Comments on: Geico: Defending the Caveman http://www.thirdwayblog.com/geico/geico-defending-the-caveman.html Straight Talk on Advertising from the Client Side Sun, 12 Oct 2008 06:09:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Menk http://www.thirdwayblog.com/geico/geico-defending-the-caveman.html#comment-119429 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:42:42 +0000 http://www.thirdwayblog.com/geico/geico-defending-the-caveman.html#comment-119429 I am shocked to find so many people who don't like these ads. Very few ads have enough in them to get me to look them up on You Tube. The Holiday Inn guys and the Geico cavemen are about it. I think part of the success, in my opinion, comes from the harsh reality of the subject they address. The undercurrent of racial inequality taps into something I don't think most marketers would ever take on. It reminds me of my upbringing in Ohio. I grew up all my life hearing "black jokes" and "Pollack jokes." I am neither, but many of friends who were Polish or Black used to get a kick out of hearing them and sharing their own. I used to laugh at the Irish jokes they heard from their family or friends. The subject of race, so ubiquitous, was cause for laughter. This ad, unlike any other I know of, reaches that place of knowing/unknowing that makes us all uncomfortable. Living in the upper Midwest (North Dakota) I find people don't understand that distinction. That, jokes about race, when done satirically, reduce the power of the joke to hurt. I really wish more people understood this. I am shocked to find so many people who don’t like these ads. Very few ads have enough in them to get me to look them up on You Tube. The Holiday Inn guys and the Geico cavemen are about it.

I think part of the success, in my opinion, comes from the harsh reality of the subject they address. The undercurrent of racial inequality taps into something I don’t think most marketers would ever take on.

It reminds me of my upbringing in Ohio. I grew up all my life hearing “black jokes” and “Pollack jokes.” I am neither, but many of friends who were Polish or Black used to get a kick out of hearing them and sharing their own. I used to laugh at the Irish jokes they heard from their family or friends. The subject of race, so ubiquitous, was cause for laughter. This ad, unlike any other I know of, reaches that place of knowing/unknowing that makes us all uncomfortable. Living in the upper Midwest (North Dakota) I find people don’t understand that distinction. That, jokes about race, when done satirically, reduce the power of the joke to hurt. I really wish more people understood this.

]]> by: Gene http://www.thirdwayblog.com/geico/geico-defending-the-caveman.html#comment-118911 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:55:55 +0000 http://www.thirdwayblog.com/geico/geico-defending-the-caveman.html#comment-118911 This caveman crap stinks to high heaven. If I needed insurance this horse manure is all it would take to send me packing from Geico. I can't believe you spent money for this S--t... This caveman crap stinks to high heaven. If I needed insurance this horse manure is all it would take to send me packing from Geico. I can’t believe you spent money for this S–t…

]]> by: C.T. http://www.thirdwayblog.com/geico/geico-defending-the-caveman.html#comment-110049 Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:23:42 +0000 http://www.thirdwayblog.com/geico/geico-defending-the-caveman.html#comment-110049 Hey J.S, .........Thats BULL! Its about no one ...and everyone...and much adieu about ...really nothing. yeah! Hey J.S,

………Thats BULL! Its about no one …and everyone…and much adieu about …really nothing.

yeah!

]]> by: J. S.. http://www.thirdwayblog.com/geico/geico-defending-the-caveman.html#comment-56171 Thu, 23 Aug 2007 20:01:49 +0000 http://www.thirdwayblog.com/geico/geico-defending-the-caveman.html#comment-56171 Regarding the GEICO cavemen commercials: I think it's great that Italians (I am Italian myself) are such good sports about these commercials because they are obviously about whiney Italians complaining about their image from shows like THE SOPRANOS. As an Italian, I find the commercials extremely funny and my Italian friends and family feel the same. The hairyness (an Italian feature) and the sensitivity of the cavemen (another Italian feature) should make it obvious who they are making fun of. Regarding the GEICO cavemen commercials: I think it’s great that Italians (I am Italian myself) are such good sports about these commercials because they are obviously about whiney Italians complaining about their image from shows like THE SOPRANOS. As an Italian, I find the commercials extremely funny and my Italian friends and family feel the same. The hairyness (an Italian feature) and the sensitivity of the cavemen (another Italian feature) should make it obvious who they are making fun of.

]]> by: Ed http://www.thirdwayblog.com/geico/geico-defending-the-caveman.html#comment-54653 Fri, 17 Aug 2007 18:27:35 +0000 http://www.thirdwayblog.com/geico/geico-defending-the-caveman.html#comment-54653 You are absolutely correct about the attempt by GEICO to make this about the middleman. Unfortunately the public will eventually learn that this is a scam of false advertising, as their costs are equivalent to independent agents ( middleman). Credibility is important too and this will come back to haunt them. Wait tiil they figure out they get a higher rate if they have a blue collar job! Not counting they are listed on the internet as a bad faith insurer! Great Company! NOT! You are absolutely correct about the attempt by GEICO to make this about the middleman. Unfortunately the public will eventually learn that this is a scam of false advertising, as their costs are equivalent to independent agents ( middleman).

Credibility is important too and this will come back to haunt them. Wait tiil they figure out they get a higher rate if they have a blue collar job!

Not counting they are listed on the internet as a bad faith insurer! Great Company! NOT!

