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Warning Ads For iPod Users: Love It or Leave It?

Sat, 01/12/2008 - 1:18pm by geeksugar
1,531 Views - 49 comments

An advertising agency called DDB in Sydney, Australia has created a print campaign for the NSW Police to bring attention to the number of teenagers dying from being hit by cars while crossing the street while listening to their iPods. There's been a great deal of talk about cities banning iPods on sidewalks, but this campaign certainly takes the anti-walking-with-your-iPod sentiment a step further. What do you think of the message?

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49 Comments Add a Comment

  • miss-britt's picture
    miss-britt
    1

    i think that's great to have those ads to aware everyone not just teenagers. It;s so true you can get wrapped up with you ipod/mp3 player and you could get hit by a car. But also the driver should notice you as well.

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • anakiya's picture
    anakiya
    2

    What next????? do we really need an add to tell us that we need to pay attention when crossing the street? What ever happened to taking responsibility for your own actions?

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • Princesskitty22's picture
    Princesskitty22
    4

    To be honest... I think that it's natural selection.

    No, but seriously folks, I find those ads a little too arty to really be taken as a warning. I'm sure that kids will find them "cool" (which is, according to most authority, the only way to talk to anyone under 30), but I think that the message gets kinda lost.

    Cool photos, though. Eye-wink

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • tototee's picture
    tototee
    5

    I don't know what to think really.. I'm someone who doesn't need to be told to look both way's or to take one ear out while crossing the street.. I just don't see why people don't have common sense!

    But clearly if there is a problem I think these adds get the point across.. I think their stylish and simple to read.. I think it will make people think.

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • katies104's picture
    katies104
    6

    I think it's a lot more dangerous to text and walk. Honestly if a person cant pay attention to cars while simply listening to a song on an ipod then they may not be mature enough to own one. But as texting is replacing talking everyones heads are down trying to key in their message, causing collisions between people and other people and cars and people.

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • Scorpgirl11's picture
    Scorpgirl11
    7

    When did we stop having common sense? Before ipods there were cd walkmans, and before that there were "boom boxes" that people walked around with. And getting hit by a car was not an epidemic due to these things. When did we lose all ability to use our brains on our own without the media or some ad campaign telling us/influencing us to do the "right" thing!?

    Sorry had to vent! Smiling

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • Calliegirl25's picture
    Calliegirl25
    9

    Scorpgirl11, you took the words right our of my mouth. I totally agree with you. What next, iPods cause cancer? People just have to be more responsible for their own lives. The ad is a little extreme to me.

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • Carri's picture
    Carri
    10

    Give me a break. All these rules aren't allowing natural selection to happen!

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • kitkatherine's picture
    kitkatherine
    11

    my dad got hit by a 16 year old a little while ago. he just didn't stop for a stop light and ran straight into my dad because he was fooling around with his ipod.

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • potc crazyy's picture
    potc crazyy
    12

    It's true that people need to be cautious, but you have to blame the driver a bit also. This ad is a good eye-opender, but banning iPods/mp3s on the sidewalks would be a bit too extreme. Maybe just telling people to pause them when crossing the road or something...

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • kathleenjoy's picture
    kathleenjoy
    14

    a girl in my neighbourhood was grabbed in broad daylight and raped, because she was listening to her iPod and didn't hear her attacker come up behind her...

    (I live in Sydney, Australia)

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • ley's picture
    ley
    16

    i think its better if people learn to adjust the volume of their ipods into the proper level so that they don't get hurt but quite frankly i think cellphones are more dangerous than ipods.

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • ilanac13's picture
    ilanac13
    19

    is that the same DDB that's the worldwide agency? anyway, i think that it's a bit harsh to be honest. they talk about how there are bans on iPods during bike races and the sort because of traffic accidents, but i think that scaring people about listening to their iPods while walking - that's not cool. especially when you're an NYC commuter. it's a necessary evil

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • ninjastarlett's picture
    ninjastarlett
    20

    it's not iPod's fault... shall we ban all other mobile devices too? All mp3 players, cell phones, PDAs, so forth and so on?

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • huggybear_84's picture
    huggybear_84
    21

    they shouldnt tell you not to listen to your ipod because its useless. people will listen to them if they want. they should try to say with only one head piece in or pause it when crossing a street.

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • MandyJoBo's picture
    MandyJoBo
    22

    I'm willing to bet that the majority of people who walk and bop at the same time have never even considered the dangers, so I think this is a good idea. It makes them think: Oh...

    Then the next time they're doing it, they may pay a little more attention.

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • newsgrrl's picture
    newsgrrl
    23

    I think the ad is effective, striking visually and very well done. That being said, iPods are like anything else. As long as the user stays grounded and alert, I don't think there is anything wrong with using them. This is coming from a Blackberry user.... so I can see it from two perspectives. http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=T2la_aGzpw8&NR=1,

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • EatYourVeggies's picture
    EatYourVeggies
    25

    What the hell? Why don't people pay attention when they go out into the world? Have they never seen Unsolved Mysteries or America's Most Wanted? Some people like to walk and listen to music to relax. The ones who are too stupid to do both at the same time probably deserve to be hit by cars.

