Was James Kim Victimized by Off-Road Car Ads?

by Philip Weiss on December 8, 2006 · 4 comments

When tragedy befell them on Bear Camp Road in southwest Oregon, the Kim family was driving an all-wheel drive Saab 9-2X . Saab’s website shows the sporting vehicle performing on a lot of mountain roads, at least one a little snowy, and in that one the car is carrying skis.

SUV ads treat the outdoors like a tame pussycat. SUVs can go anywhere off-road. No, the Saab 9-2X isn’t an SUV, but All-Wheel-Drive for a family in San Francisco? Why did the Kims think that they could make it on a seasonal road approaching 4,000 feet in the Siskiyou National Forest? What ads had they been watching?

Related posts:

  1. The Lesson of the Oregon Tragedies: Sit Tight in the Car/Cave?
  2. On the road
  3. The Discourse It Is a-Changin’: ABC News reports on Israeli plan to ‘ethnically cleanse’ road signs
  4. ‘Best Western’ Hotel in Martinsville, IN, Leaves Empty Refrigerators On in Rooms
  5. The Royal Road to Neconservatism

{ 4 comments }

1 Jake December 9, 2006 at 3:18 pm

Yeah, I bought some new shaving cream recently but the sexy bitches that are supposed to help me use it have yet to appear.

2 LanceThruster December 10, 2006 at 7:13 am

I think that's a valid observation. The standard image for an SUV commercial is to be on top of some rocky spire and pretend it did not take a helicopter to transport said SUV and crew to the spot.

Add to that all the media depictions of recklessness behind the wheel as a birthright that rarely has any real-life consequences.

3 Tatter December 10, 2006 at 2:12 pm

I guess there are at least two douche bags out there that believe evertyhing they see on TV- Weiss and LanceThruster

4 LanceThruster December 10, 2006 at 9:56 pm

Dictionary tat-ter1 (tăt'ər)
n.
A torn and hanging piece of cloth; a shred.
tatters Torn and ragged clothing; rags.
tr. & intr.v., -tered, -tering, -ters.
To make or become ragged.

tat-ter2 (tăt'ər)
n.
One that makes tatting, especially as a livelihood.

Tatter – your nick is well suited to your contribution. The rag you offer is naught but shreds as you seek to cheapen and diminish the discourse with your brain farts. It seems to be your life's work. But thanks for playing.

If only your reading comprehension was better that your stilted thought processes, you'd comprehend that Mr. Weiss and I do *not* believe everything we see on TV (one of the reasons we find the Israel lobby propaganda so vexing).

Commercials do have the power to influence behaviors and attitudes, otherwise they would not spend so much money on them. Even then, such as with car ads, they have to put in somewhere "Professional driver on closed course. Do not attempt" because the assumption is that the ad is depicting a reality of sorts. Toy commercials often have disclaimers along the lines of "Action figure does not move, talk, fly, or spit fire, nor will it really be your best friend."

If Jake would have paid attention to the fine print, he might have noticed it stated that users referring to women as "bitches" voids any implied warranty and belong in the category of douche bag as Tatter.

[Tatter] – "I'm not *just* a douche bag, I'm the CEO. Welcome Jake, have a nozzle!"

Comments on this entry are closed.

Previous post: Tony Judt on Harry Lyme and Other Intellectuals

Next post: Why Did It Take a Week for Oregon Sheriff to Find ‘Ping’ From Missing Family’s Cell Phone?