Pedestrian Safety Ads Vs. Wish Fulfillment
There's nothing funny about traffic fatalities. I'd just like to get that out there at the start. Still, looking at the bus and bus-stop ads for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government's Governments' "StreetSmart" program, I can't help but notice what sort of person they've chosen to illustrate the hazards of crossing streets.
Look at this man being hit by a car. His stripy sweater, artfully distressed jeans, overdesigned shoes, and flying cup of Starbucks---they all scream "oblivious, over-consuming hipster." I guess the question here, then, is: How effective are ads that portray the horrors of a scenario that I suspect many people secretly fantasize about?
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1:50 pm
Damn it. This was to be a topic discussed in a future edition Spitting on the Cars of Dipshit Drivers.
1:53 pm
I didn't think Borlick went to Starbucks.
2:10 pm
Andrew, you used the "H" word. Tsk tsk.
I don't want to be hip in a world where drinking Starbucks coffee and wearing an ass-ugly green sweater is considered "hip."
2:11 pm
Is there any possible depiction of the pedestrian that wouldn't have resulted in a blog post about it?
2:16 pm
Stop baiting bloggers with your shelter-ad signage, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments!
2:19 pm
Nice use of LOLcat font
2:25 pm
ohnoes! my latte iz speeled!
3:06 pm
DCist posted this graphic last month and I gave it a nice touchup with "friends don't let friends drink starbucks"
9:24 pm
i don't think he's dressed like a hipster. he looks like he got dressed at the Gap.
9:39 pm
he's no hipster. the jeans aren't tight enough, there are no bangs covering his eyes, and he doesn't have a permanent frown on his face (i think).