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If Every Brand Is Funny Online, Is Anything Funny?

nytimes.com

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Re: If Every Brand Is Funny Online, Is Anything Funny?

#3
post #2

I work in marketing. Every brand I know complains that there is no humor anymore. And that they can’t be funny, and have to walk on eggshells with watered down messaging, because there are so many different groups that are easily offended.

Yeah brands aren't funny (if they ever were), they are "clever" and "snarky" to the point of irritation. Sincerity is seen as unhip and unsophisticated and all the brands don't want that.

Re: If Every Brand Is Funny Online, Is Anything Funny?

#5
post #2

I work in marketing. Every brand I know complains that there is no humor anymore. And that they can’t be funny, and have to walk on eggshells with watered down messaging, because there are so many different groups that are easily offended.

I don't work in marketing. My exposure to ads/commercials is generally only during live sports.

The Superbowl used to be not only the ultimate NFL event but also the "super bowl" of commercials. They used to make you laugh. We used to actually want to watch them. The last 5-ish years of Superbowls have completely flipped that. Now we mute during commercials because they are all so sterile and unfunny or faking sincerity about this year's major social topic.

Now, watching NFL, the commercials are actively grating, annoying, and the complete opposite of entertaining.

I mute these shitty commercials now. I used to love them.

Marketing departments have ruined yet another thing that used to be enjoyable.

Re: If Every Brand Is Funny Online, Is Anything Funny?

#6
It irritates me more than it should, but I hate how virtually all major brands and sports teams seem to have the same “voice” on social media now. They all have this “desperate to be hip” and snarky tone of an urban teenager, all express the same restrained support for the social issue of the day (regional accounts may be excluded), and all overuse emoji.

Re: If Every Brand Is Funny Online, Is Anything Funny?

#8
post #5
post #2

I work in marketing. Every brand I know complains that there is no humor anymore. And that they can’t be funny, and have to walk on eggshells with watered down messaging, because there are so many different groups that are easily offended.

I don't work in marketing. My exposure to ads/commercials is generally only during live sports. The Superbowl used to be not only the ultimate NFL event but also the "super bowl" of commercials. They used to make you laugh. We used to actually want to watch them. The last 5-ish years of Superbowls have completely flipped that. Now we mute during commercials because they are all so sterile and unfunny or faking sincer…

WASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSUPPPP????

WASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSUUUUUUUUUUUUUPPP???

Oh yeah commercials used to be so good...

Re: If Every Brand Is Funny Online, Is Anything Funny?

#9
post #2

I work in marketing. Every brand I know complains that there is no humor anymore. And that they can’t be funny, and have to walk on eggshells with watered down messaging, because there are so many different groups that are easily offended.

Yeah brands aren't funny (if they ever were), they are "clever" and "snarky" to the point of irritation. Sincerity is seen as unhip and unsophisticated and all the brands don't want that.

I think it's the same vein of quippy, pithy, nothing-is-serious line of humor that started to infect film after the success of the Avengers and the follow on films.

Re: If Every Brand Is Funny Online, Is Anything Funny?

#10
post #6

It irritates me more than it should, but I hate how virtually all major brands and sports teams seem to have the same “voice” on social media now. They all have this “desperate to be hip” and snarky tone of an urban teenager, all express the same restrained support for the social issue of the day (regional accounts may be excluded), and all overuse emoji.

I’m right there with you. The constant attempt to be relevant and jump in on every situation is obnoxious. We can see right through you that you’re trying to manipulate us.
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