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You are here: Home / Politics / Media / Today’s Public Relations Fail

Today’s Public Relations Fail

by Cheryl Rofer|  November 18, 20194:19 pm| 117 Comments

This post is in: Media, Open Threads, Assholes, General Stupidity

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South Dakota, like a lot of other rural states, has a meth problem. Today they rolled out a campaign to deal with it.

South Dakota has launched a campaign to combat meth.

With this new logo.https://t.co/u5l7HF7mK9 pic.twitter.com/OvRjkCqlHl

— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) November 18, 2019

Evidently nobody along the way said, um, that could be taken in two ways.

It’s not often that I’m speechless … but I am without speech https://t.co/RHGwkzqilX pic.twitter.com/c273NHuKF0

— Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) November 18, 2019

The negligence here is cruel. Let us hope those are models in those photos, and not real people who thought they were helping to deal with South Dakota’s drug problem.

How does something this bad happen? Lack of diversity? An ad agency just in it for the money?

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Reader Interactions

117Comments

  1. 1.

    Elizabelle

    November 18, 2019 at 4:23 pm

    Laughing.  That’s hilarious.

  2. 2.

    Martin

    November 18, 2019 at 4:23 pm

    I don’t know, this is pretty up there as well:

    While answering a question from a viewer, “What was the weirdest phase you went through growing up?” [Jesse] Watters admitted he thought he was black “for like, a year, year and a half.”

    “Oh, geez!” yelled Greg Gutfeld, co-host of The Five. “Wait, just stop there.”

    Watters did not stop there but continued to explain what he meant by the comment.

    “No, I wanted to be black,” Watters continued. “I did. Really, I had all the gear. I wore all kinds of stuff.”

    “I don’t wanna know,” Gutfeld said.

    Panelist and Fox Business Network host Kennedy asked political analyst Juan Williams if he wanted her to call the human resources department on his behalf. Williams laughingly declined.

    “No, because actually he did a test,” Williams said. “Tell them about the test.”

    “Oh, yeah,” Watters said. “Well, our DNA test says I’m 0.1 percent black.”

    “There you go,” Williams said.

  3. 3.

    RoonieRoo

    November 18, 2019 at 4:23 pm

    I keep looking for the explanation that this isn’t real.

  4. 4.

    MattF

    November 18, 2019 at 4:23 pm

    Amazeballs. I expect that there will soon be a post on Language Log about this.

  5. 5.

    Elizabelle

    November 18, 2019 at 4:25 pm

    Wouldn’t you love to have been a fly on the wall when South Dakota’s Office of Tourism got a gander at that?

  6. 6.

    Eric Schneider

    November 18, 2019 at 4:25 pm

    You call it fail, but you have to admit that everyone knows about the program now.

     

    It’s a fine line between fail and self-deprecating win.

  7. 7.

    Gin & Tonic

    November 18, 2019 at 4:26 pm

    I truly didn’t know that that was South Dakota’s outline. I bet Florida can’t stop laughing.

  8. 8.

    (((CassandraLeo)))

    November 18, 2019 at 4:27 pm

    It was later reported that the services of one Walter White Ad Agency were enlisted to craft this campaign.

     

    Ceterum censeo factionem Republicanam esse delendam.

  9. 9.

    Cheryl Rofer

    November 18, 2019 at 4:28 pm

    I thought this was a joke but it is not. https://t.co/BPjT4QlKZ0

    — Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) November 18, 2019

  10. 10.

    What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?

    November 18, 2019 at 4:28 pm

    I have an explanation for how this happened: meth, they’re on it.

  11. 11.

    Yutsano

    November 18, 2019 at 4:29 pm

    I have only one thing to say here.

    …

    WAT…

  12. 12.

    Lord Fartdaddy (Formerly, Mumphrey, Smedley Darlington Mingobat, et al.)

    November 18, 2019 at 4:29 pm

    Jesús fucking Marimba…

  13. 13.

    mistermix loves your ass

    November 18, 2019 at 4:30 pm

    I’m sure it was some crony of Kristi Noem, gross incompetent governor, who is responsible for this.

  14. 14.

    MattF

    November 18, 2019 at 4:31 pm

    @Gin & Tonic: South Dakota’s outline distinguishes it from North Dakota— whose outline is totally different.

  15. 15.

