When Special Interest "Shoots the Gap"
We live in the age of special interest groups and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not. I think a big part of it depends on if you’re a public figure like a politician or a talk radio host. These people open their mouths and utter something that offends a group of people; the group representing the offended then swoops in and wreaks havoc upon the offender. This seems to happen at least a few times a month- at the minimum people simply say dumb stuff, in the worst cases, public personalities have lost their right to free speech (and their jobs.)
My concern is that people give these groups too much power and sometimes allow the groups do their thinking for them. In other words, tell me (or even just suggest) I should be offended, and I will. There is no greater danger that America faces today than the people who remove their thinking caps and place them on someone else’s head.
While some of these so-called “special interest groups” are just plain silly, I do believe that there are some out there that do a lot of good. Even so, some issues that the good ones choose to ‘attack’ are questionable. Using their membership to focus on trivial issues is wasted energy and distracts from the greater good of the intended purpose. Sometimes it can also have a negative effect.
As a trucker, I have been associated with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA). I say associated, because I am not yet a dues paying member. I do however, regularly read their Landline magazine, which they send to me every month- free of charge. I’ve always felt guilty about not joining because their magazine helps me to stay on top of an array of issues within the trucking industry and I really believe they are fighting the good fight. Even though I am not an owner-operator and instead a company driver, the issues they attend to affects all drivers in a positive manner. They’re on top of hours-of-service, taxes, road tolling, parking issues and so much more. They have supported and publicized important issues like Jason’s Law and the great journey of Jazzy. I could go on and on about all the good things the people at OOIDA do.
As good as they are, I recently saw a post on their Facebook page that I found completely trivial and nonsensical. I’m not sure if it was a slow news day (unlikely if you’re familiar with the trucking industry) or if they felt a need to post something just to post something. It’s also possible that one of their members brought the issue to their attention and they picked it up and ran with it; either way I feel it was wasted energy on a trivial issue.
The issue in question is about the “Shoot The Gap” Volkswagen commercial. If you are like me and don’t watch much television, here’s the video in question:
In all fairness, I must say that while I am fan of OOIDA, I am also a fan of Volkswagen. My first new car (bought and paid for by yours truly) was a 1997 VW Jetta. I also currently own a 2000 Jetta. They have been great, fun cars to drive and I find they enhance my good looks. It’s also important to know that I’m going to take VW’s side on this one and that they didn’t pay me a dime to do so (though if they feel obligated, our old and tired Chevrolet Venture is on it’s last legs and a new VW Routan would be fantastic for my Wife -who is poor because she is married to me- to cart around our five kids in comfort and style!)
My issue with OOIDA attacking this ad has nothing to do with car manufacturer loyalty and everything to do with the attempted destruction of creativity, understanding real life versus entertainment, and most importantly: stirring up negative emotions in truck drivers regarding relations with their four wheeled counterparts. Negative emotions in truck drivers? Say it ain’t so!
There is no better example of “stirring the pot of negative emotions” than showcasing a few examples of what comments were left on OOIDA’s two posts on Facebook about the commercial. Because I suffer from an over-abundance of opinions on everything I see, I will offer a few comments on each post. Again, to be fair, all the people I have chosen to quote will be notified and have the opportunity to add any follow up opinions of their own by leaving comments on my blog (as long as there’s no swearing, this is a family show.) I’m all about the fairness.
OOIDA kicked things off by providing a link to the commercial on You Tube with the comment:
“Just a funny commercial?”
This suggests that they aren’t sure themselves. They might have laughed the first time they saw it then thought, “Look! There are trucks in there, and we should be offended! We should post the link to our Facebook fan page and if everyone else is offended, we’ll attack VW with all we got!”
Now on to some selected comments from the above post. There are lots more that you can read by joining OOIDA’s page on Facebook. . Please note that I have not edited any of the comments, including spelling or grammar. I have a hard enough time keeping myself in check and it safeguards me from being accused of twisting someone else’s words or taking them out of context.
Janet M. : they should be sued, but as we all know too well, the trucker is always blamed...... :(
Who should be sued? VW? You’re right; we don’t live in a litigious enough society as it is! Just because we order a hot cup of coffee, spill it on ourselves then file a lawsuit; we should also be able to sue when we’re offended, right? By the way, the trucker isn’t ALWAYS blamed, read on…..
Elizabeth H: “Funny? Well, let me think...NOT! Just what we need, a car company promoting a stupid act that some idiot will just have to try! Then when someone dies, guess who gets blame? If you answered..VOLKSWAGEN JETTA LE...you'd be wrong! The answer would be that some truck driver, somewhere, would once again be labeled a reckless and coldblooded killer!!! SHAME ON YOU VOLKSWAGEN!!!!”
