I want to say something about a Volkswagen commercial

[ThomWV]

There is a commercial playing on television which advertises some model of Volkswagen. In the commercial a number of pairs of actors and actresses are set indifferent scenes and as automobile traffic passes by one of them hauls off and knocks the living shit out the other while saying something perfectly inane, like "black one". This is done to mark the event of a volkswagen passing by.

Do the people of Germany think we are such imbecilic juveniles that we go around hitting each other like a bunch of fucking two-year-olds? Is this the image the germans have of us, that we are such a bunch of barbaric bastards that beating on each other is as normal as a breath of fresh air.

I find the commercial offensive as a son of a bitch, it makes me made as hell every time I see it. Just wanted to share that with you.

On Edit: I also wanted to say, that just because of this commercial I will never, and I mean absolutely never, buy any vehicle Volkswagen makes again - and I have in the past, several times. This just really fried my ass.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Christ.

[Javaman]

32. wrong spot nt

[Missy Vixen]

70. I think hell just froze over

I agree with you.

Christ.

[spanone]

2. i think they're pretty funny, especially the one with stevie wonder

[JerseygirlCT]

26. That's a riot

Love that one.

[redqueen]

3. Wow... really?

I am fairly certain that they know it's a kid thing... the commercial is just taking advantage of the game to make a memorable commercial.

I'm flummoxed that you are actually offended by it.

[DevonRex]

14. We used to do that a long time ago, when all the freaks drove either bugs or VW vans.

Mostly with flowers painted all over them. I kinda like the stroll down memory lane.

[dionysus]

52. we played punchbuggy as a kid, i never thought it could be turned into a pamper filling outrage.

:rofl:

[Warren DeMontague]

53. This is DU.

Just about anything can be an excuse for one of those.

[DevonRex]

56. Cornflake Chicken! Cornflake Chicken!

:rofl:

[Bunny]

54. Punchbuggy punch! No punch back!

I'd never heard of this until my kids picked it up at school. :D

[dannward]

93. We still bop each other over out-of-state license plates

As kids, my sisters and I played a variant long-drive game, focused on out-of-state license plates. Trips to Disneyland were a festival of shoulder-punches, as the parking lot there always had a high concentration of non-California cars.

Just out of college, I visited Germany and the Czech Republic with three of my older sisters. Walking through Prague, I whacked my sister on the shoulder and shouted "Oregon!" when I spotted a car with said plates. We all laughed that we probably wouldn't have noticed a California plate, even in Prague.

Even now at 40+, my wife and I play it with our 8-year-old.

[tallahasseedem]

153. Holy Moly dannward!

3 posts in 6 years? It's nice to have you out and posting! :D

[DevonRex]

55. It's torture, doncha know?

:rofl:

[dionysus]

62. i'm gonnabuy stock in pampers and retire early.

[DevonRex]

63. That's a helluva lot better than my sister who's stocking ammo

and MREs for the coming civil war. :silly:

[dionysus]

132. CRUISE MISSLES!!11!!! trump a hillbilly armory ;)

:hi:

just draw them out of the bunker with a trail of lattes, then blammo!

[obxhead]

100. +1

goes along the lines of ... and NOW you get pissed off!

Change the channel, boycott the channels that play it, hell throw the TV out the window. Or maybe just go find a real issue to worry about :D

[geardaddy]

183. We did too, except we called it SlugBug.

[redqueen]

64. Yeah, we played slug-bug too...

I kinda liked the commercials for reminding me of the game. :shrug:

[DevonRex]

73. I do, too. Makes me feel kinda like a kid again.

So, on Mother's Day I'm gonna play slug-bug, have that cheesecake IHOP thing for breakfast and that KFC chicken-bacon thing for dinner. :rofl:

Okay, not really, but I'm tempted to do it just because, well, just because...

[redqueen]

78. Cheesecake IHOP thing?

I need to do a search, cause I missed that one.

[DevonRex]

81. Just for you:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8233304&mesg_id=8233304

[Mojeoux]

172. I guess the company didn't want to use the "Slug-a-bug" term.

When my kids were little, I had to cut out the obligatory punch.
We played for points.
We played 2 points for a regular VW.
"Farfignugens" (sp?) were 1 point but a classic old VW van was 2.
1 more point if it was an out of state plate
and another 1 point if it was a personalized plate
and 2 extra points if it was really decorated.

So you could score a possible 6 on one car.

[Xithras]

155. Long time ago? I just played it with my kids this morning!

Prius pinch. Bruiser cruiser (PT Cruiser). Slug bug. Popeye (cars with headlights out). Subie Sock (Subaru). These are roadtrip staples for anyone with kids.

If you really want to have fun, try White Truck Whack (whack the person next to you whenever you see a white truck). There are so many of the damned things that everyone will be sore in minutes, and the only rule is that you have to pronounce all of the syllables in the call correctly.

[Cresent City Kid]

165. Want to freak someone out?

If they punch you for a VW while you're driving, head for the nearest VW dealer and have a free for all.

[Warren DeMontague]

4. People still watch commercials?

Wow.

