Irresponsible TV AD- PLease Read This!!!!

[tractorfix]

I was shocked to see an ad by Wendy's Restaurants showing an old MF 135 going thru a feild with the Wendy's Lady hitching a ride by standing on the three point hitch and holding on. Here is a copy of the letter I sent them, and I urge all of you to do the same. Thanks!

I just saw a new TV ad for Wendy's. I have to say I was very alarmed by what I saw. It depicted a fellow driving a Massey-Ferguson tractor with a Woman standing on the three point hitch holding on to him. Do you have any Idea how many people(often children) are killed/maimed/crippled by riding on farm and industrial equipment. There should be no "passengers" on a tractor unless it is built for them. Equipment like that is very rare, and I can assure you the MF135 used in that ad was never intended to carry passengers. Her pant leg could become entangled in the PTO stub. I won't even describe the horrific injuries that this can cause. She could slip off and be dragged or crushed. There are also numerous sharp items and pinch points that could easily and instantly gore/disfigure whatever came their way.
I'm sure that the ad was created innocently enough, but to continue showing it is irresponsible. Children are very impressionable and get a lot of crazy ideas in their heads on their own, let alone with this kind of influence.
Would you show an ad with people playing chicken with a freight train? Or 5 year olds on roller blades hanging onto cars? I hope Wendy's will recognize that this ad is not suitable and edit or retire it immediately. Public safety and a positive influence on kids are EVERYONE'S responsibility. I'm sure Wendy's can find a more appropriate way to promote its excellent products.

 

[pete black]

i agree and contacted their customer feedback on line concerning the ad.

 

[ooticamitica]

I enjoyed the ad no reason to take it down its just an advertisment that doesnt mean you should do it, like my parents said dont believe everything you see on tv.

 

[Sawatch 8N]

I saw the add too. The tractor probably isn't acctually moving and is in front of a green screen with computer image background. Most folks don't even know it's a tractor, much less that that is a dangerous situation or that it's farm related.
Like the city pre schooler said when they were ask "what sound does a pig make?", Tyron answered: "up against the wall m..f..er!"

 

[CJ in Michigan]

It's how they get their burger meat.

 

[Brad Buchanan]

Anyone who is that disturbed by someone riding the 3-point has no business being anywhere near an antique tractor. Yoy should hide in bed until it is time to venture out in your Prius to seek out a latte.

 

[Dunk]

Might want to give em Ell about this one too...

No place at all for a candle!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWzSpvKRWGk

 

[Anonymous-0]

I tend to agree. No argument that it is not considered safe by many, however somewhere along the line one has to use their own judgement and common sense, and take responsibility for their own actions. Some feel that these old tractors should be banned since they do not have ROPS and seat belts, however I disagree, and feel the decision on whether I should wear a seat belt while driving a vehicle should be my own. Just my opinion.

 

[tractorfix]

That's really funny. I hope you remember your words next time some poor guy bushhogs his own grandson. Yes it really happened.

 

[Elvin Frank]

That happened here several years back, old man was giving his grandbaby a ride in the front bucket and decided h was gonna clip a little spot of grass that he missed, when he parked the tractor and went to get the kid, the kid was gone.

 

[D Squared]

I saw the ad. It appears to be in green screen. If you watch close the background does not match the moves of the tractor. It's very close, just not as good as it should be.

 

[Ultradog MN]

How about you don't do things on/with your tractor that you consider unsafe and leave it at that.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Good job. You know and I know that anyone who does not see it as you have stated, has a real problem between their ears. End of story..

 

[ken benfield]

When i saw that commercial i thought"no,no,no".What are they thinkin??

 

[ericlb]

maybe not the safest thing to do, that being said i rode many many miles on the drawbar of a farmall behind my grandfather and uncle, in the 60's, never had any problems of course we had sence enough to hold on and i do mean hold on to the tractor, only way to be totaly safe is to never get out of bed lol

 

[Dunk]

All of these folks that get in automobiles every weekday, and get out on the big roads, and drive for 60 miles or so both ways, are the real ones that are taking their lives, and health for granted.