    John Revolta

    November 18, 2019 at 4:32 pm

    Nebraska launched its new tourism campaign last Spring

    “Nebraska. Honestly, it’s not for everyone.”

  16. 16.

    Kylroy

    November 18, 2019 at 4:33 pm

    I don’t even think a lack of diversity could explain this – what person would be familiar with “I’m on it” meaning “I’m taking care of it” but not “I’m using it”?  To pick the most innocent example, people are “on” antibiotics all the time – who the hell doesn’t catch this?

  17. 17.

    Betty Cracker

    November 18, 2019 at 4:34 pm

    Lots of PSA campaigns like this are pro bono, but nope, I clicked through — SD paid almost half a mil. Still, making a laughingstock of a client isn’t great for the long-term revenue stream, so I surmise it was sheer dumb-fuckery rather than the agency assigning the campaign to an intern recruited from an Amish settlement and not bothering to review it prior to launch.

     

    If I had to guess, I’d say a really senior person and/or the client came up with the tagline and either no one had the guts to tell them that the dual meaning made that slogan a non-starter or just one or two people did and were shouted down by people who wanted to suck up. But damn, that’s a huge fuck-up.

  18. 18.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    November 18, 2019 at 4:36 pm

    @Kylroy:

    who the hell doesn’t catch this?

    Someone on meth?

  19. 19.

    John Revolta

    November 18, 2019 at 4:36 pm

    @John Revolta: Hmmm. Couldn’t make linky work………..

  20. 20.

    the Conster

    November 18, 2019 at 4:37 pm

    Deval Patrick getting more of the black vote than Mayo Pete is *chef’s kiss*

    Looks like Sanders and Warren are tied to each other’s mast when it comes to the AA vote.

    Black vote in SC in new Qpac poll:

    Biden 44%
    Sanders 10%
    Warren 8%
    Harris 6%
    Steyer 4%
    Booker 2%
    Patrick 1%
    Williamson 1%
    Yang 1%
    Buttigieg 0%

  21. 21.

    LeftCoastYankee

    November 18, 2019 at 4:38 pm

    It’s a good thing they trademarked that slogan.  You wouldn’t want everyone copying it without  proper compensation….

  22. 22.

    Shrillhouse

    November 18, 2019 at 4:39 pm

    That can’t be real.

  23. 23.

    Baud

    November 18, 2019 at 4:39 pm

    This is what happens when you delegate important work to unpaid college interms.

  24. 24.

    the Conster

    November 18, 2019 at 4:39 pm

    @the Conster:

     

    Meant to put this in the open thread.  Carry on.

  25. 25.

    Villago Delenda Est

    November 18, 2019 at 4:41 pm

    The ad agency pitched the campaign.  South Dakota gave it the green light.

     

    Idiots.

  26. 26.

    Baud

    November 18, 2019 at 4:41 pm

    Maybe they’re trying to clear up the popular misconception that SD suffers from an opiod epidemic.

  27. 27.

    oldster

    November 18, 2019 at 4:41 pm

    Nah, I think it’s working just as intended.

     

    They wanted buzz, visibility, and virality. They got it. Here we are, talking about their campaign.

  28. 28.

    Hoodie

    November 18, 2019 at 4:43 pm

    Maybe they thought they were being edgy, like the Nebraska “it’s not for everyone” campaign? A bit of double entendre?  In other words, maybe they’re admitting they have a meth problem and that it’s everyone’s problem.  That would be just about as stupid, but perhaps understandable.

  29. 29.

    sukabi

    November 18, 2019 at 4:43 pm

    So… is North Dakota’s meth initiative going to be Meth. We’re Cookin’ It!

     

    Adding an FYI… I’m intermittently losing the visual comment edit panel. Android Moto g7 power on ad blocker browser.

  30. 30.

    Villago Delenda Est

    November 18, 2019 at 4:43 pm

    @oldster: Any publicity is good publicity.  One of the Trump Crime Family credos.

  31. 31.

    SFAW

    November 18, 2019 at 4:45 pm

    @(((CassandraLeo))):

    It was later reported that the services of one Walter White Ad Agency were enlisted to craft this campaign.

    Or they weren’t. Are you certain?

  32. 32.

    Shantanu Saha

    November 18, 2019 at 4:46 pm

    Too bad they didn’t make a poster of the Republican governor with that tag line. It would make a great campaign sign for the next election.

  33. 33.