Most police reports would likely blame the person behind the wheel, not the car itself so the Jetta LE would likely be innocent of all charges. I can’t remember if I have ever read the headline that labeled a truck driver a cold-blooded killer. Then again, I don’t read sensationalized tabloids. I was involved in an accident with my truck and I was never blamed for it. Not once. The other guy was. It rarely (if ever) pays to make assumptions.
Diane D: “ WOW that is something I really want my 19yr old daughter seeing or any young driver even .....Amazing how we show and allow unsafe driving commercials......”
Diane, as a Father of a four-year-old daughter, I understand your concerns. But really, your daughter is 19 years old. Has she ever been out on the open road? If she has, she likely has witnessed someone “shooting the gap” and other reckless behavior. The people at VW are smart and creative but they didn’t invent “shooting the gap.” They only gave it a name and made a funny commercial about it. Also, even though your daughter is 19, I suggest keeping her away from R-Rated movies, boys and tattoo parlors. That’s what I’m going to do with my little girl!
Carla S. : “is going to make sure that if I see a VW, I am going to be out of its way!”
Thanks Carla. I’ll probably just be on my way to work, or perhaps the airport if you see me on a weekend. But thanks for clearing the way for me- I really do appreciate it!
Chris S: “I guess this is where VW drivers learn it.”
Learn what? Learn that we have great taste in automobiles that also happen to enhance our good looks?
Shayne S : “I actually thought it was funny.....”
Me too Shayne! I think that was its true intent. Unfortunately we’re in the minority.
Chris S. “Just sent an email to VW at the link provided above. Write them now and tell them the commerecial is irresponsible and out of line. Here is the link again: http://www.vw.com/customerservice/contactus/en/us/
Thanks for the link Chris, but I’ll send them my own thoughts thank-you very much.
OOIDA: “Thanks, Chris. We are drafting a letter as well and posted a response in the Youtube comments.”
Looks like the majority has cast their vote, time to attack VW with all we got!
Stephanie K: started a group about this.. trucker families against shoot the gap.. please join up
Look at this! Stephanie used her free time to turn a negative into a positive! By the way, the entire title of her group is “Trucker famailies Against the VW Shoot the Gap Commercial.” I think she meant “families” but she was probably in such a rush to be the first to start a group that she couldn’t spell families correctly. Understandable. If I am ever able to find some free time, I’m going to start my own group: “People for the Destruction of alarm clocks worldwide!” I’m a realistic guy; I doubt the page will actually be able to end the pain and suffering that alarm clocks cause myself and my fellow human beings but gee whiz, I sure will feel better about myself and my noble efforts! By the way, I briefly considered joining Stephanie’s group but as a trucker, I am not offended, and my family (who through genetics, has a sense of humor like me) thought it was a funny commercial too, so I guess they won’t be joining either.
Adam B: Not a good comercial in the safety aspect. I think VW covered their butt though by the caption at the bottom of the screen saying ( professional driver, closed course, always obey local speed and traffic laws). Like a lot of you have said, we see this every day
Adam thought wrong. VW failed to “cover their butt” by not adding the additional small print of “this commercial is meant to be funny and is for entertainment purposes only. If you lack a funny bone in your body, look away. Look away now!”
Eileen T: “I agree very unsafe commercial...NTSB needs to step in.another point..with all the safety testing on civillian vehicles,whreres the safety rating on commercial vehicles? I think that the general public needs to be shown 'what could' happen when the 2 collide..wake up!
And here I thought an “unsafe commercial” is one you watched while not wearing protection! Seriously, I am frankly surprised that OOIDA themselves did not comment on this comment- I have read every Landline magazine from cover to cover and not once did I notice them calling for even more government intervention in the trucking industry. If we have to run our commercials past the government, where do we draw the line? Should we run our thoughts by them too? In addition, I interviewed over 32 people I met randomly in the street and asked them if they knew ‘what could’ happen if a car and a truck collide. All but one shook their heads and said “not good.” The one who wasn’t sure was one of my dispatchers; she told me she is not real sure what a truck even is. (That’s a joke; my dispatchers are quite familiar with trucks and especially with mine in particular. I’ve only posted ten thousand pictures of it on my personal Facebook page. All my dispatchers are awesome by the way. And so is my truck.) My poll could have been skewed; I may have been just lucky enough to find 31 people with some common sense.
Doug C: At first (for a moment) I was amused. Then I was absolutely outraged! The lack of respect and responsibility towards not only the trucking industry, but the rest of the motoring public is deeply troubling. We have become completely self centered as a society with Zero regard for anyone else. Sickening!
I think Doug was amused until he saw the post from OOIDA, and then he became outraged. I beg to differ with Doug’s opinion about our society becoming completely self-centered. I see random acts of road kindness on a daily basis. Sure, there are a few bad apples out there but they are far outnumbered by the good ones. Why let a few bad ones spoil what could be (and should be) a positive experience on the road?
