Bad Ad Matching: Work 9 To 5 Or 5 To 9?

from the you'd-think-they'd-figure-it-out-by-now... dept

In an age where advertisers try to better target ads to the context of what's on a website, there have been plenty of stories of mistakes. Before Yahoo bought them, Overture used to always talk about how a story about someone being stabbed showed a Google ad for knives -- though it was never clear if this really happened, or was just a possibility Overture dreamt up. However, there are still some bad ad choices that do occur, and Jeremy Wagstaff has caught a particularly amusing one. He was reading a Reuters article about an organized labor group promoting a new website that works to convince union members to just work their "proper hours" (i.e., 9 to 5) and no more... and right next to it is a Cisco ad promoting the ability to work from "5 to 9," pointing out that thanks to the ubiquity of the internet, computers and mobile devices, you can work any where at any time.

20 Comments | Leave a Comment..


If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...
 

Reader Comments (rss)

(Flattened / Threaded)

  1.  

    Blah Blah.. More Crap

    identicon
    NutsNFuk, Feb 16th, 2006 @ 10:07pm

    Ya sometimes there is typos and mistakes, We are only human. No big deal.

    shouldn't even be a story..

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  

    Re: Blah Blah.. More Crap

    identicon
    discojohnson, Feb 16th, 2006 @ 10:12pm

    i concur. must be a lonely night on cali tonight eh mike?

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  

    Re: Blah Blah.. More Crap

    identicon
    Rikko, Feb 16th, 2006 @ 11:10pm

    It's an observation about how contextual ads aren't always a good thing, though I don't fully agree.

    It is a story, though, kids. Sorry if it's not something you can argue about like movie piracy or DRM.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  

    Re: Blah Blah.. More Crap

    identicon
    Joe flachs, Feb 16th, 2006 @ 11:30pm

    last week i saw a peta video on ifilm i believe and the next ad i saw said "wendys: do what tastes right"

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  

    No Subject Given

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Feb 17th, 2006 @ 1:27am

    print ads are sometimes not much better...
    http://www.regrettheerror.com/2006/02/german_paper_mi.html

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  

    Re: Blah Blah.. More Crap

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Feb 17th, 2006 @ 1:28am

    thanks for being an asshole and referring to everyone as kids, it just shows your comtempt and ignorance even more...

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  7.  

    No Subject Given

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Feb 17th, 2006 @ 1:29am

    s/comtempt/contempt

    just had to correct that typo before some ass tries to call me a bad speller....

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  8.  

    guilty

    identicon
    the unknown, Feb 17th, 2006 @ 1:46am

    Loved the peta/wendy's story. And that german paper add is tasteless even as a joke, but it did make me smirk, albeit a guilty smirk. Someone deserves to get fired or sued for that mistake(?). Questionable because maybe the person in charge of layout is a neo-nazi, i don't have the info but i'm willing to bet on it.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  9.  

    personal attacks

    identicon
    the unknown, Feb 17th, 2006 @ 1:58am

    The base personal attacks are getting tiring guys. If you should attack someone here, please do it with flair and humour, it would be much more fun to read.
    Try this: invent a new swear word. Maybe it might be used worldwide and you could get your claim for fame. Matt Stone and Trey Parker are masters at this. Example: "cock-fag", from the movie "Team America World Police".
    Or try something more challenging: insult someone without using swear words such as "you half-brained short-armed no-legged proof for counter-darwinism".
    May the intelligent wars prevail...hale satan!

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  10.  

    No Subject Given

    identicon
    Sohrab, Feb 17th, 2006 @ 2:26am

    this site cracks me up. some people are just pissed off arent they?

    There is alot of topics I dont agree with Mike or Carlos on because I work in the film industry but this is his damn site, he can post as he wills.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  11.  

    agreed

    identicon
    the unknown, Feb 17th, 2006 @ 2:51am

    I agree Sohrab. If one feels the need to counter Mike's articles or anybody else's posts in a destructive way, at least make an effort for it to be entertaining. Go release your frustrations on porn sites or canine breeding sites, whatever floats your boat, or rather, whatever milks your goat.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  12.  

    anonymous coward

    identicon
    Wolfger, Feb 17th, 2006 @ 4:53am

    thanks for being an asshole and referring to everyone as kids, it just shows your comtempt and ignorance even more...

