I'd like to hear Transworld's take on military advertising during a time of war. When there's a really good chance young enlistees could get killed or loose a limb in a failing war... And you can bet the TWS demographic ain't enlisting as officers, they'll be on foot patrol no doubt.
Any TWS staffers willing to explain?
Jaimie you say there's no need to flex but I think that's a copout. Blackbox riders attract readers who then digest those ads at the same time. And it's easy to think skaters just laugh at those ads and they're not effective to ease the conscience. But tell me there aren't HS seniors (that read TWS) who live in rural America who wouldn't have a chance to go to college if it wasn't for the GI bill? Or have few employment choices in life: farming, factory work, or the military... The military can look pretty attractive because all their pay is gravy while you're enlisted. They take care of food/housing/medical, the works. I was in Hong Kong a 5 or 6 years ago when a Naval envoy came through and there were a handful of dudes who came ashore looking for skatespots. It happens.
But it shouldn't be just Blackbox flexing. I'd like to see a concerted industry wide flex backed by us, the skate mechendise buying public. Anyone else want to step up to the plate? Consolidated? Blueprint, Cliche? You Euro guys should be heated your riders are being used to recruit US soldiers too.
You puting it all on me is a cop-out, write to 'em or call 'em and use your intelligence to have them re-consider their acceptance of those ads.
I'm not backing the ads, but no one is going to join the army merely based on the fact that they ran and ad in a skateboard magazine and even though our riders may be in the magazine, Chris Cole ain't in the ad. People that are on the edge of joining, might see the ad and think it's cool, while everyone else says those ads are wack as they flip the page. I'm also not knocking anyone that wants to join the army, some people feel like that's there calling and they want to protect an ideal, which I think is amirable.
JT, you sent this board to a kid the last time he was in Iraq. Now on his second tour there he returned to the place with that deck and he's quite proud of it. Despite his mission there being to go outside the wire daily to perform security details, he has been told by both the Marines as well as the Army that SKATEBOARDING is too dangerous of an activity for him to participate in on his down time back at base. Imagine being in a fuckin' war and being told you can't skate because they are afraid that you'll hurt yourself. The point is that people like yourself, big name pros, industry types.....you guys have more influence on young peoples lives than you may realize.
Does "No blood for oil" ring any bells?
Sorry if I do come across as being on an anti-military crusade here but to be honest it's what interest me in life. I think it would be nice to see a supposed skateboarding company like TWS have more integrity to the community that it survives off of, I also think it would be nice to see more skate companies become more active in letting the military know that it is not welcome in our walk of life.
My board said "no war for oil" and we've had other anti-war boards, so we're doing something with our influence. But all of a sudden, I'm lame because I won't agree to pull our ads if they don't stop accepting the army ads. How's about you quit using me as the scapegoat. I didn't start the war and I’ve outspokenly protested it, but I also don't feel it's right to threaten people with power, especially people that are friends and a major contribution to the skateboard industry.
Topic: tell TWS.. (Read 16712 times)