    Sister Machine Gun of Quiet Harmony

    November 18, 2019 at 4:47 pm

    @Betty Cracker: And I would bet that the one or two people who said, ‘This is a BAD idea’ and were shouted down are still being treated like they aren’t team players.

  34. 34.

    sdhays

    November 18, 2019 at 4:47 pm

    Maybe South Dakota has stricter truth-in-advertising laws than elsewhere.

  35. 35.

    JPL

    November 18, 2019 at 4:48 pm

    Now we know what happened to Don Draper.

  36. 36.

    JDM

    November 18, 2019 at 4:49 pm

    @Betty Cracker:

     

    Maybe it was like this clip from Corner Gas; Lacy’s challenge to Brent at about 1:27 captures the problem someone faced, explanation-wise.

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PvdQIDmIwc

  37. 37.

    Dick Woodcock

    November 18, 2019 at 4:51 pm

    i have a good friend that is a recovering meth addict.

    She literally gasped when I showed her this logo.

    She thought this was a joke.  Straight up.  I had to show her the website to show that it wasn’t.

  38. 38.

    The Moar You Know

    November 18, 2019 at 4:51 pm

    Hi, I’m South Dakota and I’m here to clean your bathroom with a toothbrush for the next 96 hours.

  39. 39.

    dr. bloor

    November 18, 2019 at 4:52 pm

    @Gin & Tonic: Hey, South Dakota just got out of the pool when that shot was taken.

  40. 40.

    Boris, Rasputin's Evil Twin

    November 18, 2019 at 4:52 pm

    Recently I read this in a funeral home’s website:

    “Make the Cremation Memorable.”

    It brought to mind images of s’mores. marshmallows, and concealed firecrackers. If there’s a viewing window you’ll never think of the televised Yule log the same way ever again.

  41. 41.

    mrmoshpotato

    November 18, 2019 at 4:54 pm

    @Gin & Tonic: Floriduh man vs South Dakota ad agency?

  42. 42.

    mrmoshpotato

    November 18, 2019 at 4:56 pm

    Only reasonable conclusion – South Dakota fail English, and it not unpossible.

  43. 43.

    theturtlemoves

    November 18, 2019 at 4:57 pm

    And once again the land of my birth manages to do something incredibly embarrassing.  Noem is such a moron.  Makes me super-sad I moved away 15 years ago.

  44. 44.

    Yutsano

    November 18, 2019 at 5:00 pm

    I actually know someone who works for the government of South Dakota. Oh man am I gonna have to rib him over this!

  45. 45.

    Tom Levenson

    November 18, 2019 at 5:01 pm

    I’m in awe.

  46. 46.

    PJ

    November 18, 2019 at 5:02 pm

    @the Conster: It’s curious that Steyer (who?) has 4%, and Harris is only 2 points higher than him.  I thought South Carolina was going to be her bulwark state.

  47. 47.

    SiubhanDuinne

    November 18, 2019 at 5:08 pm

    @JDM: I knew before I even clicked that it was going to be the “big dirty hoe” scene! Lovely to find another Dog River fanatic in JackalLand.

  48. 48.

    JimV

    November 18, 2019 at 5:13 pm

    I am going to guess they honestly thought it was a clever, attention-getting play on words, although, “We’re not ON it, but we’re on it” would have been better. Just guessing.

     

    I mean there must be some bureaucrats who objected and were told, “Don’t worry, this will be cool to the youth. We know this stuff, and do it for a living.”

  49. 49.

    Baud

    November 18, 2019 at 5:13 pm

    Let’s see who’s laughing when South Dakota corners the lucrative meth tourism market.

  50. 50.

    Scott P.

    November 18, 2019 at 5:14 pm

    In the other thread, folks were all for drug legalization, so maybe these folks are just on the bandwagon.

  51. 51.

    scav

    November 18, 2019 at 5:16 pm

    Life must be rough when you can only hold a single concept or meaning in your head at a time.

    Clearly.

    Hide the bubblegum, They’re off on a stroll!

  52. 52.

    Mnemosyne

    November 18, 2019 at 5:17 pm

    @SFAW:

     

    Just double-checking that you are familiar with the TV character, yes?

  53. 53.

    Gin & Tonic

    November 18, 2019 at 5:19 pm

    @dr. bloor: At least one person got it. All is not lost.