[Mika]

43. Electronic boxes made in China to the rescue.

---

[Warren DeMontague]

51. Yeah.

Actually.

[freeplessinseattle]

176. yeah, poor people like me who have other financial priorities n/t

[Kookaburra]

5. It's a stupid commercial

We used to play a car spotting game when we were kids that included hitting each other on the arm and yelling "slug bug" whenever we saw a VW beetle. It was a stupid game, but we were kids...

[conscious evolution]

9. we called it punch buggy

[madinmaryland]

13. Heh!! Same here. See post #11.

[MrMickeysMom]

67. Oh, you mean PUNCH BUG!

"punch buggy, no pay-backs!"

Jesus, I still see adults play this when we drive our bug by!

[Art_from_Ark]

173. We did "slug bug" for Volkswagens,

"bedback" for station wagons, and "horsehair" for Mustangs. It was a stupid game, and I was glad when that little craze ended.

[tallahasseedem]

6. OMG...

*facepalm*

[snooper2]

7. Thank you Thank you THANK YOU!!!!

I can now officially say I've seen it all on DU

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[tallahasseedem]

10. Word.

LOL!

[Ikonoklast]

8. !

[madinmaryland]

11. My wife and daughter play that game. Call it "punch buggy". Except the punch

is about the strength of a fist bump. Just a silly kids game.

Lighten up! There are far more serious things to worry about!

[librechik]

12. I have always hated slug-a-bug, for at least 20 years. And i hate that commercial

my husband and i are both tired of seeing TORTURE of some kind being presented as humor in commercials.
Not to mention series television.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

Are you one of those people who protest dodge ball?

Just curious.

[librechik]

27. Absolutely. And I'm a weak little grandma, too.

And I'm not kidding about torture scenes, and I'm entitled to hate it and you're entitled to call me a douche, I suppose. Hope I didn't hurt your feelings.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

30. You might not be kidding. But it's still a good joke.

Did you hurt my feelings? No.

You make me laugh.

[Hello_Kitty]

229. He's a bully. eom

[CBR]

18. Torture?!? Good grief. nt

[DevonRex]

20. Um. Sarcasm tag?

:shrug:

[librechik]

29. sorry, yes, it's torture, IMO.

so try not to hurt me with your mockery.

[Dreamer Tatum]

37. So is, like, a pillowfight a nuclear event, then? nt

[frylock]

38. reading your post was torturous..

serial wtf?!

[DevonRex]

42. Okay. I'll just tease you a little bit.

:)

[Shell Beau]

24. Torture? Really? I guess my husband and I torture one another

because we still get a kick out of that game.

People really need to ligthen up. Good God.

[tallahasseedem]

36. Gotcha.

VW commercial = Waterboarding...at least you have the option of changing the channel.

[fishwax]

47. torture?

you really think that ad shows torture? How so?

[NeedleCast]

202. Your definition of torture varies greatly from reality.

[aikoaiko]

15. It touches upon the game of my youth punch buggy

where you punched your friend when a VW beetle went by.

I find the commercial nostalgic.

[Shell Beau]

16. My husband and I still play that game. Bonus points if it is a

convertable or an antique!! Lighten up!

[Warren DeMontague]

17. If we just used seashells instead of money, this wouldn't be a problem. nt

[DevonRex]

23. I thought it was chickens now.

Or is it zuchini? :shrug:

[dixiegrrrrl]

46. Not unless you are happy to see me.

:rofl: :rofl:

[DevonRex]

49. .

:rofl:

[Rex]

19. It is sadly called Slug Bug...I wish I was joking but no

OTOH no one played it with me, because if they did I'd hit them back as hard as I could.

[Shell Beau]

22. We called it Punch Bug

[DemoTex]

21. Well, un-pimp my ride!

Best auto ads ever (from VeeDub):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv157ZIInUk&playnext_from=TL&videos=UgVl_d0trbM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCIF6JF1O5U&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I0WfnhVs2s&feature=channel

[JerseygirlCT]

25. I think they're funny

and that your idea of knocking the living shit out of someone is very different from mine.

We do it all the time now - my younger son gets a big kick out of it.

And yes, we also drive VWs. They've been good cars, and they also offer excellent service.

[Dreamer Tatum]

28. It's called FUN. If you don't have any of your own, ask someone to lend you some

Just for kicks: what makes you think the commercial was conceived in Germany, by Germans?

I pity you, brother. A silly commercial shouldn't get you riled up.

[sharp_stick]

31. You've never played Punch Buggy?

Damn, that's kind of sad.

[Javaman]

33. Sir, have you no sense of humor? nt

[WilliamPitt]

34. Punch Buggy rules

[ShortnFiery]

48. Not among brothers. Some of my older brothers' slug fests required dental work and stitches.

Lord help the punch buggy game when you add BEER to the mix. :crazy:

[shedevil69taz]

88. Your brothers needed

an excuse to beat the crap outa each other? I figured that's just what brothers did.