Michael F: I would assume that 99% of the people take it for what it is, a advertisement that shows stupidity to get your attention. Just my opinion that anyone that would be stupid enough to drive like the people in the commercial have been doing it long before this commercial aired. If you think about it most car commercials show very bad driving, I guess because this one has trucks involved even though they aren't the ones driving badly it has everyone's feathers ruffled. There are more important issues affecting the trucking industry that I think truckers should be more focused on than a stupid commercial.......just my opinion
My compliments to the word-chef. I appreciate Michael’s opinion but I disagree with his numbers. I think Michael and I are in the minority - I think 99% of the people take it for what it isn’t. He does such an amazing job of explaining my sentiments in only one paragraph that I question what my problem might be. If I could do that I’d have all kinds of free time to work on my “People for the Destruction of Alarm clocks Worldwide” page.
John S: This commercial really is an example of how arrogant our society has become. This advertisement makes me sick.
Note to VW: In future commercials you may want to also consider adding even more small print like “Warning, this advertisement may cause nausea. If you’re prone to becoming sick from watching television ads, look away. Look away now!
Mike M: It looks like it was pulled. No longer on YouTube. Good. it was way too irresponsible, although it was funny. Just wrong to use it.
Funny-but-wrong? Mike is clearly a “you-can’t-have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too” kind of guy. I must be an “eat-my-cake-and-laugh-so-hard-that-it-comes-out-my-nose” kind of guy. Mike should try it; it’s more fun!
Sabrina H : My bf and I F-in hate that commercial! It shows drivers that it's ok to F around truckers n be stupid 4 wheelers.. *-_-
As I said, this is a family show but Sabrina has dropped the F bomb. I’m going to have to ask anyone under the age of 18 to look away from this part. Look away now! This includes Diane D’s daughter- she’s 19 but Diane surely doesn’t want her to see this. If what Sabrina is suggesting is really happening, I would be truly horrified. It’s traumatic enough when a strange woman I do not know shows me her bare breasts, but are they actually starting to F around truckers too? If people in four wheelers ever F around me, I would not only consider it unsafe motorist behavior but it would also be more than I could take. I’d have to hang up my keys for good.
These were only a few of the comments from OOIDA’S first post about the commercial. They made a second post with even more comments. Oh the joy!
OOIDA: Looks as though the ad was removed from YouTube.
Actually, it wasn’t. It’s very rare that anything is removed from the Internet these days. Just do a Google search for what you are looking for and you’re bound to find it. Watch what you say online kids! Soon after OOIDA claimed victory, even more comments flowed in:
Karen G : But it's still being shown on tv. What was the idiot who thought up the ad, not to mention Jetta, thinking? Funny part is, that's the mentality of most drivers...
One thing is for sure: I doubt that the creative people (I like that better than “idiots) who thought up this ad were trying to offend truck drivers. It’s more likely that they tapped their inner creative genius and came up with a funny ad. One more thing- the Jetta does not think, it simply does. It does it very well by the way and if you don’t believe me, I urge you to run down to your nearest dealer and take one for a ride. You’ll thank me later.
Scott T : i just seen it on tv a few min ago. i never paid attention to it till i seen this post. it is the mentallty of 4wheelers!!!
Scott is a perfect example of someone who wasn’t offended until someone pointed out that perhaps he should be. This in turn stirred his negative emotions regarding his relationships with four wheelers. Why such negativity towards the four wheelers? I think that most of the four wheelers on the road are well behaved. I could be wrong though since I’m such a youngster in the trucking world. I have only been on the road six years and maybe they’re breaking me in slowly. Ten years from now I might sound like the next guy:
Vernon M : i already have 4-wheelers cutting me off,will not let me out in the hammer lane,passing me on the shoulder,tail gateing.this commercial is stupid and dangerous.
Poor Vernon. I imagine at this very moment he’s trudging along in the slow lane while being tailgated. No one will let poor Vernon out in the hammer lane and to make matters worse, he’s being passed on the shoulder! I urge Vernon to take a deep breath, put on some relaxing tunes and not worry about going so fast. If he continues to let the stress get to him, he could wind up with some kind of terrible condition or even worse: a heart attack. Vernon sure does paint a horrible picture of the road and it’s one I’ve never experienced. I’ve never been passed on the shoulder unless I’m in Massachusetts where for some reason they allow cars to use that for travel during rush hours. If I use my turn signal, someone eventually lets me out. Vernon’s world could take a turn for the better if he changed his thinking but this post by OOIDA certainly isn’t a step in the right direction. I think Vernon should do what I do: put on some love songs, set the cruise for the speed limit or just slightly under, and watch the world go by. It’s extremely relaxing.