  54. 54.

    danielx

    November 18, 2019 at 5:24 pm

    @Gin & Tonic:

    I got it, but I sent it back.

  55. 55.

    SFAW

    November 18, 2019 at 5:25 pm

    @Mnemosyne:

    Just double-checking that you are familiar with the TV character, yes?

     

    I’ve actually never watched it, but my comment was a reference to one of the few things (I think) I know about the character. It was (an attempt at) a nerd joke.

  56. 56.

    Dr. Ronnie James, D.O.

    November 18, 2019 at 5:26 pm

    A few of the commenters on Twitter noted that if you look at the photo ads, the message is clearer: that the meth problem extends to people from all walks of life (old Cowboys, young HS football players, etc). So it’s not a problem of “those people”. That seems a little more understandable, but the slogan by itself is clumsy. Hoping this sparks a real discussion in SC but the early response does not make me optimistic.

  57. 57.

    Libby’s Person

    November 18, 2019 at 5:27 pm

    My charitable guess is that they were trying to get out the message that anyone could have this problem, not just ‘bad people’ or ‘those people’, which would encourage people to think of it as a public health problem rather than a late enforcement issue.  If that is what they were going for, the reactions of Juicers shows that they didn’t do a very good job conveying this message!

  58. 58.

    debbie

    November 18, 2019 at 5:28 pm

    Ohio’s anti-opioid campaign is running commercials about a town called Denial. “Denial is a great place to be.” Nothing ever happens in Denial.” etc. They all end with “Don’t live in denial.” “A lot of people, especially addiction counselors, are upset with this campaign and think it’s not necessary. I think anything raising public awareness can’t be a bad thing.

     

    https://dontliveindenial.org/

  59. 59.

    (((CassandraLeo)))

    November 18, 2019 at 5:29 pm

    @SFAW: What you did there. I see it. Or do I? Really, there’s a great deal of uncertainty, to the the extent you could almost say there’s a principle behind it.

     

    I wonder if schrodingers_cat has anything relevant to say here…

     

    Ceterum censeo factionem Republicanam esse delendam.

  60. 60.

    Gin & Tonic

    November 18, 2019 at 5:30 pm

    @danielx: Tough, but fair.

  61. 61.

    Baud

    November 18, 2019 at 5:31 pm

    @Dr. Ronnie James, D.O.:

    @Libby’s Person:

     

    That suggests that they intended the funny meaning as the meaning.

     

    I think the AIDS people had a similar ad strategy at some point, trying to show that AIDS can effect anybody.

  62. 62.

    Yutsano

    November 18, 2019 at 5:31 pm

    @Libby’s Person: To be fair, judging anything by how us jackals react isn’t a good guideline. But we can’t be the only ones out there who are having a reaction like this.

  63. 63.

    Cheryl Rofer

    November 18, 2019 at 5:32 pm

    @Dr. Ronnie James, D.O.: I’m not clear whether the folks in the photos are supposed to be part of the problem or part of the solution. That very ambiguity undermines the message.

  64. 64.

    BC in Illinois

    November 18, 2019 at 5:34 pm

    There is the proposal for a response from Minnesota:

    — Map of Minnesota
    — Arrow pointing to the left
    — “Meth. They’re on it.”

  65. 65.

    zhena gogolia

    November 18, 2019 at 5:39 pm

    @What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?:

     

    lolololol

  66. 66.

    japa21

    November 18, 2019 at 5:41 pm

    Apparently Pompeo has announced the US no longer considers the West Bank settlements inconsistent with international law. This is a result of a task force review of the situation led by Jared.

     

    Why am I not surprised.

  67. 67.

    Amir Khalid

    November 18, 2019 at 5:42 pm

    This is more embarrassing than the Wisconsin Tourism Federation situation, which at least was not self-inflicted.

  68. 68.

    J R in WV

    November 18, 2019 at 5:42 pm

    I hate to admit,, but it took me a minute to get it, just looking at the front page.

     

    The SD outline with the slogan “We’re on it!” were pretty inconspicuous at first. But when you click around some…  oh, boy.

  69. 69.

    Fourten

    November 18, 2019 at 5:43 pm

    Well. People are talking about it

  70. 70.

    sdhays

    November 18, 2019 at 5:45 pm

    Maybe it’s actually an apology:

     

    SD, why did you vote for Trump?

     

    Meth. We’re on it.

