In all the noise over the Aqua Teen Hunger Force so-called hoax in Boston (or more proof, as if we needed it, that New York is a far superior city than Boston with much smarter people living in it [Go Yanks]), let’s not lose sight of the lesson for the perpetrators of such stunts, the marketing dweebs.
Ever sat in a brainstorm and watch a really dumb idea gain momentum? I know I have. I’ve seen some real doozies.
You know the rule about never saying ‘no’ to any idea in a brainstorm? If you are like me (cynical and cranky) you’ve wanted so badly to say ‘huh?’ but the rules of the game, the rule that everyone’s idea is equally valid, prevented you from standing up and throwing a glass of stupid juice at some Account Coordinator.
Bringing ten people into a room – ten people who’s only qualification is they had nothing else on their schedules for that hour, and asking them to come up with ‘the big idea’ for the client is just copping out.
Obviously in the case of the Aqua Teen Hunger Force, no one had the brights to say ‘well, not a bad idea but maybe we should make sure no one mistakes brightly lit boxes with wires coming out of the for… oh, I dunno… BOMBS.’ Or maybe someone thought that but the rules of the game say that every dumb idea is equally valid.
Not that I’m letting the good people of Boston off of the hook. After all, they do cheer for the Red Sox…..