[Liberal_in_LA]

35. I think you are over reacting

[T Wolf]

39. First off - we Americans ARE imbecilic juveniles. History has clearly shown that.

Second - it is just the old "punch buggy" game that everyone I know played with their kids as they were growing up.

[ShortnFiery]

40. You have a point yet it still sort of cracks me up ...

but yeah, a little over the top. It's cute when petite Elaine from Seinfeld smacks big guys and says "Get out of here" but not near as charming when big guys are smacking each other blindsided. More like an invitation for an ass-kicking? :evilgrin:

[SoCalDem]

41. In this day & age it makes no sense. Cars all look alike (profile-wise)

The era the commercial is trying to capitalize on was another thing altogether. When you saw (or heard a VW) it was an instant-recognition thing...

There was NO other vehicle around that looked like a VW bug or VW bus. they were different .

Now, until you see the damned emblem on the hood, it's hard to tell cars apart..even if they did try to resurrect the old "game"..

[joe black]

190. HHR Chevrolet

SS model is what I drive, I can assure you it does not look like any other car and with a turbo 4 banger it can kick any pre 1995 corvettes ass!

[fishwax]

44. you're kidding, right?

[Touchdown]

45. Slug Bug is an old game. I moved on to Prius Pinch!

:evilgrin:

[Iggo]

68. We play Pinche Cruiser.

B-)

[Touchdown]

89. Oh' good one! We tried Subaru Slime with wet willies...

but it got too icky.:rofl:

[Iggo]

96. Ew!

I'm gonna try that one on the kid!

:rofl:

[dionysus]

50. you're crapping yourself over a punchbuggy commercial? o m f g...

:rofl:

[Texasgal]

57. wow.

I seriously have seen it all on DU now!! :rofl:

[Bluebear]

58. We ARE imbecilic juveniles.

[Warren DeMontague]

60. Correction. Half of us are imbecilic juveniles. The other half are prune-faced finger-waggers.

I know which team I'm on.

[MrMickeysMom]

69. I was going to say the same, except that when it comes to VW's

You'll have a lot of that, won't you?

[MadHound]

59. Wow, seems as though you never had a childhood,

Or a sense of humor. Your loss.

[Odin2005]

61. Slug Bug!!! Get a sense of humor!

[MrMickeysMom]

65. any link to this?

I haven't seen it.

However, when my husband has the control in his hand, no one gets to see commercials around here.

[Iggo]

66. Slug Bug? Anyone?

Oh, come on.

[PCIntern]

71. although you've been thoroughly (and humorously) vilified here...

I sort of know what you mean...

Just remember, that VW has had many memorable commercials in the past and here you are, talking about VW with others...congratulations...you fell into the trap...and so did I! Rats!!1

[Missy Vixen]

75. I liked the Routan commercial with Brooke Shields

"Women are getting pregnant so they can buy some German engineering!"

:rofl:

[Iggo]

97. Vee Dub in the Haus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KQm8CyswjI

[myrna minx]

72. I love DU.

:D

[petronius]

74. Germans don't play slug-bug? Geez, what a backwards people they are...

:)

Except for the one where the guy punches the kid (that's in this series, right?), I think these commercials are unobjectionable and unmemorable...

[elleng]

76. Its a stupid ad.

[The Gunslinger]

77. They should know their own game

You only hit people when it is a "punch bug", a VW Beetle, not any VW.

[snooper2]

79. It's SLUG BUG damnit not punch bug...

:)

[Shell Beau]

91. That is for the people who didn't really play the game.

We punched! SLug? Please, that is a snail without a shell.:P

[Goblinmonger]

195. Slug = punch and actually rhymes with bug.

Maybe this is a regional thing like "duck, duck, goose" vs "duck, duck, grey duck"

[Shell Beau]

210. lol I know. Grey duck? That is crazy. Never heard that one.

[merh]

218. duck, duck, grey goose is a drinking game

isn't it? :shrug:

[Atman]

80. When the OP doesn't even chime in to his own thread, it smells like flamethrowing.

Just sayin. No response from ThomWV since he lobbed the grenade. Methinks he was just farting in the elevator.

.

[ThomWV]

102. Not at all, I am just stunned by the results and how many people here accept violence as fun

That so many people seem to think this is just fine, but there have been a couple of thoughfull responses, such as number 86 below, who got the point exactly.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

127. The 4channers have a name for you and post #86.

But I'm not allowed to say it on DU.

[Shell Beau]

128. Violence is not fine, but kidding around and wrestling around

for fun is different. Did you have siblings growing up?

[merh]

219. We don't punch each other

We call it "punch bug" and points are awarded if you are the first one who sights the volkswagen beetle and calls it "punch bug". Other VW's don't count. You also can call a cruiser (cruising bruiser), or an HHR, the "toasters" (square cars like the cube or the Scion), but no punching or pinching or harm is involved. It is about keeping the kids looking out the windows and focused on things outside when taking long drives (so they don't get car sick and throw up all over the blessed place).

As kids we would punch/slug/pop one another if we were the first to see a car with only one working headlight (Popeye, popeye, not included).

