Nike, Nike, Nike...

LINK

I had to write about this piece - it caused me to burst out laughing in a public library. So after hushing myself and dodging the librarian's glares, here we are.

How many of us have seen commercials where we not only could not tell what message the commercial was trying to send us, we couldn't even tell what company was being advertised? I saw an ad this very morning that consisted of a group of animated gas cans trying to catch a train - I have not the faintest clue what they were trying to sell me. Nike is particularly bad at this - which is why it is incredibly hilarious to see them so accurately lampooned for it. By far the most entertaining line of the piece is when we we hear the CEO of Nike explain that it's not just about selling shoes.

It has serious point however - far too many companies are moving away from providing any information about themselves or their products in favor of promoting their brand. Witness McDonald's "I'm lovin' it" campaign - no information on what food products they sell or why they are superior to their competitors at all, just simple logo and brand promotion. By simply taking this idea to its illogical extreme, The Onion points out that the primary focus of any company should be to make a profit - not "Make It Happen, Children Of the Earth—Find The Courage To Go Out And Make The Most Out Of Life."