Print ad by bankrate.com

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread

I caught this ad in the 9/20/99 issue of Newsweek. It shows a 3/4 page picture of a naked guy in the shower, rinsing his hair, eyes closed, mouth open, arms raised, with the following caption superimposed on his body: "1% of sewage treatment plants still aren't Y2k compliant."

Below the photo is the following: "Every percent counts." Followed by the bankrate.com logo. Lastly, in fine print at the bottom: "Get the straight you-know-what on mortgage rates, car loans, credit cards, CDs and much more. Purely independent and ready for consumption."

Hmmmmmm. Bankers using scare tactics in advertising?! Why hasn't the sewage industry protested this ad?! Are bankers latently homosexual?! Are they trying to be humorous or grotesque (or both)?!

So many questions. So little time.

Anyone else see the ad?

-- counting down (the@days.now), November 25, 1999

Answers

Bankrate.com ( Link ) doesn't seem to be tied to any specific bank or group of banks. The creator (intelligentlife.com) seems to be more a reporting group for rates and the like. I'm sure they didn't make any friends in the industry with that ad. On their Y2k page, they DO mention "animals that get in the wrong place" (AKA "fried squirrels") as a source for electrical problems. The Squirrel King's message seems to be getting through.

-- I'm Here, I'm There (I'm Everywhere@so.beware), November 25, 1999.

P.S. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like they put the ad on their site. Pity.

-- I'm Here, I'm There (I'm Everywhere@so.beware), November 25, 1999.

Wow! Cool ad!!! But is it only 1 percent? Does anyone pay attention to anything?

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), November 25, 1999.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