It is called good, simple fun and the commercials are just trying to capitalize on that nostalgia - you need to get a sense of humor or learn to change the channel when you see things that upset you.


FWIW, I loved dodge ball, red rover, playing tag, dodging cuddies and all sorts of silly children games. They are only harmful if not properly supervised and if mean spiritedness is encouraged or allowed.

[Bluebear]

82. NO comments for the people who answered or is your ass still "frying"?

[DevonRex]

85. .

:rofl:

[mdmc]

83. trust me Americans are just that stupid..

[theophilus]

84. Hey, you forgot your sarcasm tag or whatever. If you are so upset, really,

about these cute commercials...I think you should do a little growing up. Lighten up for goodness sakes. (I'll bet you are joking, though.)

[TexasObserver]

86. It's an annoying commercial on every level.

First, it is socially lacking. Encouraging people to hit one another is stupid and irresponsible. Two guys in a bucket going to work on a power line, and one hits the other? Stupid.

Second, it is trite. Many decades ago, a few kids used to punch each other when they saw a VW bug, back when that was the strange new foreign car. Big deal. It was dumb then, and it is dumb now.

Third, appealing to silliness to sell cars is pretty stupid in today's environment.

It is one of the worst ad campaigns in recent years, for any product.

[ThomWV]

104. You got the point exactly, and it is surprising how many people accept violence

By almost any standard I have led a violent life and so I was astonished how many people seem to think this is not only common, its actually somehow a fun or funny thing. I don't think there is anything at all funny about a commercial that promotes violence or one that depicts the people of this country as slap-happy idiots.

[TexasObserver]

109. That applies to women punching or hitting men in commercials, too.

Using a punch to communicate displeasure is anti social, and should not be favored in advertising or comedy. The drink thrown in the face or the slap for some indignity are both out of place in today's world. Those are assaults, and they can get one arrested.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

111. The worst are those anti-semitic ones from the thirties.

The ones where three jews are beaten senselessly.

A person would have to be a nazi to enjoy that kind of thing.

[piratefish08]

87. you never played 'punch buggy' as a kid??

i actually found the commercial funny and nostalgic.

[Touchdown]

90. Ever do "Cadillac!!! Gotcha Back!"

Surprises those who never heard of it.

[Bluebear]

95. Ever have a Hertz Donut?

(punch) Hurts, don't it?

It's all coming back to me.

[ThomWV]

105. Nope, if someone slaps me I'm not waiting for a Cadillac, I'm gona drop that asshat in his tracks

Someone slaps me like that I'm gonna knock that fucking idiot out, right there and then,

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

110. So you're saying you're an irrational, humorless, partypooper.

Color me surprised!

[Debi]

133. That's right! Because the best way to stop the cycle of violence

is with more violence. :thumbsup:

[Shell Beau]

145. Hypocrisy at its finest!!!!

Gotta love it! You know i hate violence so much, that a playful slap, and I'll knock you the fuck out!!

[Debi]

146. You call that torture? I'll show you torture!!

Gawd, violence pisses me off so much I just want to beat the shit out of it!!

[Shell Beau]

149. Well then how 'bout a game of punch bug?

[Debi]

161. If you Punch Bug me I'm gonna kick your ass

because I hate violence!!

[Shell Beau]

144. So, you hate violence?

Makes sense. I can really tell by that post.

[Debi]

148. I'm gonna kick violence's ass!

F U violence!!

[Shell Beau]

150. You're waaaaay too violent for me. I think I might have to beat your ass.

[Debi]

162. I'm sick of you being so violent

I'm gonna have to kick your ass for that!

[Beer Snob-50]

199. Black Punch Bug in my parking lot

smack Shell Beau in the arm!!!:D

[Soylent Brice]

203. so, violence is okay, as long as you're doing it?

serious question here, because it seems to be almost the exact opposite of the point your OP is making.

:shrug:

[NeedleCast]

207. It's funny to hear you lecture us on "violence"

Then make a post like this.

So if one of your buddies gave you a playful punch on the arm, you'd "knock that fucking idiot out."

Yeah. That's what would happen I bet...

[Atman]

152. I used to douse my fellow passengers in gasoline and light the care on fire...

...when I saw a Pinto. Ah, those were the good old days!

.

[dixiegrrrrl]

180. Ahh. so Pintos DID cause fires!

I had heard something about that, way back when.

[philly_bob]

92. Coarsening of American life. Bullying for commercial purposes. (nt)

[Iggo]

98. Slug Bug was around loooooooong before this series of commercials. (n/t)

[philly_bob]

184. When & where was Slug Bug popular? Anybody remember Pa-Diddle?

I suspect there's either age or geographic variation going on.

I never heard of the Slug Bug game, but then when I was ten years old it was 1954 & I was living in Detroit -- not a time and place where foreign cars were worthy of anything but disdain.

In the back seat, we were playing something called Pa-Diddle, whenever we passed a car with only one headlight.


Edited to add Pa-Diddle reference.

[Soylent Brice]

204. pa-diddle for front light. pa-doddle for rear light.

yes, we do that here as well.

