I agree with what you say, but there is a particular sort of popular
delusion that this ad panders to, which is that nature is scary and
dangerous and that wild animals, given the chance, gang up on people
to injure them.
This is the belief satirised in the The Simpsons when whenever Homer
ventures into Springfield Forest he is attacked by a Racoon, or a Bald
Eagle starts pecking him on the head.
I'm not denying that Swans can be aggressive, I have been hissed at by
Black Swans when I inadvertently got too near a nest, and, whilst
punting, I was chased down the River Cherwell in the UK by a pair of
Mute Swans for similar reasons, but the idea that a flock of Black
Swan are going to descend on motorists and terrify them whilst
damaging their vehicles is, as I say, offensive.
And the reason I said that "if I was a policy holder.." is that in my
expereince advertisers pay no attention to complaints other than form
their existing customers. They don't care if they offend people
because at least their ads get remembered and talked about. Any
publicity is good publicity.
I think one good idea for revenue-raising in tough economic times
would be a 50% GSt on any costs associated with advertising for large
businesses :-)
cheers
John Leonard
2009/5/5 Carl Clifford <>:
> Well John, it is a TV ad which are by their nature stupid and offensive. If
> I had my choice I would not watch commercial TV, except for the "Gruen
> Transfer", unfortunately I have to suffer it for an hour or so per day for
> familial reasons. Erk. If you find the ad disturbing, why not write to AAMI
> and express your concerns and tell them that because of this ad, you would
> not consider giving them your business. You do not have to be a policy
> holder to complain.
>
> As for people regarding birds as scary and aggressive (which I don't think
> this ad really portrays the swans as), well I think every bird is entitled
> to its day, given the way humans have treated them.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Carl Clifford
>
>
> On 05/05/2009, at 8:14 PM, John Leonard wrote:
>
>> I think it's stupid and offensive and panders to a popular idea that
>> birds are scary and aggressive. If I had insurance with AAMI I'd
>> change providers and write to tell them why.
>>
>> John Leonard
>>
>> 2009/5/5 Carl Clifford <>:
>>>
>>> I have been watching the current ads by AAMI featuring Black Swans and
>>> rather gormless humans. Great bit of special effects and who would have
>>> thought that you could train such birds.
>>>
>>> What can one say, but "Garn the Swans".
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>>
>>> Carl Clifford
>>> ===============================
>>> www.birding-aus.org
>>> birding-aus.blogspot.com
>>>
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>>> to:
>>> ===============================
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> John Leonard
>> Canberra
>> Australia
>> www.jleonard.net
>>
>> "I rejoice that there are owls." Thoreau
>> ===============================
>> www.birding-aus.org
>> birding-aus.blogspot.com
>>
>> To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
>> send the message:
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>
>
--
John Leonard
Canberra
Australia
www.jleonard.net
"I rejoice that there are owls." Thoreau
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