Is this Buck advertisement irresponsible?

As a long time camper and hiker I couldn't conceive that there was the slightest connotation of a threat in the ad. Light hearted arguments about who is going to get the water or setup the tent are integral parts of the camping experience. The only meaning I saw was that having a knife/tool gives you choices. If you don't have the tool you're going to get wet. If you're the only one who brought the tool you might find it funny to insist your buddy do the work.
 
As a Quaker, I am committed to non-violence. As an outdoor enthusiast, I can see some of the humor. What makes something funny, often, is the multiple levels at which something can be interpreted. Often, it says more about the reader than the writer. Still, I can see both points. Lighten up, and enjoy the depths of meaning.

"Friend, I would not harm thee for the world, but thee are standing where I am about to shoot..."
wink.gif


Peace,

Al Folsom

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Al Folsom alan@folsoms.net
Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes.
Then if he gets mad, he'll be a mile away, and barefoot!
* * * *
Buck Collector's Club #1334 (oh man, this is gonna cost me...)
Micah 6:8
 
I think the ad did exactly what the Buck Company intended....print an add that is hard to put your finger on its point and watch the folks talk and talk about it. When was the last time we all talked about a Buck ad so much? A nice coup for the advertising section.

We'll all remember Bob, the Stider and Buck company now but I was thinking, how could we ever forget BKI?

smile.gif


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~Greg Mete~
Kodiak Alaska
Buck Collectors Club-Lifetime Member
JKM-Chai
KnifeKnutt@aol.com
 
If you find that the adv sounds threatening, then what about this one from boker:

PERFECT FOR AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
OR CREATING ONE


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silent souls leave .308 holes
 
I LOL when I saw the Buck ad. Boker has been running some great tongue in cheek ones too.

What all should remember is that playing kissy face with the antis is not going to change their usually unfounded bias against guns or knives.

The only reason we have many of the anti gun laws we have today is that some conservative politician changed his mind, and thought bargaining was the best course.

Has Boxer, or Kennedy, or Shumer, EVER crawfished on their opinions of guns? Hell, no,but the progun guys do it all the time. And for every concession the gun industry made, these three just smile, and come back next time to tighten the noose.

Hats off to Buck and Boker

Ron Ryder
 
I am one of Buck's biggest fans; and have been so for decades. I am familiar with the Corporate philosphy at Buck and am VERY comfortable with it. I think that PC is going to be (if not already) part of the ruination of this country.

With that said, I think the ad could give a message that was unintended and not beneficial to the knife community or Buck.

Toungue in cheek humor and mild controversy is effective, but this ad is not what we (knifeknuts, Buck, the nation) needs right now.

People could even connotate the "choice" word with orientaion issues pertaining to Bob and friend in their shelter. See what I mean about PC being rediculous. Nonetheless, we (the smarter, more reasonable, more rational ones) need to be cognizant of what the "others" may perceive.

End of lesson. Man, I hate PC!

[This message has been edited by Nimrod (edited 03-24-2001).]
 
How about:

1) You and Bob are hiking when you notice an approaching storm.

A) You build a lean-to out of pine branches.

B) Illequipped and unprepared, you and Bob get soaked, or worse.

A Buck knife gives you choices.
.......(end)


 
PC, huh? Here's a little story about someone I once knew. This guy was a self-confessed gun-grabbing liberal. He'd ask the standard questions like "Why do you need a gun?" And when I'd attempt to answer he came back with "That's what the police are for!"
Well, he got in trouble with some not so savory people and was in genuine fear of his life. So he comes to me and asks me if I can sell him a handgun. I said, "Nope. Call the police." That was about 15 years ago and haven't heard from him since.

A 501 in BG-42 would be really nice, Joe.
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Dave Fortman

~Buck Collectors Club~
~Lifetime Member #736~
 
Dave,
Now PLEASE don't tell me that request for a 501 in bg-42 is part of your signature? Has it really been that long?
wink.gif
 
Not yet, but it could be.
smile.gif


Heck, the 501 is my second favorite knife.
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Dave Fortman

~Buck Collectors Club~
~Lifetime Member #736~

[This message has been edited by Warhawk (edited 03-27-2001).]
 
This was the first in a series of ads that have two motives. The first was to get a chuckle and the second was to introduce a valid use for carrying a knife into the psyche of a non-carrying person. The formula is to provide a real use with a ficticious use and hopefully get people to reconsider their decisions not to carry knives when involved in their favorite activities.(or everyday carry for that matter)

They will be rolling out all year and will be focused on the 4 categories of product we offer. That first was "Tactical". We have ads for Outdoors, Hunting and Everyday Carry.

It really has been fun finetuning these ads.

Love this discussion and really love the fact that an ad generated this much interest. We have invested in a new ad agency to expand our creative resources and it seems to have paid off.

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CJ Buck
Buck Knives, Inc.
AKTI Member #PR00003


 
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