[Tesha]

94. The ad comes from the Deutsch agency of Los Angeles, CA.

http://adage.com/adages/post?article_id=141808

[pipi_k]

99. That one doesn't bother me as much as the one

for Tums antacid, where a strand of spaghetti beats the shit out the woman trying to eat it.

It's depressing to think that people around the world might assume that we're such wimps that our food can inflict such horrible violence on us.

How can we be a World Power when we're constantly being pasta-whipped?

:cry:

[ThomWV]

101. I saw that one last night for the first time - it was indeed nauseatingly stupid

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

122. On the topic of nauseatingly stupid...

Care to comment on the comeuppance you've been receiving?

[MilesColtrane]

103. I've moved on to Chuggo Geo.

Every time you spot a Geo before your friend you get to hang a sign on his back that says, "I Can't Rap" then you make him chug an entire jar of mayonnaise.

[madinmaryland]

107. Aw. Come on Fuckin Guy!

[obxhead]

106. WAAAAAAAAAAAA!!1!!11!

[MilesColtrane]

108. An old meme, but a funny meme.

"serving whiny beothches"...haaaa

[EvolveOrConvolve]

112. I think your post is offensive

You used the term "son of a bitch", which is insensitive to men who have angry mothers. Plus, you used the term "fucking two-year-olds" - what are you saying here, subliminally?

Seriously man, lighten up - it's a play on the old game which was one of the things we did as kids before the intertubes were invented and unlimited porn became available.

[JTFrog]

177. +1000

[Kali]

113. BOOKMARKING!

for the next lounge discussion on CLASSIC DU threads!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

:patriot: :thumbsup:

[LynneSin]

114. You want my 2 cents - well you'll get it anyways

When i was a kid we use to play a game called punchbuggy. So guess what, I like the commercial. If you don't like it then change the *)#$# #)$# channel

[Kali]

115. this thread needs to be recommended by everybody!

[eShirl]

116. You should change your name to ThomVW

:thumbsup: :rofl:

[TK421]

117. Shouldn't there be a sarcasm tag in there?

I'm not seeing it anywhere,because this post just can't be serious...at all

[SoxFan]

118. Rock-Paper-Scissors is offensive to me

It is nothing more than a veiled attempt to perpetuate a classist male-dominant societal paradigm in which rocks (emblamatic of male warrior culture) and paper (a symbol of the mercantilist and financial hierarchy) can, in cooperation, trump scissors, which, as an implement commonly used in clothesmaking, is intractably linked to the feminine side of our culture.

Until we stop indulging children who play this game, we will never eradicate patriarchal dominance.





:sarcasm:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

121. But scissors cut paper.

The female thereby defeats the mercantilist.

[dixiegrrrrl]

181. I was wondering when someone would figure that game out.

:rofl: :rofl:

[flvegan]

119. Hitler's Car for the People?

[rug]

129. Finally. It only took 119 posts to mention Hitler.

DU is slipping.

[flvegan]

136. I do what I can.

[madinmaryland]

139. Nice post, Hitler!

[denbot]

170. Way to respond Pol Pot.

Wow, haven't used that one in a long time..
:hi:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

120. Gotta love DU

and its contingent of finger-wagging tight-assed scolds. These threads do make for fun reading, though.

:eyes:

[TZ]

124. Don't forget the snobs!

If I don't like it it's junk!!!!;)

[NNN0LHI]

123. I don't want to hijack your thread but I don't want to start another commercial thread either. So...

Are there any commercials any of you like?

I don't have any stock in this company ... actually I don't have any stock at all but I really like every single one of the Cisco Telepresence ads. I actually enjoy watching them. The ad company that thought of them must have some smart and talented people working for them.

Here is my favorite one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXVNr0H6U1Y&feature=related

[johnnie]

125. A classic thread

Ha!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

131. Yup. It's a keeper.

This should be filed under "DU Has A Brain Fart" along with other illustrious threads dealing with such earth-shattering topics as:

Pit bulls
Cornflake-breaded chicken
Douchebags
Breast-feeding
Racist penguins
The Olive Garden

[Seneca]

141. Racist penguins?

I missed that one.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

163. Another classic:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x5906664

[jmm]

151. Yeah, this is right up there with those and the Laura Branigan thread. (n/t)

[Motown_Johnny]

126. Slug A Bug!!! You don't get it???? How young are you?

[Mojambo]

130. Come on. It's a riff on Slug Bug.

And a very funny one at that.

Respectfully, I think you're reading WAY too much into this commercial.

[sufrommich]

134. Slug Bug. nt

[lib2DaBone]

135. I saw the commercial too.. I thought it was very annoying...

... I don't think it is evil.. just obnoxious like many of the commercials on TV...

The first one that comes to mind is the Sponge Mop that falls in love with the bowling ball... or the one where the lady in high heels is disco dancing in the dairy aisle with the tub of Margerine, while the music plays.. "turn the tub around..."

Is anyone sick of "Flo" the insurance lady yet?...

[saltpoint]

137. Best to unplug the tube for extended periods and go with the

idea of practical function.

