Give it a ponder.
December 2, 2009 10:42 AM Subscribe
Metafilter knows that texting can be problematic (previously: "Sexting", texting while driving). The New York Times is worried about it, too. No fear! James Lipton (and his beard) are out there with this message for teenagers: Before you text, give it a ponder.
As a beard-wearing person, I can personally testify to its social disaster prevention powers.
posted by lholladay at 10:51 AM on December 2, 2009 [8 favorites]
posted by lholladay at 10:51 AM on December 2, 2009 [8 favorites]
These are brilliant! For a pompous douchebag, James Lipton has a great sense of humor about himself.
posted by JeffK at 10:51 AM on December 2, 2009
posted by JeffK at 10:51 AM on December 2, 2009
I could spread this text gossip or I could SPREAD PEANUT BUTTER ON A MUFFIN.
... I'm not sure I'm experiencing the intended effect here.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 10:52 AM on December 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
... I'm not sure I'm experiencing the intended effect here.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 10:52 AM on December 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
Next kids, Z.Z. Top!
posted by ZaneJ. at 10:53 AM on December 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by ZaneJ. at 10:53 AM on December 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
Between this and his Murder of Crows books, I feel like he'd make an excellent dinner guest. The Actor's Studio character is an elaborate hoax.
posted by queensissy at 10:53 AM on December 2, 2009
posted by queensissy at 10:53 AM on December 2, 2009
The ads are really great and the posters are even more hilarious. But I don't get why James Lipton. Isn't he more famous for probing questions than pondering?
posted by DU at 10:53 AM on December 2, 2009
posted by DU at 10:53 AM on December 2, 2009
Gotta say, the poster about "junk" made me smile. There are far worse projects out there for PSA's. Kids can irrevocably foul up there lives with impulsivity in ways that we never had to contend with.
posted by docpops at 10:54 AM on December 2, 2009
posted by docpops at 10:54 AM on December 2, 2009
More beards worth pondering: Brock Sampson, Robocop, Hellboy, Boba Fett, Black Mage, Wario, and Clint Eastwood (via)
posted by filthy light thief at 10:56 AM on December 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by filthy light thief at 10:56 AM on December 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
Personally, I think they're funny, but how many people in the target demographic actually give two craps about James Lipton?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:00 AM on December 2, 2009
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:00 AM on December 2, 2009
- But I don't get why James Lipton. Isn't he more famous for probing questions than pondering?.
I have to say, I think it's more about the hilarious visual of the transferable beard and the booming old-guy-representative-of-authority voice than anything else. Do kids even watch ITAS or know who James Lipton is?
I think the mix of actual message and silly nonsense works - they're funny little videos that encourage perspective about texts, which can seem OMGSOIMPORTANT to teenagers in the middle of a flurry of exchanges. Yeah, spreading peanut butter on a muffin would be just as good as whatever dumb thing you're about to do. Win-win-win!
posted by peachfuzz at 11:01 AM on December 2, 2009 [3 favorites]
Man, these ads fucking stole my idea about the "Thinking Moustache." I always talked about owning a moustache to put on around whenever I needed to ponder something or to make something extra classy/intellectual and just go "hmmm" as I twirl/stroke it. And yes, I own one. I demand to know which of my friends leaked this.
posted by kkokkodalk at 11:03 AM on December 2, 2009
posted by kkokkodalk at 11:03 AM on December 2, 2009
The first couple do appeal to kids' self-interest and might engage some of them once they stop wondering about the magic beard. But the last two, while funny, are just self-indulgent. (Seriously, what teenage girl really cares about the opinion of her ceramic horses, or wants anyone else to see her as someone who would?)
posted by maudlin at 11:04 AM on December 2, 2009
posted by maudlin at 11:04 AM on December 2, 2009
Carlos looks pretty good with a James Lipton beard. He should keep it.
