she said she assumed it was a lighthouse representing Atlantic City and was very disappointed when I told her what the lighthouse is... We gave them t-shirts from the Florida club with Ancelot Key on them...they love them.

Ruthie

We vacation just about every year south of Daytona Beach. There is a large flea market in Daytona Beach in which a lot of t-shirts are sold. Many of them have the lights of North Carolina on them. Under the lights, the words "Daytona Beach" are on all of them! Nice shirts, but none of these lighthouses are near Florida!

Alright you guys. Better go get your Prozac prescriptions refilled before they use the White Shoal, Texas lighthouse in their commercials.

Rich

------------------

Ahhhh....Prozac....

Christopher

Hmmm... I wonder if I could get my company to cash in on this lighthouse thing. I'm sure Pudue Pharma could use a new logo. And besides, my department's director has already asked me several times to give a group presentation about my lighthouse trips. That would be a great way to work in a new logo.


shirin

Right now, the lighthouse is a hot item with the general public. Remember a year or two ago when sunflowers were everywhere? Same thing.

I suspect that the use - and misuse - of lighthouses in such ads and on such merchandise is directed toward the vast number of people who just like the lighthouse as an icon. We wackos are a very small group, one that is probably insignificant to the demographic these marketers are targeting.

And we don't need your steenking drugs, anyway!

Bruce

Oh yes, the sunflowers. My room in college was nothing but sunflowers all over the place. My newphew liked to joke about needing sunglasses because my room was so bright with the flowers all over the place.
I must say, while the yellow of the flowers was nice and oh, let's say just a bit cheery...I think I like the tranquility I get from the lighthouses a bit more. But, as I did with the sunflowers, I've gone overboard with the lighthouses. I'm just one step away from lighthouse dinner plates and silverware, the only 2 places in my apartment that doesn't have a lighthouse on it at the moment. The plates still have the sunflower theme going.


shirin