Lauren Mullins

So often in advertising we praise the brilliant, the creative, and most importantly, the successful. But for almost every ad worth praising, there is also one that makes you step back and say “WTF?”

When I started this blog, I intended to write a series of posts along the lines of “My Top 5 Ads of the Month.” The main reason that hasn’t happened is my major slackitude when it comes to updating this blog. (And yes, slackitude is a word. In my dictionary.) I’ve decided to change direction; I’m introducing what (hopefully) will become a series of posts entitled “Advertising That Annoys Me.”

Please note: These are ads that annoy me. I’m not intended to bash them and call them ineffective, uncreative, or bad. These are ads that I’ve aired seen too many times, never really enjoyed, and thus are now victim to a small tirade.

Here we go:

1. Kia Soul – Hamsters

I know a lot of people who love this ad. I respect it for bringing back some seriously old school hip-hop (the track is “The Choice is Yours” by Black Sheep, circa 1994.) Other than that, this ad annoys me. I understand the general creative point behind the ad, but it just doesn’t resonate with me.

2. Skittles – Tube Sock

Skittles commercials are always weird, and this one is no exception. I’m generally not a fan of Skittles’ advertising in general, but this one in particular bothers me. A giant tube shock zapping an old man’s tongue from friction created by the carpet. What?!

3. Kraft Sandwich Shop Mayonaise – Tastemakers

Kraft’s campaign for Sandwich Shop Mayo features sandwich makeovers created by well-known personalities from HGTV design shows, including Candice Olson (above), Vern Yip, and Genevieve Gorder. I find these ads incredibly annoying, yet I think they are very creative an on-point for their target. There is certainly are people addicted to home design shows (cough cough, my mother) who will be reached by these ads. But they annoy me to no end. Would anyone get that excited about a sandwich? (Except for maybe Joey from Friends?)

That’s all I have right now. What ads annoy you?

Ok, let’s be honest, my number one life goal at the moment is to find an awesome job at an innovative, creative agency or corporation. Nevertheless, I have an entirely different subset of goals that relate to the geo-location game of Foursquare.

When I first started playing Foursquare (back in October or so), my main motivation was to grab as many mayorships as possible. And I did, seeing as how I was maybe 1 of 10 people in the Athens area using the app. Over the past few months, I’ve seen my mayorships dwindle from about 9 (so close to that Super Mayor badge…sigh) to my current total: 1.

Thus, I’ve decided it is time to reevaluate my use of Foursquare. The pursuit of mayorships in Athens is futile, given that I will be relocating in about 5 weeks. My new goal in Foursquare is to collect as many badges as I can get my hoarding, iPhone carrying hands on.

Firstly, currently I possess these shiny badges:

Thanks to The Kruser, I was able to research all the badges I’d plan to obtain in the coming weeks:

Jetsetter

Requirement: 5 Airport Checkins
Strategy: I believe I have 4 checkins right now. I’m going to New York City next weekend, so a checkin at LaGuardia should accomplish this.

Far, Far Away

Requirement: Check in above 59^th Street in NYC
Strategy: While in NYC, I’ll be staying with a friend who lives in the 70’s, so a checkin about 59^th should be cake.

Barista

Requirement: Check in to 5 Starbucks locations
Strategy: I can believe I haven’t accomplished this yet. I must frequent the same Starbucks far to often. Branching out.

Bravo Newbie

Requirement: Check in at a Bravo rated location
Strategy: Not sure. I doubt I visit anywhere classy enough to warrant a Bravo ranking. In NYC, I’ll stroll down 5^th Ave, but I’ll probably get shunned.

Jobs

Requirement: Check in to 3 Apple stores
Strategy: Another badge I can’t believe I haven’t obtained yet. Oftentimes I visit Apple stores just to gawk at the pretty things I cannot afford. More window shopping, I suppose!

Zeotrope

Requirement: 10 checkins at venues tagged “theatre.”
Strategy: This one is a stretch. My wallet restrictions don’t allow me to see as many movies in the theatre as I would like. Too bad there isn’t a Netflix badge.

I’m on a Boat!

Requirement: Checkin at a venue tagged “boat”
Strategy: Hrmmm….

Now that I’ve laid out my plan for badge domination, I’ve realized that this post is also an indicator that I have entirely too much free time on my hands.