]]> by: Teri Smith http://www.thirdwayblog.com/geico/geico-defending-the-caveman.html#comment-47477 Sat, 14 Jul 2007 03:09:16 +0000 http://www.thirdwayblog.com/geico/geico-defending-the-caveman.html#comment-47477 P.R. folks. I would like to create a cavewoman commercial! Interested? Please reply, Thanks, Teri P.R. folks. I would like to create a cavewoman commercial! Interested? Please reply, Thanks, Teri

]]> by: Susan http://www.thirdwayblog.com/geico/geico-defending-the-caveman.html#comment-41458 Mon, 04 Jun 2007 01:56:01 +0000 http://www.thirdwayblog.com/geico/geico-defending-the-caveman.html#comment-41458 I had Geico report me to the DMV as not having incurance when in fact I did.... simply because I did not purchase their insurance! I don't care what they use to advertise they should be held accountable for their actions! I had Geico report me to the DMV as not having incurance when in fact I did…. simply because I did not purchase their insurance! I don’t care what they use to advertise they should be held accountable for their actions!

]]> by: Faisal http://www.thirdwayblog.com/geico/geico-defending-the-caveman.html#comment-38834 Wed, 16 May 2007 17:45:22 +0000 http://www.thirdwayblog.com/geico/geico-defending-the-caveman.html#comment-38834 The Gieco campaings appear to lack continuity. When the commercials appear, it is never known until the end that it is in fact a Gieco ad. For once, it works! It feels like a practical joke being played on the viewer. I have heard people talk about the Gieco ads almost like episodes of their favourite TV shows; "... did you see the one with the home renovation guy?" or "... did you see the one with lizard on the phone?" In the end, the ads are enjoyable and get you. They take a different approach from showing an elderly person in a car and what their guaranteed rates are. Well done! The Gieco campaings appear to lack continuity. When the commercials appear, it is never known until the end that it is in fact a Gieco ad. For once, it works! It feels like a practical joke being played on the viewer. I have heard people talk about the Gieco ads almost like episodes of their favourite TV shows; “… did you see the one with the home renovation guy?” or “… did you see the one with lizard on the phone?” In the end, the ads are enjoyable and get you. They take a different approach from showing an elderly person in a car and what their guaranteed rates are. Well done!

]]> by: jack stegall http://www.thirdwayblog.com/geico/geico-defending-the-caveman.html#comment-28730 Tue, 06 Mar 2007 01:18:01 +0000 http://www.thirdwayblog.com/geico/geico-defending-the-caveman.html#comment-28730 I have submitted a commerical idea for the cavemen titled "5 on 5' pick-up basketball. Have you recieved this screen play? Overview... 5 on 5 indoor pick-up basketball Home team: 2 cavemen 3 regular humans visitors: 5 regular humans 1st scene, visitors get rebound go down court for fast break and score. home team brings ball to half court play. 1st caveman passes ball to 2nd caveman for an open jump shot. On the sideline a white man wearing a bright yellow T-shirt with GIECO across the front yells out "shoot the rock" caveman slams down ball walks off court in disgust. this is for sale contact me soon! jack stegall 727-239-9458 I have submitted a commerical idea for the cavemen titled “5 on 5′ pick-up basketball.
Have you recieved this screen play?
Overview…
5 on 5 indoor pick-up basketball
Home team: 2 cavemen 3 regular humans
visitors: 5 regular humans
1st scene, visitors get rebound go down court for fast break and score.
home team brings ball to half court play. 1st caveman passes ball to 2nd caveman for an open jump shot.
On the sideline a white man wearing a bright yellow T-shirt with GIECO across the front yells out “shoot the rock”
caveman slams down ball walks off court in disgust.
this is for sale
contact me soon!
jack stegall
727-239-9458

]]> by: Corporate Caveman http://www.thirdwayblog.com/geico/geico-defending-the-caveman.html#comment-25945 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 17:01:54 +0000 http://www.thirdwayblog.com/geico/geico-defending-the-caveman.html#comment-25945 This Just In: The Gieco Caveman has just announced that HE is "regretably the true and actual father of Anna Nicole Smiths baby". He aslo stated that "it all stems from a hard case of late night beer goggles...albeit he will step up to the plate and take full responsibility...and see to it that the baby is rased with the utmost love, respect and sound guidance". When asked how he "pulled IT off?"...he replied..."it was so easy". More on this tonight at 11:00. This Just In: The Gieco Caveman has just announced that HE is “regretably the true and actual father of Anna Nicole Smiths baby”. He aslo stated that “it all stems from a hard case of late night beer goggles…albeit he will step up to the plate and take full responsibility…and see to it that the baby is rased with the utmost love, respect and sound guidance”. When asked how he “pulled IT off?”…he replied…”it was so easy”. More on this tonight at 11:00.

]]> by: Adam Goldberg http://www.thirdwayblog.com/geico/geico-defending-the-caveman.html#comment-22032 Mon, 22 Jan 2007 09:51:22 +0000 http://www.thirdwayblog.com/geico/geico-defending-the-caveman.html#comment-22032 These GEICO caveman commercials are totally anti-semitic and awful in the way they portray White Anglo Saxon Protestants as somehow superior to the obviously neurotic and whiny Jewish caveman character. Utterly offensive. These GEICO caveman commercials are totally anti-semitic and awful in the way they portray White Anglo Saxon Protestants as somehow superior to the obviously neurotic and whiny Jewish caveman character.

Utterly offensive.

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