Because We All Know What's Important In Life...

 
This evvening I popped in a dvd for some" me" time. And lo and behold, before we got to the menu screen, before there was even a movie trailer there was a commercial for a product called Digital Copy*. 

Maybe you've heard of it, or seen the commercials. 

From what I gathered it's a legal way to rip dvds to your laptop or handheld device so you can take it with you wherever you go. Their slogan is:

 

 

Which is great, but what bothered me was during the commercial, this cute little I'd say probably 9ish year old with a lisp and everything says "Yeah and I can put it on my iphone and take movies with me anywhere. To the beach, long car trips, or hanging out with friends." *cue big smile with missing tooth*

I'm sorry...what? You're taking the movies with you...to the beach? You're going to watch a movie instead of building a sand castle? You're going to sit in one place for hours watching a tiny little screen instead of wandering around collecting seashells and enjoying the waves? I mean, I don't even like sand, but really?

Okay maybe not the beach. Long car trips. That's great. Keeps the kids quiet. I'm actually not opposed to this one...unless you just keep switching from movie to movie the entire time. What about reading a book? Coloring? Playing the license plate game? Sing alongs? You get car sick? Three words: books on tape.

But what if you and your friends want to watch a movie? Sure, no problem, you could do that. Or you could ride your bikes, play capture the flag, dig to China, play dress up, or a board game, or with Barbie, or you could build at tent (boys read: fort) WITH ALL THE SPARE SHEETS YOU CAN FIND! 

I dunno, maybe. I mean, I'd just like to point out that there are options. 

So everyone listen up. If you see someone who is letting their kid sit on the beach and watch a movie on his cell phone, please slap that parent. Then show the kid how to use the iphone as a sand shoveling device and help them build a castle, which is a better employment for both the kid and the phone. 

I don't have a problem with Digital Copy, I have a problem with their ad campaign to promote mindless entertainment absorption. (That's not really their goal of course. Their goal is to make money. Still not a good reason.) 


So here’s to parent’s everywhere who would never let their children waste their childhood in front of a screen. I’ll drink to that, yeah-eah.


*The link actually takes you to the advertising group’s site where they explain how they made the commercial using green screens. Which is very cool in media world. Huzzah. While you’re there scroll down to check out all the awesome places you can take your movies when you use Digital Copy.

And for the record, to all the Digital Copy People and their advertising group, you sell an interesting product. I hope lots of people buy it and use it wisely.