On that count, VWs have made good for many years, IMO.

We've liked 'em a long time and still like 'em now.

[TreasonousBastard]

158. Unplug the tube? All the more time for posting lame complaints.

[saltpoint]

159. But right now it's lilac season, and there's just no good

reason to miss them.

Intoxicating scent.

[begin_within]

138. But we ARE imbecilic juveniles and barbaric bastards.

[alphafemale]

140. I, on the other hand, have just learned there is such a thing as Adult Dodgeball Leagues

I would join one in an instant.

And "Punchbuggy" was fun too.

:woohoo:

[RoyGBiv]

142. Just for you ...

And, no, it's not the commercial ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uTjhpa4jxE

[Seneca]

143. How about larceny in kids' cereal ads?

Thieving little leprechauns, rabbits, and toucans. Gets my blood up every time! :grr:

[neverforget]

154. !

:rofl:

[TK421]

208. The trix rabbit is the worst one n/t

[LeftyMom]

147. Please don't have kids. Ten minutes with a carload of little boys and you'd die of shock.

:eyes:

[Kickin_Donkey]

156. Slug bug. D'oh.

Get a life.

[Skip Intro]

157. The only question I have is: how many times can DU jump the shark. nt

[mzteris]

160. I think they're moronic and juvenile

and promotes kids (and immature "adults" ) hitting each other.

yeah, I know.

It's Just a commercial.

It's FUNNY.

blah blah blah...

If you've ever been around a bunch of kids, then you know they COPY commercials. So what happens when one of those kids clocks another kid for seeing a stupid CAR - and really hurts the other one. Is the first a bully?

Or if a bully does the hitting - does he use the "VW" as his oh-so-convenient excuse?

When I was a kid, we played the game assigning point values to particular types and colors and adding them up - the first to 500 won. Powers of observation, plus practicing mental math. A MUCH better game, imo. Instead of "WHAP!" WAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! "SMACK" "MOM, she hit me." WAP! I think I have a bloody nose or a black eye or . . .

kids will be kids. . . let's not promote kids being sadistic little bastards who take joy and glee in hitting other people.

Flame away. . .

[Shell Beau]

164. What about pillow fights? Bad idea too?

I get violence being bad. It is bad. Nothing good there. But punch slug bug, whatever you want to call it, is a game. A silly game. Is hitting involved? Yes. But in a playful manner. I remember when I used to flirt with guys, I'd hit them playfully. My brothers and I always wrestled playfully. Was it violent? No. Did it promote violence? No.

Beating someone and playfully fighting are totally different things. If you've never experienced it, then I guess you wouldn't understand. But people really need to lighten up. It is a game. You don't have to play. But it is fun to play.

[mzteris]

211. the problem is

that while your - and evidently most on here - experience was "playful" and "fun" - I'm here to tell you that not all kids can and do "play" this "game" this way.

An excuse to PUNCH someone - to SLUG them. Not a playful little shove thing, but a good hard right jab to whatever available body part they can reach.

I truly believe it sends mixed messages. We tell kids "DON"T HIT!" We punish them for hitting. We suspend students for hitting - yet then turn around and say, "Oh wait, if you're playing THIS game, hitting's okay. Oh, and make sure it's just the right kind of hitting. Not too hard. . . " Fine and dandy if you have kids who understand and respond to that. Not so fine if you've got a kid with some type of issue that leads to inadvertent or deliberate "misunderstandings" of how the game works...

How many abused kids have you been around? How many kids from an environment that didn't teach the subtle differences/rules of this "game? How many kids who couldn't understand them, if you DID try and teach them?

[Kali]

167. I think you have a cause and effect error there.

Kids have been and will continue to do this. It is a riff on the old old old game, not anything "new" that kids will copy - they are already doing it.

[mzteris]

212. So we promote hitting?

What kind of mixed message is that?

Yeah kids hit, they're usually punished for it. See my response to shell...

typo

[Silent3]

166. I'm kind of curious how hard people hit each other for this

I never played the game myself, not that I remember at least, although I was vaguely aware of the game.

If it's not much more than a tap, no biggie. If people are actually trying to bruise each other, that's moving into stupid territory.

[LeftyMom]

168. Do you mean people people or teenage boy people?

[blogslut]

198. As I recall

It wasn't so much the force of the blow, but how it was applied. One made a fist with one finger knuckle protruded and gave their co-player a quick bap while yelling "slug-bug!". That raised knuckle left a nasty mark.

We played the non-hitting version one or twice but on road trips but it wasn't much of a thing for us.

[cynatnite]

169. Wow...now, I don't want to play this game with my son anymore. n/t

[EFerrari]

171. In 1973, VW had a commercial that compared a bug to a chair.

"The Bug has four tires and two doors. The chair does not."

lol

[Morning Dew]

174. Dear Advertisers,

Dear Advertisers, I am disgusted with the way old people are depicted on television. We are not all vibrant, fun loving sex maniacs. Many of us are bitter, resentful individuals who remember the good old days when entertainment was bland and inoffensive. The following is a list of words I never want to hear on television again. Number one: bra. Number two: horny. Number three: family jewels.