C Skowron V: Retired O/O here and now i am a corporate director of marketing and I create TV commercials. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this posted today. The ignorance and greed of corporate america is what creates ads such as this. It all boils down to the $$! I for one am sick of it. Instead of wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars to produce the ad, hire the actors and buy the media, the company could have showcased a parent showing a teen how to be a responsible driver that shares the road and respects trucks and other drivers. But that wouldn't be drive sales and it's all about the money!
This guy is interesting. It all boils down to the dollars? I’ve never owned a business but I would assume certain things are important. Things like a good product, and superb customer service. And oh yes, MONEY! Without money your business goes away and then what? Perhaps you retire. I don’t care much for a video that showcases a parent teaching a teen how to be a responsible driver. I don’t care much at all for others telling me how to be a good parent. My kids learn how to be a good driver by simply being a passenger in my car while I am behind the wheel. It’s called setting a good example and if all parents could do that we wouldn’t need videos “showcasing” how to do it. Our kids are watching us, so be nice and let people like Poor Vernon out in the hammer lane every once in awhile. And stop tailgating the guy for gosh darn sakes!
Let’s end this on a positive note:
Letha M: Peace:OK, don't throw tomatoes at me, but I actually really like that commerical. I am a professional truck driver, but I have to go with "funny". And face it, fools are going to drive that way, regardless of whether there is a commercial about it or not. You just have to be careful on the road.
No Tomatoes from me Letha, but I will offer you some roses. You do have to be careful out on the road and it’s our responsibility as professionals to look after not only ourselves but also the non-professionals. If we’re in the proper lane and always watching our mirrors, we can be prepared for someone “shooting the Gap” and act accordingly. Another example of keeping it short and sweet! I need to work on that so my “People for The Destruction of Alarm Clocks Worldwide” page can truly flourish.
In my short career as a truck driver, I always fail to understand the animosity a lot of truck drivers harbor towards their four wheeled counterparts. I hear it constantly on the CB (when I have it on, it’s rare these days.) Thanks to OOIDA’s poor choice in bringing this commercial to light, I get to see it in print. I’ve written before about the transportation food chain- Truck Drivers bring a bunch of stuff to a building, people inside break it down and then people in four wheelers come and take it away. We need each other to survive and we should treat each other with respect on the road; that way we can all have a good time when out and about.
I also believe our frame of mind behind the wheel determines the type of experience we will have when we’re out on the open road. The road itself, as it lies before us is neutral; it’s up to us to decide the type of experience we are going to have while driving on it. OOIDA might find it beneficial to install an ambassador to not only promote knowledge to four wheelers about what we face on the road; but to also somehow get truckers to rid their animosity toward the non-professionals. Then again, OOIDA’s job is to look out for the professional truck drivers interest, not to tell truck drivers how to be professional.
I’m considering asking my friends over at the Secret Society of Happy People if I could create an off-shoot of their fantastic brand; I’d call it the Secret Society of Happy Drivers. We would even have an awesome decal to put on cars and trucks alike; when we see each other on the road we could smile and wave and know we’re in good company. That alone would be so much better than middle fingers or even worse: the bare breast.
While it is my opinion that my friends at OOIDA suffered a lack of judgment with the great debate over the Volkswagen commercial, I still hold them in high regard. They do too much good on my behalf (and for lots of others) to let this incident make me think differently. To show my appreciation to them, I’m going to do the right thing and finally send in my money for a membership. The fact isn’t lost on me that I have no business commenting on their business if I’m not a member, so now I will become one. Thank-you OOIDA, for all that you do.
To my friends at Volkswagen, keep on making awesome automobiles and please tell your ad shop to keep up the good work. Don’t allow what some perceived as a mistake to shatter their creativity and good sense of humor. If they are ever in need of ideas, have them contact me - I have some great ones that I am sure they would appreciate and I’m positive they wouldn’t offend anyone. (What am I saying? It never pays to make assumptions!) One last thing: If I was ever able to have the pleasure of owning a Fabulous Volkswagen Routan, I think I’d prefer it in black. I’m just sayin’.
I drive a truck and this commercial did not offend me. It made me laugh and I like to laugh because I like being happy. I wish more people would try it so they could be happy too- it’s so much more fun. For the record, I’m not a fan of shooting the gap in an unsafe fashion; I am however perfectly okay with people safely merging into the gap. At this very moment, there are over ten million gaps on the road across America. There are ten million more reasons why those gaps exists in the first place. I’d love to explain that but I have committed myself to making more time in my life to work on my “People for the destruction of Alarm Clocks Worldwide” page. Perhaps I will tackle that issue in the future.
I’m a truck driver and I approved this message. Feel free to form your own thoughts.
