It's not often I get on my high horse but I've been following the lop-sided debate over 4WD advertising with a great deal of interest.
Thus far I have seen ONE
well reasoned, objective, non-biased opinion. Congratulations, Melissa.
. . . . and you're how many months pregnant?
As Melissa suggested - the Advertising Agencies are only doing what they're paid to do - attract attention for the product. The starting point for the promotion of any product is what the industry calls a USP (Unique Selling Proposition). What makes product 'A' better than all its competitors, and therefore makes it stand out from the crowd? Most 4WD manufacturers and their agencies have difficulty doing this definitively, so they opt for an exaggerated, aspirational driving experience. Only fools believe that the images they see on television or in magazines are everyday experiences. If I make my own commercial claiming to be 'the best damned lover in the World' will I be inundated with enquiries from intelligent
young women wanting a piece of the action? I don't think so!
Of course the answer to the poll should be a resounding "NO".
If the question was to read: "Aggressive, road warrior style 4WD ads on TV are detrimental to the image of the serious 4WD fraternity, and we should attempt to do something about it", then a response in the positive would be logical.
BUT . . . . DON'T EXPECT OR DEMAND LEGISLATION TO REMEDY THE SITUATION!
Because if you do, you simply open a Pandora's box. It is hypocritical to demand legislation because of something we believe to be wrong (note - not illegal), and yet castigate other parties for their demands on a differing view.
Some examples;
a) Every
well reasoned person who drinks Coca Cola knows that it is probably doing them harm because of the massive sugar content - Do we ban Coke advertising?,
b) The majority of beer, bourbon, whiskey, or Glayva drinkers realise that after the equivalent of three alchoholic drinks they are doing their livers and brains irreparable damage - Do we demand legislation to enforce a three drink limit either take away or at the bar?,
c) The chance of being injured in a game of contact sport such as AFL, Union or League are quite high - Do we ban these sports?,
and my piéce de résistance,
d) National Parks are supposedly pristine sanctuaries for flora and fauna and therefore SHOULD ALL VEHICLES SHOULD BE BANNED FROM NATIONAL PARKS?
I'm sure I could find thousands of other examples given the time and inclination.
To quote Melissa's post: "At what point do people begin to take responsibility for themselves and their actions instead of pointing the finger of blame at someone else??? Personally I'm sick to death of this "it's everyone else's fault but mine" mentality that seems to be creeping into our society."
If you believe that the green lobby groups' very successful public relations campaign, which promotes aggressive, road warrior style 4WD advertising as typical of the mindless, irresponsible, unrealistic, misleading, and potentially dangerous things that four wheel drivers do, is detrimental to the way which we are perceived by the public, then do something about it. There is no point harping and whingeing about the advertisers, the vehicle manufacturers or the greenies. A ". . . bulldoze in a greenie" sticker only enforces the public perception.
Promote the fact that you are part of a genre who not only enjoy the Australian outback but who religiously care for, and maintain the sanctity of it. Demand that your representatives, whether they be 4WD internet forums, 4WD clubs, 4WD magazines, driving or travel related television shows, actively assert the responsibile attitudes which are prevalent within forums such as this. Unfortunately it is a lot easier to sit back and apathetically blame someone else for our predicament. The winners in this world are the one's who make a positive attempt to change for the better, the things which are important to them.
Maybe replace that ". . . doze in a greenie" sticker with something more positive. It doesn't have to be humorous to get the message across. Possibly, "I am a responsible 4WD owner who cares for our environment".
Getting down out of the saddle now!