# Mountains out of Molehills...Skyscrapers out of Starbucks Cafe Coolers **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 19, 2002, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountains-out-of-molehills-skyscrapers-out-of-starbucks-cafe-coolers/114875 "2002-06-19T15:23:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountains-out-of-molehills-skyscrapers-out-of-starbucks-cafe-coolers/114875/1 "2002-06-19T15:23:34Z")
I’m sorry, call me insensitive, but I don’t see what all this (local NYC) hoopla is about. When it comes to advertising _conspiracies_ I’m somewhere in the middle. I neither agree with Cecil (that subliminal messages don’t exist) or Wilson Brian Key (who comes to some hairball conclusions about ads that employ subliminal techniques). Fact is, some Madison Ave ad exec is probably gonna get torn a new one because some people (NY Post readers, patrons down at the local bar and alot of radio show hosts) are equating this [“Collapse into Cool” window display ad for Starbucks](http://www.nypost.com/seven/06182002/news/nationalnews/50613.htm) with the 9/11 disaster [in downtown NYC](http://hq.midwestcomputers.com/9-11-01/pics/wtc-1st-1.jpg). I’d be blind or ignorant to deny similarities but these molehills[ol][li]The 2 cups are situated in the same fashion of towers #1 and #2. [_]The dragonfly appears to be approaching the cups just like the jet that crashed into the towers. [_]The “Collapse into Cool” slogan is is a thinly veiled reference to the demise of the WTC.[/ol] aren’t mountains in my opinion.[/li] I just hope the NY Post, or the majority of its’ readership doesn’t come across [this Spanish satire](http://www.terra.es/personal2/marcovelez/humor/plane.gif) or all hell may break loose. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountains-out-of-molehills-skyscrapers-out-of-starbucks-cafe-coolers/114875/2 "2002-06-19T15:54:18Z")
I believe the people who were upset about this are people who work close to the WTC site. This ad was displayed on a billboard down there. I think if this upsets people who were affected by the collapse of the towers, they should remove the ad. Who are we to say what triggers a bad memory in someone? Granted the ad may seem innocuous to people who weren’t directly effected by the tragedy, but I can see how that ad could remind someone of it, especially those who work in that area every day. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountains-out-of-molehills-skyscrapers-out-of-starbucks-cafe-coolers/114875/3 "2002-06-19T16:03:25Z")
assinine! its an ad for frosty drinks. Period. put the crack-pipe down, people! ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountains-out-of-molehills-skyscrapers-out-of-starbucks-cafe-coolers/114875/4 "2002-06-19T16:05:25Z")
I don’t think I would have immediately associated the ad with the 9/11 disaster, but I don’t see how the slogan “Collapse Into Cool” could be anything but a reference to the collapse of the twin towers. Why would you “collapse” into a frozen tea? Who in the world sat down at Starbucks’ ad agency and said, “Yeah, that’s a great idea.” Who then approved it? What PR department in their right mind would say this was OK? The stupidity is shocking. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountains-out-of-molehills-skyscrapers-out-of-starbucks-cafe-coolers/114875/5 "2002-06-19T16:12:27Z")
Exactly, Morgainelf. Given the myriad of ad campaign possibilities, why choose such a poorly worded one? ---
**Author:** ![Gundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountains-out-of-molehills-skyscrapers-out-of-starbucks-cafe-coolers/114875/6 "2002-06-19T16:13:41Z")
“Collapse” was probably used for alliteration. ---
**Author:** ![JustPlainBryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@JustPlainBryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustPlainBryan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountains-out-of-molehills-skyscrapers-out-of-starbucks-cafe-coolers/114875/7 "2002-06-19T17:38:41Z")
**`11** Am I insensitive for typing the above? After all, it clearly shows two towers with what appears to be an airplane coming towards it. This is how ridiculous I find this entire issue. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountains-out-of-molehills-skyscrapers-out-of-starbucks-cafe-coolers/114875/8 "2002-06-19T18:54:30Z")
Let’s not forget that the Starbucks store near the WTC on 9/11 was _charging_ the rescue workers for bottles of water! Meanwhile an _Arab_ owned deli was **giving** the rescue workers _anything_ they asked for! Starbucks later coughed up a big check to the NYC FD as an apology. There is, no doubt, a lot of hate in NYC for Starbucks, and this ad only gives people more fodder. ---
**Author:** ![JustPlainBryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@JustPlainBryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustPlainBryan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountains-out-of-molehills-skyscrapers-out-of-starbucks-cafe-coolers/114875/9 "2002-06-19T19:15:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > \*\*Let’s not forget that the Starbucks store near the WTC on 9/11 was _charging_ the rescue workers for bottles of water! Meanwhile an _Arab_ owned deli was **giving** the rescue workers _anything_ they asked for! Starbucks later coughed up a big check to the NYC FD as an apology. There is, no doubt, a lot of hate in NYC for Starbucks, and this ad only gives people more fodder. \*\* Well, I still have qualms over the common percieved notion that companies should be obligated to “help out” for fear of bad press. Real charity comes from the willingness to help, and it should never be a PR issue. In other words, I think it would have been just as bad if Starbucks helped out for fear that profits would dip if they didn’t. I’d rather they not do anything at all then to participate in a farce like that. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountains-out-of-molehills-skyscrapers-out-of-starbucks-cafe-coolers/114875/10 "2002-06-19T19:35:53Z")
I think the idea is to say the dragonfly is “collapsing” into the cool of the drink. Maybe “Dive into the cool” would have been better? (What do I know, I don’t even drink that stuff) ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountains-out-of-molehills-skyscrapers-out-of-starbucks-cafe-coolers/114875/11 "2002-06-19T19:50:25Z")