My concern is that people give these groups too much power and sometimes allow the groups do their thinking for them. In other words, tell me (or even just suggest) I should be offended, and I will. There is no greater danger that America faces today than the people who remove their thinking caps and place them on someone else’s head.
While some of these so-called “special interest groups” are just plain silly, I do believe that there are some out there that do a lot of good. Even so, some issues that the good ones choose to ‘attack’ are questionable. Using their membership to focus on trivial issues is wasted energy and distracts from the greater good of the intended purpose. Sometimes it can also have a negative effect.
As a trucker, I have been associated with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA). I say associated, because I am not yet a dues paying member. I do however, regularly read their Landline magazine, which they send to me every month- free of charge. I’ve always felt guilty about not joining because their magazine helps me to stay on top of an array of issues within the trucking industry and I really believe they are fighting the good fight. Even though I am not an owner-operator and instead a company driver, the issues they attend to affects all drivers in a positive manner. They’re on top of hours-of-service, taxes, road tolling, parking issues and so much more. They have supported and publicized important issues like Jason’s Law and the great journey of Jazzy. I could go on and on about all the good things the people at OOIDA do.
As good as they are, I recently saw a post on their Facebook page that I found completely trivial and nonsensical. I’m not sure if it was a slow news day (unlikely if you’re familiar with the trucking industry) or if they felt a need to post something just to post something. It’s also possible that one of their members brought the issue to their attention and they picked it up and ran with it; either way I feel it was wasted energy on a trivial issue.
The issue in question is about the “Shoot The Gap” Volkswagen commercial. If you are like me and don’t watch much television, here’s the video in question:
In all fairness, I must say that while I am fan of OOIDA, I am also a fan of Volkswagen. My first new car (bought and paid for by yours truly) was a 1997 VW Jetta. I also currently own a 2000 Jetta. They have been great, fun cars to drive and I find they enhance my good looks. It’s also important to know that I’m going to take VW’s side on this one and that they didn’t pay me a dime to do so (though if they feel obligated, our old and tired Chevrolet Venture is on it’s last legs and a new VW Routan would be fantastic for my Wife -who is poor because she is married to me- to cart around our five kids in comfort and style!)
My issue with OOIDA attacking this ad has nothing to do with car manufacturer loyalty and everything to do with the attempted destruction of creativity, understanding real life versus entertainment, and most importantly: stirring up negative emotions in truck drivers regarding relations with their four wheeled counterparts. Negative emotions in truck drivers? Say it ain’t so!
There is no better example of “stirring the pot of negative emotions” than showcasing a few examples of what comments were left on OOIDA’s two posts on Facebook about the commercial. Because I suffer from an over-abundance of opinions on everything I see, I will offer a few comments on each post. Again, to be fair, all the people I have chosen to quote will be notified and have the opportunity to add any follow up opinions of their own by leaving comments on my blog (as long as there’s no swearing, this is a family show.) I’m all about the fairness.
OOIDA kicked things off by providing a link to the commercial on You Tube with the comment:
“Just a funny commercial?”
This suggests that they aren’t sure themselves. They might have laughed the first time they saw it then thought, “Look! There are trucks in there, and we should be offended! We should post the link to our Facebook fan page and if everyone else is offended, we’ll attack VW with all we got!”
Now on to some selected comments from the above post. There are lots more that you can read by joining OOIDA’s page on Facebook. . Please note that I have not edited any of the comments, including spelling or grammar. I have a hard enough time keeping myself in check and it safeguards me from being accused of twisting someone else’s words or taking them out of context.
Janet M. : they should be sued, but as we all know too well, the trucker is always blamed...... :(
Who should be sued? VW? You’re right; we don’t live in a litigious enough society as it is! Just because we order a hot cup of coffee, spill it on ourselves then file a lawsuit; we should also be able to sue when we’re offended, right? By the way, the trucker isn’t ALWAYS blamed, read on…..
Elizabeth H: “Funny? Well, let me think...NOT! Just what we need, a car company promoting a stupid act that some idiot will just have to try! Then when someone dies, guess who gets blame? If you answered..VOLKSWAGEN JETTA LE...you'd be wrong! The answer would be that some truck driver, somewhere, would once again be labeled a reckless and coldblooded killer!!! SHAME ON YOU VOLKSWAGEN!!!!”
Most police reports would likely blame the person behind the wheel, not the car itself so the Jetta LE would likely be innocent of all charges. I can’t remember if I have ever read the headline that labeled a truck driver a cold-blooded killer. Then again, I don’t read sensationalized tabloids. I was involved in an accident with my truck and I was never blamed for it. Not once. The other guy was. It rarely (if ever) pays to make assumptions.