  71. 71.

    jl

    November 18, 2019 at 5:46 pm

    @Baud: “I think the AIDS people had a similar ad strategy at some point, trying to show that AIDS can effect anybody. ”

     

    I think there was an AIDS PSA slogan that went something like:

    ‘They’ are really us.

    Which seems better and less liable to double meanings. And, actually, dropped some epidemiological science and facts about the real nature of the spread of AIDS on people’s heads.

     

    But, the SD misfire might start a trend. Like ‘Corruption: Trump is on it!”

     

    I wonder what the BAUD 2020! PSA slogan for the stale beer dependency problem will look like.

  72. 72.

    FelonyGovt

    November 18, 2019 at 5:47 pm

    This reminds me of something my daughter heard in her marketing class. An ad for Electrolux vacuums, evidently translated directly from Swedish, that said “nothing sucks like Electrolux”.

  73. 73.

    wjs

    November 18, 2019 at 5:49 pm

    What’s worse is that taxpayer dollars were spent on that atrocity of a campaign, and the people in charge of it probably thought they were going to get awards for their incredible work.

     

    It’s not a South Dakota thing.

     

    It’s a “gee, I work for the [insert state] government, I went to [insert another state] University and got a BA in Communications and I’m super special and my crap doesn’t stink, so here’s my brilliant idea and my mom thought it was cool” thing.

  74. 74.

    delk

    November 18, 2019 at 5:49 pm

    I guess that explains why 61.5% voted for Trump.

  75. 75.

    Jay

    November 18, 2019 at 5:50 pm

    @Cheryl Rofer:

     

    the program and the website make it very clear, that the “meth, we are on it” is about the broad based addiction to meth in South Dakota.

     

    the MSM “hot take” for laughs is not different than many deliberate “misreportings” in the excreteable MSM.

  76. 76.

    debbie

    November 18, 2019 at 5:52 pm

    @Betty Cracker:

     

    Their intent is to grab attention, which they clearly have done. I’m also wondering about South Dakota’s diversity. Has it become more diverse than it was in my childhood, when it was zero?

  77. 77.

    JoeyJoeJoe

    November 18, 2019 at 5:53 pm

    Maybe I’m the only one bothered by its proliferation, but when did using the word “fail” as a noun become a thing?  Just for me, I find it grating when I see that written, and the usage seems to be everywhere.

  78. 78.

    jl

    November 18, 2019 at 5:55 pm

    Apparently SD has a troubled history with slogans for various state campaigns. A real SD tourist ad campaign had

     

    ‘Why Die on Mars When You Can Live Here?’

    South Dakota’s Official Ad Campaign Asks: ‘Why Die on Mars When You Can Live Here?’
    A wasteland not quite as barren
    By David Kiefaber|April 21, 2015

    https://www.adweek.com/creativity/south-dakotas-official-ad-campaign-asks-why-die-mars-when-you-can-live-here-164191/

  79. 79.

    Yutsano

    November 18, 2019 at 5:55 pm

    @japa21: Someone tell Pompeo international law doesn’t give two shits what his opinion is. I’m just amazed it took the administration this long to dump on the Palestinians that hard.

  80. 80.

    Omnes Omnibus

    November 18, 2019 at 5:56 pm

    @Jay: And the logo remains an outline of the state with the statement “Meth. We’re on it.”

  81. 81.

    Jay

    November 18, 2019 at 5:56 pm

    #BorderPatrolRapeCulture Here is mine: I joined in 1995, not knowing anything about the Border Patrol or the Border. The first day of the academy, they separated the men & women under the guise of needing to talk to women about their hair and makeup.— Jenn Budd (@BuddJenn) November 17, 2019

    Full thread,…..

  82. 82.

    jl

    November 18, 2019 at 5:57 pm

    @Betty Cracker: ” But damn, that’s a huge fuck up.”

     

    Surprised at such language from Lady Cracker. Bitter that Florida didn’t snag it first, maybe.

  83. 83.

    Amir Khalid

    November 18, 2019 at 5:57 pm

    @FelonyGovt:

    It was probably fine in the original Swedish, where I’d guess that the word for suck doesn’t have that other meaning. But companies do like to have a consistent message everywhere they do business, so someone in management must have insisted on using the same slogan all over the world.

  84. 84.

