# Strange Ad Campaign **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 14, 2008, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-ad-campaign/437589 "2008-02-14T14:20:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-ad-campaign/437589/21 "2008-02-14T18:11:19Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] They did this in Dublin for men’s lipstick in a variety of “macho” colours (e.g. blue and black). [/QUOTE] Blue is not a macho color. The only macho colors are black and camouflage. ---
**Author:** ![Tenar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@Tenar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenar)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-ad-campaign/437589/22 "2008-02-14T18:27:10Z")
[QUOTE=Tenar] The [Obay.com](http://Obay.com) guy says the Obay campaign [has nothing to do with him.](http://hypermodern.net/archives/addressing-confusion-between-httpobayinfo-and-obay-pills-posters-in-canada/) I find his speculation that the Obay pills campaign might have something to do with Scientology interesting, though. Correction: it’s Obay.info, not [Obay.com](http://Obay.com). Sorry. [/QUOTE] Sorry to quote myself, but I ran out of time on edit. At any rate, [Whois.net](http://Whois.net) shows the [obay.com](http://obay.com) domain name as belonging to [Overstock.com](http://Overstock.com). Apparently it was a name they briefly considered, then thought better of. ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-ad-campaign/437589/23 "2008-02-14T20:28:54Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] I wonder whether they’re only in Brampton? I haven’t seen them in Toronto or Mississauga. [/QUOTE] They’re also popping up in Toronto proper. In the last few days, I spotted them on several TTC ad spots in the east end, including buses and streetcars, as well as a couple of shelters. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-ad-campaign/437589/24 "2008-02-15T17:14:44Z")
Huh. Apparently there is a toll-free number, 1-888-YOU-OBAY, that features a recorded message, a transcript of which reads: > [@1-888-YOU-OBAY](#): > > "…Calling 1-888-YOU-OBAY. There’s nothing worse than a child who won’t do what they’re told. You raise them, feed them, cloth them, sit through their violin recitals; and how do they pay you back?? They go ahead and think for themselves! > > It’s not right and it’s not what you had in mind… Thankfully there’s OBay! A new remedy from the makers of “why?BecauseIsaidso!” And “NotUnderMyRoof!” > > Is your child ignoring your subtle suggestions? Are they not getting the hint when you tell them what to do!? It’s time for OBay; Are they making important life decisions without listening to your valuable irriputable input!? Hello OBay! OBay works where other parental controls, like shouting, don’t. Just one dose and you’ll see a difference… Your truculant teenagers will be transformed into dosile pussycats, open to your thoughts, your ideas and most importantly the future you’ve mapped out for them. > > So order your supply of OBay today… Because YOUR Wish is YOUR command!" Curiouser and curiouser. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-ad-campaign/437589/25 "2008-02-15T18:49:38Z")
I really really hope it’s us. That campaign is cool. ---
**Author:** ![El\_DeLuxo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_deluxo/32/9043_2.png) [@El\_DeLuxo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_DeLuxo)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2008, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-ad-campaign/437589/26 "2008-02-16T05:30:35Z")
Well, I just now called that number, and what I heard was a series of short bursts of static, or what sounded like insects buzzing, without any human speech to it at all. **Most peculiar**. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2008, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-ad-campaign/437589/27 "2008-02-16T13:06:18Z")
If I had to guess (WAG), I’d say Parents Against TeenScreen. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2008, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-ad-campaign/437589/28 "2008-02-16T23:35:40Z")
Sounds anti-ritalin/adderall/add/adhd to me. As in don’t medicate kids just becuase they misbehave, think for themselves or have different ideals then you. That’s my guess anyways. When an ad is this confusing, a ‘sequel’ ad tends to show up a month or so later that explains it. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2008, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-ad-campaign/437589/29 "2008-02-16T23:49:54Z")
[The Torontoist](http://torontoist.com/2008/02/the_ones_that_m.php) says it’s part of a campaign to promote local colleges, although I don’t see the smoking gun. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2008, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-ad-campaign/437589/30 "2008-02-17T03:15:54Z")
Saw one on the subway just now. Picture: a smiling father and son. Text: My kids used to have their own dreams and aspirations. Now they have mine. Thanks, Obay[sup]TM[/sup]! Then there’s a picture of a drug bottle (“Obay 50mg”) and a rendered graphic of a green rhomboid pill. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2008, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-ad-campaign/437589/31 "2008-02-17T12:35:41Z")
[QUOTE=Mahna Mahna] They’re also popping up in Toronto proper. In the last few days, I spotted them on several TTC ad spots in the east end, including buses and streetcars, as well as a couple of shelters. [/QUOTE] I’ve been seeing these on and around Burlington transit. No Hamilton sightings just yet. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2008, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-ad-campaign/437589/32 "2008-02-17T23:29:41Z")
[QUOTE=chrisk] No Hamilton sightings just yet. [/QUOTE] Posted a bit too soon, it seems. Today on the way down to my writer’s club meeting, there was a bit OBAY ad on the side of the King street bus. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2008, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-ad-campaign/437589/33 "2008-02-17T23:35:55Z")
And another one on the subway today. It was a subway version of the bus-shelter ad pictured in the _Torontoist_ article. ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2008, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-ad-campaign/437589/34 "2008-02-18T02:31:55Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] Saw one on the subway just now. Picture: a smiling father and son. Text: My kids used to have their own dreams and aspirations. Now they have mine. Thanks, Obay[sup]TM[/sup]! Then there’s a picture of a drug bottle (“Obay 50mg”) and a rendered graphic of a green rhomboid pill. [/QUOTE] Saw my first one on the subway today. Smiling father and son, message something like “My son was getting ideas of his own. OBAY stopped that.” Definitely was attracting attention – bunch of young people looking at it, one took a picture on his cellphone. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2008, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-ad-campaign/437589/35 "2008-02-18T03:11:17Z")
If it’s a culture jam, there’s some serious kilobucks behind it. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2008, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-ad-campaign/437589/36 "2008-02-18T18:05:42Z")
I saw one on a bus in Waterloo on Friday. I did a double-take when I saw it. ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-ad-campaign/437589/37 "2008-02-18T20:30:19Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] If it’s a culture jam, there’s some serious kilobucks behind it. [/QUOTE] Yeah, I don’t know what the TTC charges for space, but I know you don’t see people advertising their used bikes on it. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2008, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-ad-campaign/437589/38 "2008-02-18T22:38:56Z")
Reminds me of a similarly effective ad campaign in Berlin ages ago. In the subway one morning, I see a huge photo of about 5 totally nude men, full frontal, but the men had been sprayed head to toe with white paint. Still, the billboard left nothing to the imagination. The Germans looked at it and then went about their daily business (in the US, there would have been a major uproar). So, I look at these nude dudes on every subway wall all over Berlin for about 5 weeks - no words on the sign, nothing. Then about 5 1/2 weeks later, there are the same guys, but this time a full color photo of them all bare-chested, but wearing [name-brand] jeans. The text said something like, “men look sexier in [name brand] jeans”. The ad was very effective. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-ad-campaign/437589/39 "2008-02-19T06:45:28Z")
[Do clowns hate Obey](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=378328)? ---
**Author:** ![Elret](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Elret](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elret)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-ad-campaign/437589/40 "2008-02-19T15:53:12Z")
[QUOTE=chrisk] Posted a bit too soon, it seems. Today on the way down to my writer’s club meeting, there was a bit OBAY ad on the side of the King street bus. [/QUOTE] I’ve been seeing them in Hamilton for about a week now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-ad-campaign/437589.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-ad-campaign/437589.md?page=3)