PHD Video Controversy

By Casey Knox

I have watched this video 5 or 6 times trying to figure what exactly is so darn offensive about it and I just can't see it. Children being exploited? How exactly? The fact that they got to sit there for a few hours, talk to a camera and get paid more then I make in month? Or was it because of the subject? … you know where they talk about their future selves, about how they will be smart savvy consumers who will be expecting more as new technologies come on the scene. These kids are talking about themselves in the future. They are talking about themselves as adults. Not the pimpleface, awkward, mudpie making, video game playing, creatures that they are currently. I must have missed something or maybe should just quit my job now and move to Walmart greeter.

First of all this message was meant for no other people than people within marketing. So quite frankly if you're not in marketing get the heck out of the conversation. We in marketing are well aware of how bottom dwelling our job can be this video is nothing more then a reflection of how we look at the market personified. It answers the question what will the market be like in 10 years and asks what should we do about it? Where do we get started? Where do YOU think we'll be in 10 years? Etc., etc. Which should spark discussion within the industry as the video is intended to do.

I guess what really upset me about this video is the way PHD Worldwide apologized for offending people. While apologizing if what they said offended people is not a bad thing, they completely retracted by saying "we got it wrong on this occasion". Ummm not from where I sit they didn't. If you ask me they got it spot on, it just happened to ruffle the wrong feathers.