# Toyota Scion Deviants: Creepiest commercial ever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 3, 2007, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369 "2007-07-03T17:21:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/21 "2007-07-03T21:10:10Z")
[QUOTE=NailBunny] I’d like to go on record as saying that I own a Scion, and do not, in fact, decapitate and skin sheep, people, _or_ sheeple! 😃 [/QUOTE] Oh, what a relief! Someone tell **Hal Briston** he can relax on his date tonight! 😃 19 Replies before the first sheep joke? For shame, Dopers, for shame! ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/22 "2007-07-03T21:15:10Z")
I have a Scion xA. I really like it. But that commercial was just, um, _HUH?!?!?_ Of course, I bought it because it was cheap to buy and cheap to run and I found it to be comfy. Though some may disagree, I don’t consider myself to be particularly deviant… ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/23 "2007-07-03T21:19:05Z")
[QUOTE=NailBunny] I’d like to go on record as saying that I own a Scion, and do not, in fact, decapitate and skin sheep, people, _or_ sheeple! 😃 [/QUOTE] That’s just what a deviant _would_ say… ---
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/24 "2007-07-03T21:24:27Z")
[QUOTE=CynicalGabe] > [@WhyNot](#): > > But then again, I’m old (32) and a woman, probably not in the target demographic at all, so what do I know? I’m a 26 year old male. I still found it disturbing. [/QUOTE] 16 year old female, and I didn’t find it disturbing, but I don’t get it (and I kind of almost get the “people kicking trees” Wendy’s commercial, the “I’m a little man who loves berries and cream” skittles, and the “Joe, we know you’re bald.” snickers). So I don’t think it’s a matter of being old. By the end, I wasn’t quite sure who it was who was going to end up with the car. I figured a Very Cool Sheeple would drive up in one and be all colored and not sad-looking and save all the Sheeple from their drab existence and from the nasty Deviants. … whatever. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/25 "2007-07-04T00:06:20Z")
[QUOTE=anamnesis] If there’s a car manufacturer more guilty of catering to “sheeple” than Toyota, I’d love to know which one it is … [/QUOTE] Ford? Come and be a ruggedly individualistic cowboy, just like the rest of your town! ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/26 "2007-07-04T00:13:37Z")
It looks like it was created by Tim Burton. ---
**Author:** ![Lama\_Pacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/27 "2007-07-04T00:19:53Z")
Huh? No offense, but do people really not get the ad? It’s just a story implying that people who buy Scions are independent thinkers, with some “weird” stuff thrown in for apparent edginess. It seemed very hamhandedly transparent to me, not subtle or obscure at all. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/28 "2007-07-04T00:50:05Z")
OTOH, the ad agency has accomplished their goal. The ad is remembered. It is talked about. Any of you who are in the market for a car will think about it. This does not change the fact that IMO it one of the ugliest vehicles on the road today and the chances of me buying one approach zero. Only approaches zero because I would buy one with the Jolene Blalock accessory package. ---
**Author:** ![robertliguori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@robertliguori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robertliguori)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/29 "2007-07-04T01:24:47Z")
[QUOTE=Projammer] OTOH, the ad agency has accomplished their goal. The ad is remembered. It is talked about. Any of you who are in the market for a car will think about it. This does not change the fact that IMO it one of the ugliest vehicles on the road today and the chances of me buying one approach zero. Only approaches zero because I would buy one with the Jolene Blalock accessory package. [/QUOTE] I have heard this theory before. Old Navy ads, for instance, in their collective horror, are remembered, and are enough for me to have sworn a solemn oath never to give Old Navy my money voluntarily. Does the concept of mindshare advertising, designed solely to get and keep one’s product in people’s minds with associations good or bad, really work? I wouldn’t be overly surprised if it did, but I’d like to see something more formal than an assertion before accepting it. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/30 "2007-07-04T01:33:45Z")
Moving thread from IMHO to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/31 "2007-07-04T02:03:06Z")
[QUOTE=anamnesis] My thoughts exactly. As if the message weren’t already paradoxical enough, it’s coming from the mouth of Toyota. If there’s a car manufacturer more guilty of catering to “sheeple” than Toyota, I’d love to know which one it is … [/QUOTE] What’s so sheepish about wanting an affordable, reliable car with good gas mileage? I saw the commercial today before the Transformers and I said to my boyfriend that it was creepy and disturbing. It almost put me off my popcorn. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/32 "2007-07-04T02:04:09Z")
[QUOTE=Projammer] OTOH, the ad agency has accomplished their goal. The ad is remembered. It is talked about. [/QUOTE] Yes, this explains why my medicine cabinet is chock full of **HEAD ON! APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE FOREHEAD!!!** Not. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/33 "2007-07-04T02:07:06Z")
[QUOTE=Lama Pacos] Huh? No offense, but do people really not get the ad? It’s just a story implying that people who buy Scions are independent thinkers, with some “weird” stuff thrown in for apparent edginess. It seemed very hamhandedly transparent to me, not subtle or obscure at all. [/QUOTE] It is transparent. What we don’t “get” is how seemingly totally ineffective it is - it’s not particularly appealing to the target demographic, or anyone, for that matter. In addition - traditionally advertisements tend to make a bigger deal out of what it is they are actually selling, otherwise what is the point. This just reinforces my theory that most people that work in a professional marketing capacity have no fucking clue what they are doing and just flush 90% of their funding down the toilet. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/34 "2007-07-04T05:27:53Z")
Definitely creepy. I already think Scions are ugly (especially the xB :eek: ) but even if I thought they were cool as hell, I’d have serious doubts about buying one after seeing that ad. A car for bloodthirsty freaks? You want me to buy into _that_ image? I’m a 31-year-old male, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/35 "2007-07-04T06:37:30Z")
The deviants kinda reminded me of Heartless from Kingdom Hearts. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/36 "2007-07-04T06:46:14Z")
The ad was creepy for sure. It might’ve been interesting if it was for a movie, but as a car commercial it was just obnoxious. And the Deviants - I wonder how marketing signed off on that as a name for potential Scion buyers 😛 - reminded me of those Radiohead bear things. ---
**Author:** ![Maera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maera/32/3190_2.png) [@Maera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maera)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/37 "2007-07-04T06:47:47Z")
I thought it was a cool commercial, and while it was weird, I got that the “moral” of the tale was that the person who drove the Scion was the person who “won” in that they drove off with the head in the end. Which meant that you’re cool if you drive a Scion. It doesn’t have to make “sense” it just has to hold your attention, which it does. At least for me. ---
**Author:** ![Ms.Pumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Ms.Pumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Pumpkin)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/38 "2007-07-04T06:51:48Z")
Nope, the creepiest commercial ever is the Skittles one where some guy is hooked up to a milking machine. :eek: :dubious: 😕 ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/39 "2007-07-04T08:31:35Z")
Maybe they could combine these. Have a commercial with the Scion Deviants, the (Burger) King, and the “berries and cream” guy. What could they collectively sell? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/40 "2007-07-04T11:02:42Z")
[QUOTE=CynicalGabe] Maybe they could combine these. Have a commercial with the Scion Deviants, the (Burger) King, and the “berries and cream” guy. What could they collectively sell? [/QUOTE] The souls of their customers. To Lucifer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369.md?page=1)