[LynneSin]

192. There are too many states nowadays. Please eliminate three. P.S. I am not a crackpot

:D

[Morning Dew]

206. yep

:)

[miyazaki]

175. Many car ads are vagrant displays of reckless driving,

from all manufacturers. maybe you should find this offensive.

[DailyGrind51]

178. Americans are simple-minded oafs, like Homer Simpson and "W".

[snooper2]

179. This thread turned into greatness! But needs pictures

lots of enjoyment thanks all!





Slug Bug Bear?



Slug Bug Cake



Slug Bug Game?













slugbug :P

[JackRiddler]

182. I guarantee you "the people of Germany" have nothing to do with this advertisement...

The ad firm for VW appears to be MDC or its subsidiary Crispin Porter Bogusky - American firms. At most a German executive signs off on a proposal.

[kentuck]

185. Next to the moron that yells, "Wow! What a low price!!!!!!"

the VW commercial comes in second. But I agree, it is a silly commercial

[TwilightGardener]

186. OK--I love that commercial: "WOW! THAT'S A LOW PRICE!!" "I KNOW!!"

Don't know why, it cracks me up.

[AngryOldDem]

187. I think the commercial is pointless and stupid.

I won't waste my time on any more in-depth analysis than that.

If I got pissed at every moronic ad I see, I'd be dead of a stroke. Just chill.

ON EDIT: But I did learn something from this. The game that's being played is called "punch buggy." Never would have known.

[TwilightGardener]

188. I like the ad. Maybe you have to have siblings to appreciate that sort of thing.

[demodonkey]

189. I never heard of Punchbuggy growing up and I think it's a dumb commercial too.

Sorry, maybe it's a regional thing (I am in Western PA, OP is in WV) but I NEVER heard of this so-called childhood game. Punchbuggy?

I thought Volkswagen must have lost their minds showing this; it made absolutely NO sense at all. None. At first it looked like crazy borderline assault. A total WTF. Took me three or four versions of the commercial to even begin to figure out why the hell these people are hitting the car salesman and others. Again, maybe it is regional or cultural but I never heard of such a "game".

That said I probably wouldn't avoid buying a VW because of it; if I could buy ANY car my choice would be on price and value, not commercials.

But sadly I can't even afford to get my 16 year-old Subaru fixed right now. I pray it keeps going because the car needs a lot of repairs and I can't afford them.

Brown one.

[Blue-Jay]

191. .

[The2ndWheel]

193. Damn, people sure are different

It's just punch-buggy.

[Goblinmonger]

194. I don't give a rat's ass if the Germans know about slugbug

It's a part of our culture and it's a funny commercial.

I think you need to calm down a little, Francis.

[skygazer]

196. You should lobby to have your state's name changed

After all, the two-letter abbreviation is "VW" backwards!

I heart this thread. :loveya:

[yodoobo]

197. I'm pretty sure it was a joke

not a call to arms.

[SidDithers]

200. Best. Thread. Ever...nt

Sid

[Soylent Brice]

201. ...today...

LOL

:popcorn:

[tranche]

205. Just wait until their new ad, "Donkey Punch" comes out.

[Forkboy]

209. I ain't touching that one....

:rofl:

[mzteris]

213. "Smear the Q----"

is just a GAME!

The absolute FURY on the face of the woman I was speaking with as she said this to me. . .

Her kids were teaching the neighborhood kids this "FUN GAME" ...(forget the violence for a minute - seems yall don't care anyway about 'that') but - the NAME of the game... I was appalled. I did what I always do when a kid that isn't mine nor in my care behaves inappropriately, I had the kid tell his mom "what happened". I wasn't belligerent. I wasn't accusatory. I figured - hey, she needed to know her kid was playing "this GAME"... I mean who the hell wants their kid playing "SMEAR THE Q----"???

She got really ugly really fast. "IT"S JUST A GAME!!" she practically screamed. "They don't know what that word means (oh yeah, they most definitely did know...) Now I have to explain what THAT 'is' and I want to protect my kids from that. Didn't you ever play that? (No) It doesn't MEAN anything..."


No, right. Didn't mean anything. It was just a game. Using "q----" as an insult. As a focus for everyone to tackle and pile on and "smear" to see if you can make the "little sissy" cry...

Yep. Just a fun little game. . .

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

215. LOL

MOAR!

[mzteris]

220. so you like that game, then?

think it's fine? Think calling kids "q----" and trying to "get the sissy to cry" is a really fun kid game?

I hope you're not a parent, pron.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

224. I like your posts in this thread.

They make me laugh.

I hope you're not a parent either, mzteris. God forbid there are more.

[mzteris]

225. Proud mom

and former foster mom.

And yeah, I hope I have taught children to be kind. And to be logical. and to not think that just 'cause they don't have a problem with something, doesn't mean it's not a problem for others! (Brings to mind the immigration thing: "Hey, I'm a citizen, I got MY papers, man... too bad you ain't got yours. hahahahahahahahahahahahah...." You can't judge all experiences on your own little personal ones.)

