Screeching Antilock Brakes
The latest zaniness in television advertisements comes from car
manufacturers. Volkswagen and others have been running ads touting
the antilock braking system (ABS) in their cars. In a representative
spot, a couple realizes that they have accidentally returned a risque
home video. The driver slams on the brakes. The car comes to a
screeching halt, and the screen cuts to the text Antilock
Brakes.
Wait a minute, the car's antilock brakes bring the car to a
screeching halt? I thought the point of the ABS was to
prevent the tires from locking up, hence keeping the tires rolling and
preventing rubber-burning stops. How could marketers go so wrong,
highlighting a feature by mixing in the exact audio effect eliminated
by that feature?
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