Diane D: “
Diane, as a Father of a four-year-old daughter, I understand your concerns. But really, your daughter is 19 years old. Has she ever been out on the open road? If she has, she likely has witnessed someone “shooting the gap” and other reckless behavior. The people at VW are smart and creative but they didn’t invent “shooting the gap.” They only gave it a name and made a funny commercial about it. Also, even though your daughter is 19, I suggest keeping her away from R-Rated movies, boys and tattoo parlors. That’s what I’m going to do with my little girl!
Carla S. : “is going to make sure that if I see a VW, I am going to be out of its way!”
Thanks Carla. I’ll probably just be on my way to work, or perhaps the airport if you see me on a weekend. But thanks for clearing the way for me- I really do appreciate it!
Chris S: “I guess this is where VW drivers learn it.”
Learn what? Learn that we have great taste in automobiles that also happen to enhance our good looks?
Shayne S : “I actually thought it was funny.....”
Me too Shayne! I think that was its true intent. Unfortunately we’re in the minority.
Chris S. “Just sent an email to VW at the link provided above. Write them now and tell them the commerecial is irresponsible and out of line. Here is the link again: http://www.vw.com/customerservice/contactus/en/us/
Thanks for the link Chris, but I’ll send them my own thoughts thank-you very much.
OOIDA: “Thanks, Chris. We are drafting a letter as well and posted a response in the Youtube comments.”
Looks like the majority has cast their vote, time to attack VW with all we got!
Stephanie K: started a group about this.. trucker families against shoot the gap.. please join up
Look at this! Stephanie used her free time to turn a negative into a positive! By the way, the entire title of her group is “Trucker famailies Against the VW Shoot the Gap Commercial.” I think she meant “families” but she was probably in such a rush to be the first to start a group that she couldn’t spell families correctly. Understandable. If I am ever able to find some free time, I’m going to start my own group: “People for the Destruction of alarm clocks worldwide!” I’m a realistic guy; I doubt the page will actually be able to end the pain and suffering that alarm clocks cause myself and my fellow human beings but gee whiz, I sure will feel better about myself and my noble efforts! By the way, I briefly considered joining Stephanie’s group but as a trucker, I am not offended, and my family (who through genetics, has a sense of humor like me) thought it was a funny commercial too, so I guess they won’t be joining either.
Adam B: Not a good comercial in the safety aspect. I think VW covered their butt though by the caption at the bottom of the screen saying ( professional driver, closed course, always obey local speed and traffic laws). Like a lot of you have said, we see this every day
Adam thought wrong. VW failed to “cover their butt” by not adding the additional small print of “this commercial is meant to be funny and is for entertainment purposes only. If you lack a funny bone in your body, look away. Look away now!”
Eileen T: “I agree very unsafe commercial...NTSB needs to step in.another point..with all the safety testing on civillian vehicles,whreres the safety rating on commercial vehicles? I think that the general public needs to be shown 'what could' happen when the 2 collide..wake up!
And here I thought an “unsafe commercial” is one you watched while not wearing protection! Seriously, I am frankly surprised that OOIDA themselves did not comment on this comment- I have read every Landline magazine from cover to cover and not once did I notice them calling for even more government intervention in the trucking industry. If we have to run our commercials past the government, where do we draw the line? Should we run our thoughts by them too? In addition, I interviewed over 32 people I met randomly in the street and asked them if they knew ‘what could’ happen if a car and a truck collide. All but one shook their heads and said “not good.” The one who wasn’t sure was one of my dispatchers; she told me she is not real sure what a truck even is. (That’s a joke; my dispatchers are quite familiar with trucks and especially with mine in particular. I’ve only posted ten thousand pictures of it on my personal Facebook page. All my dispatchers are awesome by the way. And so is my truck.) My poll could have been skewed; I may have been just lucky enough to find 31 people with some common sense.
Doug C: At first (for a moment) I was amused. Then I was absolutely outraged! The lack of respect and responsibility towards not only the trucking industry, but the rest of the motoring public is deeply troubling. We have become completely self centered as a society with Zero regard for anyone else. Sickening!
I think Doug was amused until he saw the post from OOIDA, and then he became outraged. I beg to differ with Doug’s opinion about our society becoming completely self-centered. I see random acts of road kindness on a daily basis. Sure, there are a few bad apples out there but they are far outnumbered by the good ones. Why let a few bad ones spoil what could be (and should be) a positive experience on the road?
Michael F: I would assume that 99% of the people take it for what it is, a advertisement that shows stupidity to get your attention. Just my opinion that anyone that would be stupid enough to drive like the people in the commercial have been doing it long before this commercial aired. If you think about it most car commercials show very bad driving, I guess because this one has trucks involved even though they aren't the ones driving badly it has everyone's feathers ruffled. There are more important issues affecting the trucking industry that I think truckers should be more focused on than a stupid commercial.......just my opinion
My compliments to the word-chef. I appreciate Michael’s opinion but I disagree with his numbers. I think Michael and I are in the minority - I think 99% of the people take it for what it isn’t. He does such an amazing job of explaining my sentiments in only one paragraph that I question what my problem might be. If I could do that I’d have all kinds of free time to work on my “People for the Destruction of Alarm clocks Worldwide” page.
