A look at gun marketing
Remember, I do this to entertain me, not you.
Uncle Pays the Bills
 |
|
Find Local
|
Categories
- ATF (769)
- Death Match (10)
- Eminent Domain (225)
- In the bag (9)
- Notes to Junior (546)
- Poker (74)
- Recipes (142)
- Shotgun Noob (11)
- The Airing of Grievances (19)
- uncategorized (47,725)
September 8th, 2013 at 5:01 pm
Is “Operator” the new “tactical”?
September 8th, 2013 at 5:13 pm
Is ‘operator’ black, desert tan, or urban grey? And will it make my butt look big(ger)?
September 8th, 2013 at 7:33 pm
None of those ads is targeted at me. But then very little advertising is. And I don’t listen anyway.
This reminds me of why I didn’t renew my subscription to SWAT magazine. I had signed up for 6 months or whatever when they brought Claire Wolfe on board, but I didn’t renew. Even back then, all the ads targeting being Mr. Badass LEO turned me off. I did like the articles.
I own almost no “tactical” gear. I do have a black nylon thigh holster, which I bought back when an operator was someone who worked for the phone company, like in that song by Jim Croce.
September 8th, 2013 at 10:41 pm
As my older brother once told me, on a visit home from his training with the US Army Rangers (who have some operational credibility, I think), optimally nobody should even know I have a firearm until I point it at them in preparation to shoot them if necessary.
I’m sticking with what he told me, and will maintain my covert operationabilityness with non-operator outfitting in clothing, gear, accessories and firearms.
I never was, nor really wanted to be, one of the cool kids.
September 9th, 2013 at 9:21 am
Well, in fairness, I think a lot of those ads are playing to the idea that “our stuff is so tough that it withstands these extreme conditions, so it will certainly be reliable/durable under more mundane conditions.”
This is no different than Mobil 1 running ads to the effect that “our oil is so good that it holds up under racing conditions”. I use Mobil 1 in my lil J32A3 not because I am a NASCAR wannabe, but because I want oil that still works great under harsh conditions, and if it works at 8K rpm for hours on end then it will darn sure work for everyday forays into VTEC territory (yo).
Companies that make car stuff do this all the time, using racing as that crucible (NASCAR, Baja, whatever). So do lots of other manufacturers. Sure, it can get goofy if taken to extremes (I’m looking at you, Blackhawk!!!!1111, insert explody sparks here) but the concept is not inherently aspirational or Mittyesque, IMO.
September 9th, 2013 at 12:53 pm
Come on, if the AR15 is the Barbie/ Lego kit for adults then you want to play dress up as well.
September 9th, 2013 at 3:58 pm
Wow, it’s like no one remembers the 1980’s.
How many full page glossies of dudes popping up out of the muddy swamp water in tigerstripe ripstops with their 7.62x51mm battle rifle were there in almost every magazine?