    Omnes Omnibus

    November 18, 2019 at 5:57 pm

    @debbie: Native Americans don’t count?

  85. 85.

    sdhays

    November 18, 2019 at 5:58 pm

    @Jay: I have to disagree. This is their slogan in an advertisement, wording that the state of South Dakota paid $400k for. If it’s prone to ridicule, that’s on them.

    I think it was probably intentional to generate buzz, but I guess we’ll have to see if the level of ridicule was what they expected or if they misjudged it.

  86. 86.

    Amir Khalid

    November 18, 2019 at 6:00 pm

    @JoeyJoeJoe:

    I don’t know what you’re complaining about. I gave everyone permission to noun their verbs and verb their nouns centuries ago.

  87. 87.

    Jay

    November 18, 2019 at 6:00 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

     

    and the State is “on it”, as in addicted to the use of meth, and it’s not the stereotypical “junkies”, it’s become, once again, “Mama’s little helper”, for everyone from truckers and landscapers, to rig rats and Union busting Labour Lawyers.

  88. 88.

    Duane

    November 18, 2019 at 6:01 pm

    When asked to take a drug test I said, ” sure ask me any question you want.”

  89. 89.

    Omnes Omnibus

    November 18, 2019 at 6:05 pm

    @Jay: Yes, I did understand.  And for what it worth, I’m not the management-side labor lawyer who comments here.  Umbrage taken on Steve in the Wherethefuck’s and my own behalf.

  90. 90.

    Mary G

    November 18, 2019 at 6:06 pm

    CHRONIC MASTURBATION.TOGETHER, WE CAN BEAT THIS. https://t.co/MFpxkSnXra— Myke Cole (@MykeCole) November 18, 2019

    GUN VIOLENCE.WE’VE GOT IT IN OUR SIGHTS. https://t.co/mTxdldfMBx— Myke Cole (@MykeCole) November 18, 2019

    Many good ones in the thread comments.

  91. 91.

    CaseyL

    November 18, 2019 at 6:06 pm

    I hooted and hawed and laughed ’til I cried – but I have to admit, the ad DOES get your attention, it was apparently MEANT to show that anyone can become be a meth addict, and right now I think it’s even odds we’re reacting exactly as we’re meant to.

  92. 92.

    debbie

    November 18, 2019 at 6:07 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

     

    You’d have to ask South Dakotans.

  93. 93.

    Searcher

    November 18, 2019 at 6:08 pm

    You know the strategy where you present your pointy-haired boss with two options, one find and one obviously terrible, so that they can feel as if they are making the decision?

     

    This is the downside of that strategy.

  94. 94.

    Brachiator

    November 18, 2019 at 6:10 pm

    I’m sure that it’s been said many times already, but it is a shame that America did not look at the crack epidemic as a serious health issue, but instead insisted on demonizing those afflicted and emphasizing the moral failures of individuals and communities.

     

    And so far, no evangelical preacher has given us the high sign from the Lord Almighty that meth is God’s way of telling us that He don’t like the gays.

  95. 95.

    Cheryl Rofer

    November 18, 2019 at 6:14 pm

    @Jay: One should not have to consult a website to find out the meaning of a slogan or ad.

    Of course it’s about addiction to meth in South Dakota. The slogan, however, could be saying that is a good thing or that it is a bad thing.

  96. 96.

    Yutsano

    November 18, 2019 at 6:14 pm

    @Amir Khalid: Languages are flexible. Malay has its own flexibilities. As long as everyone is understanding you it’s all good.

  97. 97.

    Raven

    November 18, 2019 at 6:15 pm

    @Duane: Only if it’s take home!

  98. 98.

    mrmoshpotato

    November 18, 2019 at 6:17 pm

    @Brachiator: Why would they’ve looked at the crack epidemic the same way?  It affected black people mostly.

  99. 99.

    mrmoshpotato

    November 18, 2019 at 6:21 pm

    @JoeyJoeJoe: Because “Failure Whale” doesn’t work.  Do you want us to start calling them “whalures?” ?

     

    Humpback whalures for all!

  100. 100.

    PJ

    November 18, 2019 at 6:24 pm

    @Brachiator: The demonizing (really, dehumanizing) of black people in inner cities already existed (cf. Reagan and “welfare queens” ), crack (and other hard drugs) just allowed the government to ramp up the efforts to keep black people down, by putting more of them in prison and more of them into addiction.  Back then, there were voices advocating that addiction was a public health problem and that criminalizing it only increased the cycle of crime and misery, but that was not a political winner until sufficient numbers of rural and suburban white people became addicts.