John S: This commercial really is an example of how arrogant our society has become. This advertisement makes me sick.
Note to VW: In future commercials you may want to also consider adding even more small print like “Warning, this advertisement may cause nausea. If you’re prone to becoming sick from watching television ads, look away. Look away now!
Mike M: It looks like it was pulled. No longer on YouTube. Good. it was way too irresponsible, although it was funny. Just wrong to use it.
Funny-but-wrong? Mike is clearly a “you-can’t-have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too” kind of guy. I must be an “eat-my-cake-and-laugh-so-hard-that-it-comes-out-my-nose” kind of guy. Mike should try it; it’s more fun!
Sabrina H : My bf and I F-in hate that commercial! It shows drivers that it's ok to F around truckers n be stupid 4 wheelers.. *-_-
As I said, this is a family show but Sabrina has dropped the F bomb. I’m going to have to ask anyone under the age of 18 to look away from this part. Look away now! This includes Diane D’s daughter- she’s 19 but Diane surely doesn’t want her to see this. If what Sabrina is suggesting is really happening, I would be truly horrified. It’s traumatic enough when a strange woman I do not know shows me her bare breasts, but are they actually starting to F around truckers too? If people in four wheelers ever F around me, I would not only consider it unsafe motorist behavior but it would also be more than I could take. I’d have to hang up my keys for good.
These were only a few of the comments from OOIDA’S first post about the commercial. They made a second post with even more comments. Oh the joy!
OOIDA: Looks as though the ad was removed from YouTube.
Actually, it wasn’t. It’s very rare that anything is removed from the Internet these days. Just do a Google search for what you are looking for and you’re bound to find it. Watch what you say online kids! Soon after OOIDA claimed victory, even more comments flowed in:
Karen G : But it's still being shown on tv. What was the idiot who thought up the ad, not to mention Jetta, thinking? Funny part is, that's the mentality of most drivers...
One thing is for sure: I doubt that the creative people (I like that better than “idiots) who thought up this ad were trying to offend truck drivers. It’s more likely that they tapped their inner creative genius and came up with a funny ad. One more thing- the Jetta does not think, it simply does. It does it very well by the way and if you don’t believe me, I urge you to run down to your nearest dealer and take one for a ride. You’ll thank me later.
Scott T : i just seen it on tv a few min ago. i never paid attention to it till i seen this post. it is the mentallty of 4wheelers!!!
Scott is a perfect example of someone who wasn’t offended until someone pointed out that perhaps he should be. This in turn stirred his negative emotions regarding his relationships with four wheelers. Why such negativity towards the four wheelers? I think that most of the four wheelers on the road are well behaved. I could be wrong though since I’m such a youngster in the trucking world. I have only been on the road six years and maybe they’re breaking me in slowly. Ten years from now I might sound like the next guy:
Vernon M : i already have 4-wheelers cutting me off,will not let me out in the hammer lane,passing me on the shoulder,tail gateing.this commercial is stupid and dangerous.
Poor Vernon. I imagine at this very moment he’s trudging along in the slow lane while being tailgated. No one will let poor Vernon out in the hammer lane and to make matters worse, he’s being passed on the shoulder! I urge Vernon to take a deep breath, put on some relaxing tunes and not worry about going so fast. If he continues to let the stress get to him, he could wind up with some kind of terrible condition or even worse: a heart attack. Vernon sure does paint a horrible picture of the road and it’s one I’ve never experienced. I’ve never been passed on the shoulder unless I’m in Massachusetts where for some reason they allow cars to use that for travel during rush hours. If I use my turn signal, someone eventually lets me out. Vernon’s world could take a turn for the better if he changed his thinking but this post by OOIDA certainly isn’t a step in the right direction. I think Vernon should do what I do: put on some love songs, set the cruise for the speed limit or just slightly under, and watch the world go by. It’s extremely relaxing.
C Skowron V: Retired O/O here and now i am a corporate director of marketing and I create TV commercials. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this posted today. The ignorance and greed of corporate america is what creates ads such as this. It all boils down to the $$! I for one am sick of it. Instead of wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars to produce the ad, hire the actors and buy the media, the company could have showcased a parent showing a teen how to be a responsible driver that shares the road and respects trucks and other drivers. But that wouldn't be drive sales and it's all about the money!
