Because there was no evidence that candy cigarettes led to smoking
On day four of The Horrible Virus that Attacked Our House and All the Adults Inside, I dragged myself and my six-year-old to the local SuperAmerica for two gallons of milk, soup, crackers, and a big Gatorade.
It took pretty much all my strength to bring those items up to the checkout, and I had to take three trips since there were no shopping baskets. Once in line, of course, it took a while for our turn, so I concentrated on remaining vertical while my daughter stared eye-to-eye with the candy rack.
Mommy, can I get something?
No, honey, you can have a cookie when we get home.
But I want something!
I know you do, but you’re not going to get it.
But Mommy . . . !
Mommy’s NOT IN THE MOOD, honey!
But, but . . . it’s all right HERE!
If I had the strength, I would have explained to her about product placement in retail stores but instead I mumbled, bastards.
I bring this up because it is sort of related to Amy’s post on the marketing trend she calls “outrage baiting.” Among other things, she cites the newest thing in candy bars, caffeine, and a new additive to make any drink an “energy” drink, Blow. It’s a white powder that comes in a vial. Of course.
“Blow” and caffeinated candy bars would never be marketed to children, according to their manufacturers.
PHEW. Now all I have to worry about on the candy rack is the Bratz “perfume” bottle with powdered candy, “wand,” and matching pink mirror. Those edgy Bratz products!
Photo courtesy dosenation.com
February 15th, 2008 at 2:40 am
Your picture is much more poignant than mine…I linked to that one on the Hershey’s post (did ya read, “Corporate Blunders are a Dime (Bag) A Dozen” on Shaping Youth?
In sum, another oopsie/marketing move…ICE (breaker) powder pacs” that looked so much like cocaine it lagged law enforcement into costly analysis…The candy is evidently ‘being phased out now” (rather than shelving them…another dumb PR move, but hey) Anyway, here’s the post: http://www.shapingyouth.org/blog/?p=1065
p.s. Glad you’re feeling better…I’m ‘not in the mood for this’ sounds soooooooooooo familiar. ;-)
February 15th, 2008 at 3:28 am
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February 15th, 2008 at 10:29 am
You know, it’s kind of funny in a way if you think about it–candy cigarettes. Someone came up with that idea. And I can remember them 50 years later. Some were this chalk stuff, like white Necco wafters. Some were bubble gum. Meanwhile, my father smoked three packs a day and had a heart attack at 38. What a riot!
So how about PEM starting a contest for a fun new candy product? You know, have a “And the Winning Idea for a New Candy Product” where it’s something like, “Lethal Injection Liquid Fun Pops” (In Three Flavors!) or “New Eighty Proof Vodka-Flavored Drinx Mix–Just Add It to Your Orange Juice and Start Your Day Off in a Fun! Way!” and you have these fake commercials and all. They wouldn’t have to be deadly. “Kids, try new Testicles Squeeze Pops.” Obviously, I don’t have a good advertising mind, but you get the idea.
I know, I know–it’s been done, right?
February 15th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
uh…kinda…that’s the kind of lift and reveal/macabre black humor counter-marketing we use in Shaping Youth’s older teen media literacy sessions to show them the absurdity of what they’re buying into…Then we shift it to the positive to have them design their own product packaging/profit motivation/biz plan for a healthier creation…that said…I DO like the idea in some ways as a UGC contest for a social media hub or machinima/virtual world PSA for edgier teens…
Sardonic wit aside, my only cautionary red flags pique from younger bored tweens (13-ish) who already seem to be testing Darwinian limits in ‘choking games’ and such with morbidity outcomes…so I’m not sure planting the idea is a great one just yet until we have a better handle on the truth or dare side of product marketing in terms of making more strides/advancements in media literacy.
As it is, younger kids are getting caught in the fishnet stranglehold of some of these weird products in wannabe mode…So for now, I think I’ll continue to demo the ‘duh’ factor for Shaping Youth sessions and let the kids create the positive ‘change they wish to see in the world’…(and actually…um…you DO have a good advertising mind, Jeff!)
Lisa, what d’ya say, should we team up on something like this down the line to do a PSA or something? THAT could be funny/useful, actually…explaining what it is our orgs are about!! Think on it…best, Amy
March 14th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
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