On preview: This is one of those comments I should have given a ponder, isn't it? Oh well.
posted by rusty at 11:06 AM on December 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
On preview: This is one of those comments I should have given a ponder, isn't it? Oh well.
posted by rusty at 11:06 AM on December 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
Oh, and I forgot to link to the ad campaign's official Give it a Ponder site, complete with links to a Flickr stream, a Facebook page, a twitter stream, and a link to the Wikipedia entry on cyberbullying (all pages feature talking beard on load).
posted by peachfuzz at 11:07 AM on December 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by peachfuzz at 11:07 AM on December 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
kkokkodalk: Salvador Dali carried a cigarette case with a selection of fake mustaches in it, and would offer them to people at parties. "Mustache? Care for a mustache?"
posted by rusty at 11:08 AM on December 2, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by rusty at 11:08 AM on December 2, 2009 [4 favorites]
Just so you have his ten questions for the next time you text:
1. What is your favorite word?
2. What is your least favorite word?
3. What turns you on?
4. What turns you off?
5. What sound or noise do you love?
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
7. What is your favorite curse word?
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
9. What profession would you not like to do?
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 11:09 AM on December 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
1. What is your favorite word?
2. What is your least favorite word?
3. What turns you on?
4. What turns you off?
5. What sound or noise do you love?
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
7. What is your favorite curse word?
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
9. What profession would you not like to do?
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 11:09 AM on December 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
Seriously, what teenage girl really cares about the opinion of her ceramic horses, or wants anyone else to see her as someone who would?
I don't think that's supposed to be a serious reason. It's just a little joke to get you to listen to the message about pondering before texting.
posted by DU at 11:10 AM on December 2, 2009
I don't think that's supposed to be a serious reason. It's just a little joke to get you to listen to the message about pondering before texting.
posted by DU at 11:10 AM on December 2, 2009
Several kids wore beards in his stage production of New Warden.
Guy is years ahead of his time.
posted by WolfDaddy at 11:10 AM on December 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
Guy is years ahead of his time.
posted by WolfDaddy at 11:10 AM on December 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
Yeah, DU, I get that it's a joke, but I think the kids have to buy in that the person on the screen is a plausible and better version of them. The girl in the first commercial deciding to avoid a catfight? Admirable. The girl dorkily cataloguing her ceramic figurines? Not cool and embarrassing.
The horse ad might still work with some girls, but the first one will reach more, I think.
posted by maudlin at 11:17 AM on December 2, 2009
The horse ad might still work with some girls, but the first one will reach more, I think.
posted by maudlin at 11:17 AM on December 2, 2009
Kids love James Lipton almost as much as they love rap and Klingons. Good move!
posted by mccarty.tim at 11:19 AM on December 2, 2009
posted by mccarty.tim at 11:19 AM on December 2, 2009
...the kids have to buy in that the person on the screen is a plausible and better version of them.
They do? If anything, I thought the first one was too serious. Avoid spreading rumors because it might upset people? THANKS MOM. Avoiding it because it might upset ceramic unicorns? LOL UR RITE.
posted by DU at 11:19 AM on December 2, 2009
They do? If anything, I thought the first one was too serious. Avoid spreading rumors because it might upset people? THANKS MOM. Avoiding it because it might upset ceramic unicorns? LOL UR RITE.
posted by DU at 11:19 AM on December 2, 2009
Anything with LIVE CATFIGHT SOUND EFFECTS is not too serious.
Anyway, I will now play the "I've been a teenage girl and you haven't" card. Mwah-HA!
posted by maudlin at 11:22 AM on December 2, 2009
Anyway, I will now play the "I've been a teenage girl and you haven't" card. Mwah-HA!
posted by maudlin at 11:22 AM on December 2, 2009
I will now play the "I've been a teenage girl and you haven't" card
Is that ad supposed to appeal to teenage girls? *I* found that one effective and I am not a teenage girl.
posted by DU at 11:24 AM on December 2, 2009
Is that ad supposed to appeal to teenage girls? *I* found that one effective and I am not a teenage girl.
posted by DU at 11:24 AM on December 2, 2009
I hated Lipton until I saw his interview with Dave Chappel. He is actually a pretty cool dude. Yeah, he might come across as full of himself, but he's definitely got a good sense of humor about his persona.
posted by solipsophistocracy at 11:53 AM on December 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by solipsophistocracy at 11:53 AM on December 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
It's already too late for most of the teens today.