My kids do have that reputation. They aren't mean and they will step in any time they see another kid getting bullied. They don't have to DO anything, just standing up for their friends seems to be enough to disorient most bullies, doncha think?

I'm glad you're "amused" by trying to inject a little logic in this stroll down memory lane... I'm reallly glad all the people on here have "fond memories" of punching and being punched - lightly and in fun - but you and they - need to know that not all kids can and do play like this.

SOME kids, no matter how "lightly" you punch them, will perceive this in a very negative way - as being PUNCHED. as being Bullied. as being HIT and HURT. they live with being punched nearly daily in their home lives with sadistic asshole parents who think nothing of punching them in the face at the least transgression. I can just "see" some drunk dad hauling off and PUNCHBUGSLUG whatever his kid and laughing insanely when the kid starts bawling.

that SOME kids want to punch others - and hard - and will use this "game" as an excuse to do so.

As for this other "game" - wow - maybe I should post it in the GLBT forum and see what they think of it, eh?

I find it telling that no one has endorsed playing it in here (except you of course, but your O.D.D. behaviour ensures your predictable responses.)

Of course, even though I find some of your posts amusing on occasion, and I even (!)gasp(!) agree with you on even more rare ones, I think everyone on DU knows that bullying behaviour is something you not only endorse, but enjoy.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

226. That's a shame.

Well, luckily there are some responsible adults around.

"I think everyone on DU knows that bullying behaviour is something you not only endorse, but enjoy."

I think that everyone on DU knows that your idea of "bullying" is absurd.

I mean, just look at these responses.

:rofl:

[mzteris]

227. scary, isn't it?

My idea of "bullying" came from understanding what bullying IS . . .

Again, I'm glad that in their little worlds these "games" are fun and all, but yeah - I'm here to remind them - that not all kids grow up in that "nice little world"... and, as adults, we should want to protect ALL kids.

These people will be among the first screaming LAWSUIT when their kid comes home with a blackeye from some kid in their school who punched him when he saw a stupid car. (teeheehee) and everyone will be saying , "it was just a GAME!"

I'm glad you find abusive behaviour sooooooooooo amusing. Not that I'm surprised in the least.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

228. You are yourself a bully.

You're a scold. That's a type of bully.

So see other people having fun. You don't like it. You have to put a stop to it. You'll escalate things with phony accusations of homophobia to get your way.

You don't know what bullying is.

[mzteris]

230. Nope.

I'm a mom.

Sorry, correcting bad behaviour - no matter how much "fun" you're having - is what a real parent is supposed to do. (running with scissors is fun!!! woooo....)

You can have all the "fun" you want. Just don't use, abuse, take advantage of, make fun of, hurt, or denigrate other people.

It's not a phony accusation. That's a real "game" - that was a real event in my neighborhood. Evidently "lots of kids" play it.

Believe me, I KNOW what bullying is. And I have always stood up against it. Always.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

231. The two are not mutually exclusive.

Obviously.

[mzteris]

232. The fact that you

don't know the difference is - er - telling...

I'm a very good mom and I have great kids to prove it. . .

I don't want nor need your approval nor validation. c'ya...

(pssssssst......... i let you have the last word, okay? I know it's important to you. :rofl:)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

233. I don't think you're a good mom at all.

As evidence by your statements on this thread and others.

If you're teaching your kids this crap, good luck to them. They'll need it.

[mzteris]

234. ok - now you've touched a nerve!

Teaching my kids "this crap"

To be kind. To not hit. To not bully. To stand up for others who are being bullied.

To respect others - and themselves.

To never, EVER, take advantage of other people. To never USE other people.

Yeah, "such crap"... I can see where it would be crap in your worldview...

I'ma thinking you wouldn't know a "good mom" if she "punched you" upside the head.... or then again maybe that's the problem.

[Shell Beau]

236. He's not worth it!

:pals:

[Swede]

214. Another epic post brought to you by gold spray paint.

[Throd]

216. Whenever I see a Yugo I stab someone.

[Burma Jones]

217. My Kids used to do that.....it was fun, until someone lost an eye

I also sincerely believe the commercial was created by Americans....For Americans......

Why do you hate America?

[BoneDaddy]

221. Sigh

and why respond? others have responded more eloquently than I. but my two cents are : get a fucking life

[Beringia]

222. thanks for posting

I am trying to get my post count up to 50. Thanks for your post.

[Stevenmarc]

223. Yawn

[jillan]

235. i HATE that commercial. Why are they hitting people? It's insane.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

237. *sigh* If you go back and read the six brazillion posts that preceded yours,

you will learn that the ad is based on a kids' game that goes back at least 40 years that most of us assumed everybody on Earth knew about called "Slug Bug," or, alternatively, "Punch Bug." If you see a VW bug you get to hit your buddy or sibling in the arm. We also did this when we saw cars with a headlight out, it was called "Padiddle!" It's a dumb kids' game. That's the point.

[slutticus]

238. ...

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:


:crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: