As if the Taxi Entertainment Network hadn't already destroyed the sound mental fabric of taxi drivers in New York, some gas stations, such as the one next to my garage, also come equipped with TV screens, blaring the same advertisements at us, over and over and over, all day, every single day.
The one song that comes on almost immediately, each time I engage the taxi meter is the one shown in the video below. It might be a cute song to hear once, but I'm sure if you play this song next to any NYC cabbie's ear while they're at home asleep, or undergoing hypnosis, beware. Make a run for it while you can. You don't want to hear them screaming at the top of their lungs. Imagine, every time a new passenger steps in, which happens between 25 and 40 times in a 12 hour period. And sometimes, if the fare is longer than say, 10 minutes, this song will come on again during the same job. Most of us (hacks) drive in an urban human beehive at least 60 hours a week. That can't be good for our mental health. Add the perpetual repetition of the same ads, jingles, tunes, dialogues, sound effects, etc. No ill feelings toward Vampire Weekend or Tommy Hilfiger, but honestly, I don't get to see a cut from the benefits you're reaping at my expense.
WARNING: THESE VIDEOS ARE MEANT TO REPLICATE COLLECTIVE NAUSEA. JUST IMAGINE HEARING THESE ADS AND THEIR SONGS RIGHT BEHIND THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD, OVER AND OVER, 12 HOURS A DAY, AND AGAIN AT END WHEN YOU GAS UP. THAT IS A NEW YORK CABBIE'S LIFE! THESE VIDEOS ARE NOT DISPLAYED HERE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENLIGHTENMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, OR MARKETING.
The car commercial is yet another intrusive ad. This one takes the award for most ridiculous on GSTV (Gas Station TV). How can you say that you'll help save the planet, but only if people start buying more motor vehicles? "....starting today, when you buy a Chevrolet....". Not even one of their ecological-minded Chevrolets. Just, any Chevrolet. Don't spit on me and then tell me it's raining, Chevrolet. You run deep alright. Deep into the point of no return. They will plant a tree to help remedy the shit you put in the air with their car, but only if you buy another one or two of their cars. Please don't tell me we have become so mindless that this ad sounds heartfelt and intelligent to us. But who am I to speak? I burn fossil fuels for a living. I can't cast the first stone.
"chevy runs deep" deep into the ground, to get more oil.
ReplyDeleteyou said it friend, what a load of horse manure. Though quite frankly the planting a tree thing does sound awesome, if every major company starts to do this, we might replenish a forrest or two, although we might also be tearing down a forrest or two somewhere else.
I have no trust in General Motors, they are supposed to represent a sophisticated U.S.A. but they don't even know how to make a good hybrid energy system for their cars, meanwhile practically every other major car company in the world has figured it out.