Yes, we can give up on Generation Sext
posted by Elmore at 11:56 AM on December 2, 2009
Yes, we can give up on Generation Sext
posted by Elmore at 11:56 AM on December 2, 2009
Not a teenager, but WANT beard now so I can ponder with appropriate chin hair stroking.
posted by bearwife at 12:34 PM on December 2, 2009
posted by bearwife at 12:34 PM on December 2, 2009
can you imagine if james lipton was in the bathroom with you
posted by Potomac Avenue at 1:02 PM on December 2, 2009
posted by Potomac Avenue at 1:02 PM on December 2, 2009
Not a teenager, but WANT beard now so I can ponder with appropriate chin hair stroking.
I want to ponder stroking Lipton's beard inappropriately.
posted by njbradburn at 1:17 PM on December 2, 2009
I want to ponder stroking Lipton's beard inappropriately.
posted by njbradburn at 1:17 PM on December 2, 2009
Kids might (tangentially) know who James Lipton is if they saw Will Ferrell portraying him on SNL. Honestly that is most of how I'm aware of him.
Anyway, these are delightful, although I am sure I am not the only one who sees the facial hair swappage and thinks of that old Monty Python skit.
posted by Monster_Zero at 1:19 PM on December 2, 2009
Anyway, these are delightful, although I am sure I am not the only one who sees the facial hair swappage and thinks of that old Monty Python skit.
posted by Monster_Zero at 1:19 PM on December 2, 2009
May I never be texted by James Lipton.
May I never be sexted by James Lipton.
posted by duncan42 at 2:02 PM on December 2, 2009
May I never be sexted by James Lipton.
posted by duncan42 at 2:02 PM on December 2, 2009
James Lipton earned my respect after he wrote his own rap on Da Ali G Show.
posted by joedan at 2:40 PM on December 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by joedan at 2:40 PM on December 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
THere is nothing whatsoever wrong with these, and quite a lot right. Yay sense of humor about oneself!
posted by davejay at 3:11 PM on December 2, 2009
posted by davejay at 3:11 PM on December 2, 2009
That one about Carlos goes way beyond texting. Know compassion even for those who wrong you, for they too are suffering. Also, nuts are delicious. So true. I'm going to save it and show it to my children when they turn 20. And they will say "You mean you had to text with your hands? That's like a baby's toy!"
posted by No-sword at 8:08 PM on December 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by No-sword at 8:08 PM on December 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
can you imagine if james lipton was in the bathroom with you
I don't have to imagine. I've got a James Lipton's mouth toilet seat.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 8:16 PM on December 2, 2009
I don't have to imagine. I've got a James Lipton's mouth toilet seat.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 8:16 PM on December 2, 2009
Kids probably don't know who James Lipton is, but we do. Using him buys the campaign instant exposure to the literati crowd that runs the media. Leading to ... killer numbers for all demos. See above.
posted by intermod at 8:19 PM on December 2, 2009
posted by intermod at 8:19 PM on December 2, 2009
can you imagine if james lipton was in the bathroom with you
Dude, don't ask what moves me, I'm the one busy doin' the movin'.
posted by solipsophistocracy at 8:57 PM on December 2, 2009
Dude, don't ask what moves me, I'm the one busy doin' the movin'.
posted by solipsophistocracy at 8:57 PM on December 2, 2009
I've got a James Lipton's mouth toilet seat.
With or without beard?
posted by chrismear at 5:56 AM on December 3, 2009
With or without beard?
posted by chrismear at 5:56 AM on December 3, 2009
Lipton actually looks his age sans beard.
These are awesome.
posted by djduckie at 6:21 AM on December 3, 2009
These are awesome.
posted by djduckie at 6:21 AM on December 3, 2009
LG's next campaign should be to impose a Lipton beard over any detected nude bits on teen's sext pixts.
posted by Juicy Avenger at 11:19 AM on December 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Juicy Avenger at 11:19 AM on December 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
Loved them. But then, Princess Clippy Clippy Clip Clop said that I would.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 4:19 PM on December 3, 2009
posted by grapefruitmoon at 4:19 PM on December 3, 2009
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