# Decapitated cat in Ford ad **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 7, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decapitated-cat-in-ford-ad/238796 "2004-04-07T19:18:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decapitated-cat-in-ford-ad/238796/21 "2004-04-07T23:01:06Z")
[[The pigeon one’s just as good/bad](http://www.thedierks.com/allowe/video/Ford,FinalBird.mpeg) ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decapitated-cat-in-ford-ad/238796/22 "2004-04-07T23:18:02Z")
I have to admit, when I watched it I was simultaneously revolted and amused. It’s a little too realistic, but the concept is funny and definitely seems like something you’d see in a Python movie. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decapitated-cat-in-ford-ad/238796/23 "2004-04-07T23:32:10Z")
Dammit, car! That’s the third cat head on the driver’s seat this week! What the hell’s the matter with you? ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decapitated-cat-in-ford-ad/238796/24 "2004-04-07T23:41:23Z")
> [@jacksen9](#): > > I suggested that they make some sort of formal public apology. For what? Not making an offensive ad? ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decapitated-cat-in-ford-ad/238796/25 "2004-04-07T23:51:13Z")
:eek: I love Monty Python-esque comedy, but that commercial is quite disturbing. I never planned to buy a Ford anyway, but now I know I will never give a penny of my money to that sick company. I don’t care if it was an intra-office joke, and I don’t care if it’s just CG, that really bothers me. For that and other reasons, Ford will never be able to count me as a customer. ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decapitated-cat-in-ford-ad/238796/26 "2004-04-08T00:05:39Z")
I’m not generally squicked out or offended by much, but I gotta say this ad is a little disturbing. I thought the one with the pigeon was hilarious though. I think what gets me is that the cat sits there and struggles for awhile, while the one with the pigeon is so sudden. ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decapitated-cat-in-ford-ad/238796/27 "2004-04-08T00:07:52Z")
Okay, I went against myself and watched the clip. After all, it was unfair of me to make such assumptions without actually seeing the source material. My curse still stands. I’d say that if Ford’s story jibes with reality; then there are some people at Ogilvy & Mather who are going to get canned with a quickness. At any rate, I’m glad the whole “viral advertising” scheme seems to be blowing up in their faces. That’s just what the world needs: Chain-mail advertisements. And hey, if not thinking animal cruelty is funny makes me have a stick up my ass, then call me Woodsphincter. I don’t even like Tom & Jerry. Sidenote: **gatopescado** : Not f\*cking funny in the least. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decapitated-cat-in-ford-ad/238796/28 "2004-04-08T00:11:39Z")
Y’all have been whooshed. Simply by working everyone up into a lather, the viral marketing is working. Doesn’t matter if you think the decapitated cat is funny or not. (for the record, there’s 2 cats in my house. I don’t like cats, but I lost the arguments when they came in, and I thick the clip is a scream) ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decapitated-cat-in-ford-ad/238796/29 "2004-04-08T00:22:49Z")
Non-pet owner here. I have to side with the “it’s funny” crowd. Nothing wrong with it. And to those people who say that the pigeon one isn’t that bad but the cat one is horrible, screw you! I guess if it isn’t cute and cuddly then it doesn’t deserve to live huh? ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decapitated-cat-in-ford-ad/238796/30 "2004-04-08T00:51:32Z")
> [@Amp](#): > > I guess if it isn’t cute and cuddly then it doesn’t deserve to live huh? That’s right, and boy are you in trouble! ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decapitated-cat-in-ford-ad/238796/31 "2004-04-08T00:53:19Z")
Aw, c’mon, the above post is just a joke. No **Amp** s were harmed in the making of that post. ---
**Author:** ![jacksen9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@jacksen9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacksen9)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decapitated-cat-in-ford-ad/238796/32 "2004-04-08T01:17:10Z")
> [@Berkut](#): > > For what? Not making an offensive ad? No, the wise thing to do here is to deny all responsibility and tell their potential customers that they are getting all worked up about nothing and that they should get the stick out of their asses and quickly get to a Ford dealership and buy a new car. Right. ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decapitated-cat-in-ford-ad/238796/33 "2004-04-08T01:53:54Z")
> [@jacksen9](#): > > No, the wise thing to do here is to deny all responsibility and tell their potential customers that they are getting all worked up about nothing and that they should get the stick out of their asses and quickly get to a Ford dealership and buy a new car. Right. Oh, is that what they are telling their customers? I thought you called them, and they said > [@jacksen9](#): > > they have no relationship with this ad. (…) they were investigating and may take legal action against the person(s) responsible. So, like I said. What should the apologize for? NOT making an offensive ad? > [@jacksen9](#): > > I suggested that they make some sort of formal public apology ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decapitated-cat-in-ford-ad/238796/34 "2004-04-08T02:53:54Z")
I’d have been rolling on the floor, wetting my pants and with tears in my eyes, if you could _hear_ the cat wailing when it was stuck in the sunroof. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decapitated-cat-in-ford-ad/238796/35 "2004-04-08T03:16:02Z")
God damn, that was funny. Stupid idea for a commercial, because of the inevitable public backlash, but very, very funny. And, yes, dark and disturbed and deeply fucked up. Which is precisely why it’s so funny. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decapitated-cat-in-ford-ad/238796/36 "2004-04-08T03:24:27Z")
I really think there’s no place for decapitation in car ads, ever, for any reason, no matter what species is involved. _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![torie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@torie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/torie)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decapitated-cat-in-ford-ad/238796/37 "2004-04-08T04:13:35Z")
I LOVE kitties. And I still thought this was funny. No actual cat was harmed. Now go do something about world hunger. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decapitated-cat-in-ford-ad/238796/38 "2004-04-08T05:17:41Z")
Another vote for “not funny, too realistic.” At least on the cat one—couldn’t get the pidgeon one to play. I love Monty Python, but this isn’t funny. Ick. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decapitated-cat-in-ford-ad/238796/39 "2004-04-08T05:33:02Z")
Yeah, wrong. The claws scrabbling on the car, the slow grind of the sunroof motor as it powers through the cat’s neck, the flopping body bouncing off the passenger side mirror. High-LAR-ious. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![SanguineSpider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SanguineSpider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanguineSpider)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decapitated-cat-in-ford-ad/238796/40 "2004-04-08T05:48:13Z")
They got what they wanted out of it, I’d say… people talking about it and passing it around to their friends to view it. Worked like a charm. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decapitated-cat-in-ford-ad/238796.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decapitated-cat-in-ford-ad/238796.md?page=3)