Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
h a l f b a k e r y
(Serving suggestion.)

idea: add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, best, random

meta: news, help, about, links, report a problem

account: Browse anonymously, or get an account and write.

User:
Pass:

or Create a new account.


                                      Please log in.
If you're not logged in, you can see what this page looks like, but you will not be able to add anything.

Subliminal Pavement Messages
If you lived here you'd be home now...
  (+1)
(+1) 		  [vote for,
against]


A few years ago there was a publicity campaign for Hulme, a fairly shitty part of Manchester (think council flats and a strong smell of urine). As part of the campaign the council used billboards showing a smiling family above the caption, 'Hulme. A Great Place to Live!'

The problem is that Hulme is not really a great place to live. Last time I went there what came to mind was 'Hulme. Busy on Giro day.' As a result I expect people would just laugh at the signs and go on their merry way.

Since we couldn't make people consciously want to move to a bad area, how about trying some subliminal messages? I have a habit while walking of watching the pavement about 10 feet ahead of me, just to make sure that i don't walk in anything nasty. If we could print very faint messages on paving slabs the space could be sold to businesses or used by local councils.

Think of the effect of subtle messages such as

'Hulme. 50% reduction in crime since 1998.'

'Compton. It's not as bad as you think.'

'Smile. You're not that ugly.'

'Mmmmm... Soup.'

'Coca-Cola. Because we want our name on everything.'

sambwiches, Apr 05 2003

A sign made by KLFer Bill Drummond http://www.b3ta.com/board/999293
not exactly subliminal. [my face your, Oct 05 2004]

subliminal http://bernie.cncfa...tlefield_debunk.htm
[mrthingy, Oct 05 2004]


Short name, e.g., Bob's Coffee

Destination URL. E.g., http://www.coffee.com/

Description (displayed with the short name and URL.)







       Some assistance for USAians:
council flats = public housing
Giro day = welfare check day		   

       (I had to google up the latter one, new to me).
krelnik, Apr 05 2003
   

       Actually, the idea that subliminal messages have any effect has been debunked.
mrthingy, Apr 05 2003
   

       Actually, the (croissant) idea that subliminal (croissant) messages have any (croissant) effect has been debunked.   

       I think the point is that when people with jobs and money move into an area the area improves. If nobody moves in, house prices go down and there is a cycle of decline. Convincing people to get over their negative assumptions with a little subtle advertisement would encourage regeneration, making Hulme a 'good' area.
sambwiches, Apr 05 2003
   

       Originally, I'd thought this to tell folks to slow down - such as:
Slow down dammit, 'wax lives here.

I always wanted to repaint the town next to my hometown's entry sign "***dsay - wipe that smirk off your face", as ***dsayites walk around with smirks on their faces all the <obligatory cursing>damn time. Even if we did kick their asses</obligatory cursing> at every sport (well, most of the time).

Inexpensive... and built to stay that way.
Lower property taxes! Here! Now!
It's a buyer's market!
thumbwax, Apr 05 2003
   

       Basically, I think yoU have To take actIon if you want to make Hulme An improVEd place To live. yO.
sambwiches, Apr 05 2003
   

       These could be spelled out in dog turds,
read a letter at a time,
as you walk:		   

       T
O
N		   

       S
K
C
U
S		   

       E
M
L
U
H
FarmerJohn, Apr 05 2003
   

       Now if this was done with the cracks in the pavement/sidewalk.
sufc, Apr 05 2003
   

       I live in Hulme, mate, and I'm coming over to kick your arse! Bloody wanker...
snarfyguy, Apr 05 2003
   

       You live in Hulme? I'm safe. It'll take you weeks to save the bus fare to come out to Stalybridge ;)
sambwiches, Apr 06 2003
   

       Oh for Pete's sake can you at least wait till after tea?

   

       Savages.   

       Er, well, it's the Hulme section of New York City, so yeah, it might be a while.
snarfyguy, Apr 06 2003
   

       Someone from New York saying words like "bloody" and "wanker"? snarfyguy, have you spent quite a bit of time on our fair isle?
kmlabs, Jul 15 2003
   

       "Hulme. At least it's not Moss Side"
squeak, Jul 16 2003
   

       Also [sambwiches], if you know where Afleck's Palace is (not far from Picadilly, go right down the alley before Debenhams), there are poems in the pavement. Each stanza is separate (or is it each line?) and they are cast in metal and sunk into the concrete.
squeak, Jul 16 2003
   


 
back: main index
 business 
 computer 
 culture 
 fashion 
 food 
 halfbakery 
 home 
 other 
 product 
 public 
 science 
 sport 
 vehicle