This guy is interesting. It all boils down to the dollars? I’ve never owned a business but I would assume certain things are important. Things like a good product, and superb customer service. And oh yes, MONEY! Without money your business goes away and then what? Perhaps you retire. I don’t care much for a video that showcases a parent teaching a teen how to be a responsible driver. I don’t care much at all for others telling me how to be a good parent. My kids learn how to be a good driver by simply being a passenger in my car while I am behind the wheel. It’s called setting a good example and if all parents could do that we wouldn’t need videos “showcasing” how to do it. Our kids are watching us, so be nice and let people like Poor Vernon out in the hammer lane every once in awhile. And stop tailgating the guy for gosh darn sakes!
Let’s end this on a positive note:
Letha M: Peace:OK, don't throw tomatoes at me, but I actually really like that commerical. I am a professional truck driver, but I have to go with "funny". And face it, fools are going to drive that way, regardless of whether there is a commercial about it or not. You just have to be careful on the road.
No Tomatoes from me Letha, but I will offer you some roses. You do have to be careful out on the road and it’s our responsibility as professionals to look after not only ourselves but also the non-professionals. If we’re in the proper lane and always watching our mirrors, we can be prepared for someone “shooting the Gap” and act accordingly. Another example of keeping it short and sweet! I need to work on that so my “People for The Destruction of Alarm Clocks Worldwide” page can truly flourish.
In my short career as a truck driver, I always fail to understand the animosity a lot of truck drivers harbor towards their four wheeled counterparts. I hear it constantly on the CB (when I have it on, it’s rare these days.) Thanks to OOIDA’s poor choice in bringing this commercial to light, I get to see it in print. I’ve written before about the transportation food chain- Truck Drivers bring a bunch of stuff to a building, people inside break it down and then people in four wheelers come and take it away. We need each other to survive and we should treat each other with respect on the road; that way we can all have a good time when out and about.
I also believe our frame of mind behind the wheel determines the type of experience we will have when we’re out on the open road. The road itself, as it lies before us is neutral; it’s up to us to decide the type of experience we are going to have while driving on it. OOIDA might find it beneficial to install an ambassador to not only promote knowledge to four wheelers about what we face on the road; but to also somehow get truckers to rid their animosity toward the non-professionals. Then again, OOIDA’s job is to look out for the professional truck drivers interest, not to tell truck drivers how to be professional.
I’m considering asking my friends over at the Secret Society of Happy People if I could create an off-shoot of their fantastic brand; I’d call it the Secret Society of Happy Drivers. We would even have an awesome decal to put on cars and trucks alike; when we see each other on the road we could smile and wave and know we’re in good company. That alone would be so much better than middle fingers or even worse: the bare breast.
While it is my opinion that my friends at OOIDA suffered a lack of judgment with the great debate over the Volkswagen commercial, I still hold them in high regard. They do too much good on my behalf (and for lots of others) to let this incident make me think differently. To show my appreciation to them, I’m going to do the right thing and finally send in my money for a membership. The fact isn’t lost on me that I have no business commenting on their business if I’m not a member, so now I will become one. Thank-you OOIDA, for all that you do.
To my friends at Volkswagen, keep on making awesome automobiles and please tell your ad shop to keep up the good work. Don’t allow what some perceived as a mistake to shatter their creativity and good sense of humor. If they are ever in need of ideas, have them contact me - I have some great ones that I am sure they would appreciate and I’m positive they wouldn’t offend anyone. (What am I saying? It never pays to make assumptions!) One last thing: If I was ever able to have the pleasure of owning a Fabulous Volkswagen Routan, I think I’d prefer it in black. I’m just sayin’.
I drive a truck and this commercial did not offend me. It made me laugh and I like to laugh because I like being happy. I wish more people would try it so they could be happy too- it’s so much more fun. For the record, I’m not a fan of shooting the gap in an unsafe fashion; I am however perfectly okay with people safely merging into the gap. At this very moment, there are over ten million gaps on the road across America. There are ten million more reasons why those gaps exists in the first place. I’d love to explain that but I have committed myself to making more time in my life to work on my “People for the destruction of Alarm Clocks Worldwide” page. Perhaps I will tackle that issue in the future.
I’m a truck driver and I approved this message. Feel free to form your own thoughts.
Comments
That commercial is supposed to make you think that driving a VW is fun and it also makes you think that 'shooting the gap' and other reckless driving is fun.
But, here is what's more important. You should be a dues paying member of any organization that fights for your industry. I'm a Realtor and I give money so that NAR can send lobbists to washington on my behalf. Realtors have a very strong voice because of it. And there's probably just as many truckers that don't have a powerful voice. All truckers need to support their industry.
I just started reading your blog. Nice post, I look forward to reading more.
I'm the exact opposite of politcally correct, I figure I offend at least 1 to 100 people a day. I don't care. If you wanna be a limp wristed sissy... that's your bag. If you wanna have fun... come hang out with folks like Jason or myself.
Life is toooooo short to be so serious.
:o)