At least they didn’t go with their original tagline, “Get Hijacked Into a 110-Story Explosion of Flavor!” ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountains-out-of-molehills-skyscrapers-out-of-starbucks-cafe-coolers/114875/12 "2002-06-19T21:48:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JustPlainBryan \* > \*\* > > Well, I still have qualms over the common percieved notion that companies should be obligated to “help out” for fear of bad press. Real charity comes from the willingness to help, and it should never be a PR issue. In other words, I think it would have been just as bad if Starbucks helped out for fear that profits would dip if they didn’t. I’d rather they not do anything at all then to participate in a farce like that. \*\* How 'bout just helping out because you’re near one of the largest disasters in history? How 'bout putting human life over profits, not because its good PR, but because its the right thing to do? The guys that owned the deli I mentioned were giving things to the rescue workers _before_ anyone knew anything other than a plane had crashed into the building! They didn’t know that a bunch of whacked out Middle-Easterners had hijacked four planes and were deliberately crashing them into buildings. _They_ helped out because it was the right thing to do. The schmucks at the Starbucks store simply held the corporate line that everybody has to pay for everything, even though they _knew_ that a plane had crashed into a building! They were more concerned about keeping their jobs than any loss of human life. That’s pretty sick, if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountains-out-of-molehills-skyscrapers-out-of-starbucks-cafe-coolers/114875/13 "2002-06-19T22:16:47Z")
I think that if some local people are reminded of 9-11 and upset, that’s legit and the Starbuck’s should take them down just out of courtesy if nothing else. For the Post to say they are “mocking 9-11” is asinine in the extreme, however. Granted, it’s the Post, but still. Oh, and **Eve** , you are definitely going to hell for that one 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JustPlainBryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@JustPlainBryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustPlainBryan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountains-out-of-molehills-skyscrapers-out-of-starbucks-cafe-coolers/114875/14 "2002-06-19T22:31:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > **How 'bout just helping out because you’re near one of the largest disasters in history? How 'bout putting human life over profits, not because its good PR, but because its the right thing to do?** So you’d rather they play the hypocrite and pretend they care more about profits than “helping out”? I think you misunderstand. I’m all for helping out. I would have been a volunteer myself if I were in New York at the time. What I don’t agree with is the social pressure that people place on others to help out. This should be a personal decision for each and every person, and not dictated by “what others would think”. When you pressure someone into helping out, then the help given, in my opinion, would be something akin to forced labor. I don’t think it’s any different with corporations, especially since “the right thing to do” for a company is to make profit for its investors. But once again, I’m all for helping out in whatever way **I** can. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountains-out-of-molehills-skyscrapers-out-of-starbucks-cafe-coolers/114875/15 "2002-06-19T22:49:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JustPlainBryan \* > \*\* > So you’d rather they play the hypocrite and pretend they care more about profits than “helping out”? > I think you misunderstand. I’m all for helping out. I would have been a volunteer myself if I were in New York at the time. What I don’t agree with is the social pressure that people place on others to help out. This should be a personal decision for each and every person, and not dictated by “what others would think”. When you pressure someone into helping out, then the help given, in my opinion, would be something akin to forced labor. I don’t think it’s any different with corporations, especially since “the right thing to do” for a company is to make profit for its investors. > > But once again, I’m all for helping out in whatever way **I** can. \*\* At the risk of totally hijacking this thread, stop and think about what you said for a moment. If I think that company X’s practices are wrong, and I choose not to purchase their products, I am exercising my right not to support practices I disagree with. If the corporation wants my business they will have to modify their practices in order to increase their profits. This is wrong? I’m sorry, but I don’t think so. By not purchasing said company’s products, I am applying pressure on them to change. ---
**Author:** ![JustPlainBryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@JustPlainBryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustPlainBryan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountains-out-of-molehills-skyscrapers-out-of-starbucks-cafe-coolers/114875/16 "2002-06-19T23:06:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > \*\*If I think that company X’s practices are wrong, and I choose not to purchase their products, I am exercising my right not to support practices I disagree with. If the corporation wants my business they will have to modify their practices in order to increase their profits. This is wrong? I’m sorry, but I don’t think so. By not purchasing said company’s products, I am applying pressure on them to change. \*\* I agree that we shouldn’t hijack this thread, so I’ll end this by saying that it is entirely your prerogative to apply pressure on any company you wish. Just don’t pressure me to apply pressure on them as well. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mountains-out-of-molehills-skyscrapers-out-of-starbucks-cafe-coolers/114875/17 "2002-06-20T02:08:17Z")
Yeah, enough with the hijack. Although if you all want to take it into GD I will most likely read it with intrest 🙂 I do not believe that ad was deliberate. Sure, “Collapse into cool” Is a crappy slogan. I have heard worse BTW I Can see how some would link that poster ad with the events of 9/11. I think pulling them is the wisest choice. That and beating the people who did not think it thru a bit more. Don’t they test run ad ideas like that in a demographica area before dumping the cash into a full advertisment blitz?