  101. 101.

    JoeyJoeJoe

    November 18, 2019 at 6:33 pm

    @mrmoshpotato: yes please, though it does remind of Raffi and that annoying whale song from 1988 or so, maybe it’s better to just ignore my complaints

  102. 102.

    Miss Bianca

    November 18, 2019 at 6:34 pm

    I…I…can’t. Even.

     

    Are we sure that someone at the advertising agency wasn’t putting this out there as a joke that somehow, tragically, comically, got taken seriously by the state?

     

    I’m just groping for possible answers here.

  103. 103.

    Miss Bianca

    November 18, 2019 at 6:36 pm

    @JPL: Now we know what happened to Don Draper.

    LOL!

     

  104. 104.

    Miss Bianca

    November 18, 2019 at 6:38 pm

    @Miss Bianca: Awk, block quote fail.

  105. 105.

    Uncle Cosmo

    November 18, 2019 at 6:38 pm

    It’s NORTH Dakota with the Keystone pipeline (& associated spills), right? Otherwise I’d suspect someone was huffing serious polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

     

    On second thought, they’re probably downwind, so…

  106. 106.

    Butter Emails

    November 18, 2019 at 6:43 pm

    @the Conster:

    Looks like Sanders and Warren are tied to each other’s mast when it comes to the AA vote.

    Not everyone can be the powerhouse with South Carolina African American voters that Klobuchar is,

  107. 107.

    debbie

    November 18, 2019 at 6:45 pm

    It says here that the agency that created the campaign is in Minneapolis. So much for my thought that it was a left coast agency that knew nothing about the Upper Midwest.

  108. 108.

    bbleh

    November 18, 2019 at 6:56 pm

    @Betty Cracker: And in research just to make sure this was real, I discovered that the Great State of South Dakota™ has budgeted a generous total of around a million dollars for actual treatment of meth addiction!

     

    Surely half that amount was appropriate to spend to tout their commitment, amirite?

     

    Republicans.  You can’t live with ’em, you can kill ’em, but damn there’s just so many …

  109. 109.

    Steve in the ATL

    November 18, 2019 at 6:59 pm

    @Butter Emails: the sarcasm…it burns!!!

  110. 110.

    Jeffro

    November 18, 2019 at 7:06 pm

    @Baud: really unfair to college interns…after all, some boomer APPROVED their work here ;)

  111. 111.

    JDM

    November 18, 2019 at 7:12 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne:  That episode also had Oscar’s “let me tell you how it is” rant; one of the best age-related bits in sitcom history.

  112. 112.

    Scott Alloway

    November 18, 2019 at 7:14 pm

    @oldster:

    “There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”
    ― Oscar Wilde

     

    The agency hit it on this.

  113. 113.

    Timurid

    November 18, 2019 at 7:30 pm

    They’re on a roll…

  114. 114.

    Peter

    November 18, 2019 at 8:10 pm

    Oy. Was “South Dakota: This Place Is A Meth” taken? How about “Don’t Meth With South Dakota”? “I Think Therefore I Amphetamine”? “We Brake Bad Because We Have A Need For Speed”?

     

    Can you tell I have a deadline?

  115. 115.

    Miss Bianca

    November 18, 2019 at 8:45 pm

    @Peter: What, were you going thru’ the agency trash bins, reading the wadded-up first drafts?

     

    Seriously…you made me laugh. This…this can’t be good.

  116. 116.

    Peter

    November 18, 2019 at 8:49 pm

    @Miss Bianca: Laughing is a good thing. When I have serious writing work due, reckless punning becomes irresistible.

  117. 117.

    Melusine

    November 19, 2019 at 12:16 am

    @Jay: The slogan completely overrides the intended message. They made a “clever” campaign the focus, instead of the horrendous problem. People who see the ad or billboards aren’t talking about how serious the meth issue is in SD. There’s very little info presented, and a ridiculously inappriate slogan repeated over and over. The slogan/campaign choices suck up all the attention.This is an ad agency screaming, “Look at me, I’m so edgy I deserve awards!!”
     

    The Denial, OH ad was better crafted in terms of actually communicating the reality of the problem.

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