Nothing safe about it!!!

Need to ban them dang automobile things.....

(Then... hanging out with mules wasn't all that safe either)

 

[old-9]

Now that's funny!

 

[JoePilot]

...we also had lawn darts in the 60's. Maybe not the best era to use as a safety example...

 

[jon]

I was appalled too. I couldn't believe anyone would use a MF for a hamburger ad when all these good lookin' Fords are everywhere!! :lol:

Just joshin' Tractorfix, point taken.

 

[ericlb]

lol we played with those too , grandma had this big trampinine too us kids wore that thing to the nub, no net around it either, and how many others used to jump out of the hay mow onto a big pile of loose hay? lol wonder what todays soccer moms would think of that one

 

[Dunk]

(quoted from post at 19:33:27 08/09/10) All of these folks that get in automobiles every weekday, and get out on the big roads, and drive for 60 miles or so both ways, are the real ones that are taking their lives, and health for granted.

Nothing safe about it!!!

Need to ban them dang automobile things.....

(Then... hanging out with mules wasn't all that safe either)

When I was a kid, my neighbors had this ole mule they plowed, her name was Queeine, and she stood about 7' at the shoulders.

She was the sweetest, most docile animal I have ever known in my whole life....

Except for one thing..

You DID NOT walk behind her while she was eating, no matter who, or what you were.....

Not paying any attention to the fact that she was eating.....

I walked behind her one day, 12 to 14 years old.

That PTO on that ole mule came out like lightening, and stuck me square in the belly.

I landed a good 20' away.

It felt like it was 2 hours before I could breathe again...

Don't walk behind Queenie, when she is eating....

 

[Dunk]

(quoted from post at 22:57:53 08/09/10)

(quoted from post at 19:33:27 08/09/10) All of these folks that get in automobiles every weekday, and get out on the big roads, and drive for 60 miles or so both ways, are the real ones that are taking their lives, and health for granted.

Nothing safe about it!!!

Need to ban them dang automobile things.....

(Then... hanging out with mules wasn't all that safe either)

When I was a kid, my neighbors had this ole mule they plowed, her name was Queeine, and she stood about 7' at the shoulders.

She was the sweetest, most docile animal I have ever known in my whole life....

Except for one thing..

You DID NOT walk behind her while she was eating, no matter who, or what you were.....

Not paying any attention to the fact that she was eating.....

I walked behind her one day, 12 to 14 years old.

That PTO on that ole mule came out like lightening, and stuck me square in the belly.

I landed a good 20' away.

It felt like it was 2 hours before I could breathe again...

Don't walk behind Queenie, when she is eating....

I wan't paying attention!!!!!

You have to PAY ATTENTION!!!!!!!!

Bad things happen when you don't pay attention.

 

[Fairlane6t9]

I agree on the safety issue, however, the commercial is about the restaurant itself, not driving a tractor. I have seen the commercial several times and it does not make me want to ride on the back of a tractor. I do however, get cravings for a burger!!!! That's the intended message and response. The average Joe who sees that ad has probably never seen the back end of a tractor before and doesn't know of the safety issues. Now if we want to get nasty about commercials, let's get rid of all the Wal-Mart ads that show happy cashiers in a store where EVERY REGISTER IS OPEN......that hasn't happened since I worked for the giant back in 1990. I think George Carlin said it best..."If your children (or you) can be influenced by anything I have to say, then you're not doing your job as a *&^%ing parent!"

 

[Walston]

I couldn't agree more. Pretty soon people will need to be bubble wrapped and wearing walking helmets in case they trip!

You are responsible for doing something stupid! No Wendy's. Anyone have a Mother say, "If you friend jumps from a a bridge, are you going to do the same?"