    There should be more attention brought to the fact that people talk and text on their phones while driving. This is worse because innocent people can get hurt. The dummy who can't walk and listen to music is less likely to hurt someone else due to their stupidity.

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • afrochic's picture
    afrochic
    26

    I love these ads because I work in the ad industry and this is simply great advertising.

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • MsMO's picture
    MsMO
    28

    Didn't they learn to look both ways in kindergarten? Seriously, banning iPods. I think they should turn on Sesame Street and watch Big Bird cross the road. No wonder the world is a mess, we don't take responsibility for our own stupidity, we let the government tell us what we can and can't do 'cause we can't even look both ways... Grrr

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • AggieGirl2011's picture
    AggieGirl2011
    29

    I think the ads send a good message, because I know people who have wrecked cars by running into trees or light poles because they were looking down at their iPod... but they do kind of seem to be a bit much. Perhaps there's a better way to send the same message?

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • Cris1192's picture
    Cris1192
    30

    Obviously it's dangerous to walk around with your, bout you could walk with just one plug one, thye don't have to bann ipods

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • penelope829's picture
    penelope829
    31

    I live in a city, and I walk to work everyday. As long as you pay attention to your surroundings and exercise caution, you should be okay. There are always going to be people who don't pay attention- and YOU have to be able to respond to what they do or don't do.

    In the city, there are always catcalls/survey takers/people you don't know trying to talk to you. The iPod allows me to tune them out and get a little zen on my way to/from work.

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • oatmeal_bliss's picture
    oatmeal_bliss
    32

    Sometimes it takes extreme advertising to get the public's attention. I would say that this ad would do just that!

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • mrscaru's picture
    mrscaru
    33

    I walk with my iPod all the time and I've been okay so far. See, I stop and look both ways before I cross the street.

    I think drivers are the ones who need to stop screwing around in their cars... texting, playing with the radio, etc. They're driving around in 2,000 lb machines.

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • Lainetm's picture
    Lainetm
    34

    I think a reminder is good, but I'm really tired of nanny states micromanaging so many aspects of my life. Just get some common sense, already!

    kitkatherine, I hope your dad is okay now!

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • tdamji's picture
    tdamji
    35

    if australia is anything like new zealand (which i think it really is), the main problem are the drivers - in new zealand anyway, there are basically no crosswalks and motorists never slow down to allow people to cross the street. As for ipods causing accidents because people don't pay attention: portable music devices aren't new...what about cd players and walkmen? have they compared the amount of accidents caused by people not paying attention (they claim that is the reason - but i still point to motorists) now to in the past? blaming ipods for these accidents sounds like a quick blame.

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • SkinnyMarie's picture
    SkinnyMarie
    36

    I don't blame the drivers. The problem with people listening to their music while crossing streets, etc, is that they are completely blocking out all other noises you need to hear. They can't hear cars coming. I do think that people need to take more responsibility for their own actions, and that yes this is survival of the fittest. But how many times do you see people just crossing streets and parking lots without looking. People just carelessly walk out of walmarts and target without thinking that there are cars. They think that because the cross walk is 50ft wide that they don't have to look when they are going into traffic.

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • chickpilot's picture
    chickpilot
    37

    Great ads, but how many people get hit by cars while crossing the street without iPods? I agree with tdamji...It would be good to have some context.... It's my choice if I want to wear my iPod where ever I go, and I know the consequences if I do something stupid while I'm wearing it.

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • omilawd's picture
    omilawd
    38

    What's next? Ads that say, "When you feel some pressure in your bladder, you should try to go to the bathroom"? Common sense ads are just unnecessary.

    51 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • bhamm's picture
    bhamm
    40

    I thought these ads were a joke, I actually laughed out loud when I saw them. These are supposed to be serious?

    51 weeks 4 days ago Report Comment
  • millarci's picture
    millarci
    41

    The solution is simple. Pay attention to where you are going.

    51 weeks 4 days ago Report Comment
  • velvetavalon's picture
    velvetavalon
    42

    the ads are really cool but i don't think they serve as a very good warning. they are too cool to be a warning.

    my roommate got mugged because she was listening to her ipod and not paying attention. i know everyone uses their "white headphones of oblivion" to block out the world but you still need to be mindful of your surroundings, yeesh!

    51 weeks 4 days ago Report Comment
  • Catwal's picture
    Catwal
    43

    I use my ipod all the time when I walk. Just be sure to turn the volume down when walking in a lot of traffic. That way you can still be safe, and hear what is going on around you. It is like having really cool background music to take with you.

    51 weeks 4 days ago Report Comment