    Dang... Where do I begin?
    First: swearing at somebody. You just earned the contempt you thought you were getting.
    Second: the use of "kids" is colloquial, and does not convey either contempt or ignorance.
    Third: your taking great umbrage at being called a kid shows a low level of maturity (one might even say "childish").
    Fourth: your post served absolutely no purpose whatsoever, other than to be inflammatory.

    Why do we allow cowards to post anonymously?

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  13.  

    Re: anonymous coward

    identicon
    anon, Feb 17th, 2006 @ 7:14am

    >Why do we allow cowards to post anonymously?< br>

    Because even though some (hell, maybe most, or maybe it's just one guy acting a fool) people who post anonymously are only out to start flaming back and forth all the time, there are some people who have opinions who do not want to attach a name to the opinion for whatever reason.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  14.  

    Re: anonymous coward

    identicon
    Michael, Feb 17th, 2006 @ 7:45am

    Kudos, Wolfger! I wanted to reply similarly, but couldn't express it as eloquently as you, and without clearly expressed, rational objections, I'd come across as poorly as he did.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  15.  

    Re: anonymous coward

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Feb 17th, 2006 @ 8:21am

    damn kids...

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  16.  

    Re: anonymous coward

    identicon
    Wolff000, Feb 17th, 2006 @ 9:49am

    I agree with the previous post, very well put Wolfger. I was going to reply with something similiar but I'm glad I read further first. Good show Wolfger, maybe all the snot nosed, pimplefaced, troglodytes can learn something from you.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  17.  

    Re: anonymous coward

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Feb 17th, 2006 @ 12:20pm

    First: My contempt was directed specifically at a person who had already shown intent to inflame, he should expect no other treatment.
    Second: You can't tell me what Rikko's intentions were, only he knows and only the reader can infer. I don't need to justify myself to you.
    Third: Using uncommon words when a common word will do does not make you look smart, why couldn't you just say "offence" instead of "umbrage". Does using a thesaurus make you feel smart?
    Fourth: I'm glad you're not completely stupid. At least you got the point of my post. You on the other hand are just some jerk trying to act superior and your post serves much of the same purpose for which you condemn mine. Which makes you a hypocrite.
    Fifth: You are just as anonymous as I am, or do you think anybody actually reads your blog or cares who you are?
    I expected as much from an empty headed "blogger". Wait let me go look just to see what you have to say there...ahh as I suspect, utter garbage. Looks like you were DDoS'd by someone that dislikes you more than I do. Wow a movie review for Underworld 2. Oh Kate Beckinsale is hot so that makes the movie worth watching no matter how bad it sucks? How insightful. Hmm also very noticeable is the lack of colorful language like "umbrage". Yes, it's obvious that someone was reading dictionary.com before posting...

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  18.  

    Re: anonymous coward

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Feb 17th, 2006 @ 12:57pm

    what a wanker

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  19.  

    Re: anonymous coward

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Feb 17th, 2006 @ 1:37pm

    seconded

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  20.  

    Re: anonymous coward

    identicon
    the unknown, Feb 17th, 2006 @ 2:30pm

    Too many anonymous cowards it's confusing. I have a name, it's the unknown, and yet i remain anonymous. Please, invent a name for yourself and assume it. If you really need help go to dictionary.com click on thesaurus and choose anything that they give you for looking up the term: confusion, coward, anonymous, me, him, her, it, basket, fish, dog, teenager, hooligan, god. Whatever suits your mood.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


Add Your Comment

Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now. Want one? Register here
Get Techdirt’s Daily Email
Save me a cookie
  • Note: A CRLF will be replaced by a break tag (<br>), all other allowable HTML will remain intact
  • Allowed HTML Tags: <b> <i> <a> <em> <br> <strong> <blockquote> <hr> <tt>


A word from our Sponsors...
Follow Techdirt
Flattr rss rss
From the Techdirt Archive...
A word from our Sponsors...

Close

Email This