This post is in response to Walker Machinery’s cartoon talking bug commercials. Part of this post is simply an irrational response to an irrational statement. But - I just couldn’t stop myself. After this I’ll try to let it go - I promise. 
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Walker Machinery has a new commercial out (or new to me) that is more ridiculous than the others. I couldn’t find the commercial on the net but I will get the dialog from the most recent commercial as soon as possible. In the meantime, I have transcribed two of their recent commercials.
Interview with Mr. and Ms. Bug. The dialog in a court room setting between a live reporter and a cartoon talking bug.
Commercial 1
Interview with Ms. Bug -
- reporter - In West Virginia, court actions have stopped surface mine permits. One argument centers around what happens to bugs when valley fills are constructed.
- reporter - Ms. Bug, is coal mining a hardship for you?
- Ms. cartoon talking bug (Strong southern accent)- Why heck no the valley fills make great homes for us bugs.
- reporter - What about streams?
- Ms. cartoon talking bug - When the rain falls the water flows just fine for my family.
- reporter (addressing the screen)- So there you have it. That’s the bugs eye view of this issue.
- Ms. cartoon talking bug - Now can we talk about car windshields?
Commercial 2
Interview with Mr. Bug -
- reporter - Coal’s opponents used the courts and bug habitats to attack West Virginia’s economy.
- reporter - So Mr. Bug, how’s the water in your woods?
- Mr. cartoon talking bug - Waters fine. My family moved on the valley fill as soon as we heard about the beautiful reclamation the coal miners built.
- reporter - But the (undecipherable) stopped coal mining because you couldn’t live there.
- Mr. cartoon talking bug - Temporary my dear, we just moved during construction.
- reporter - So your homes aren’t in danger?
- Mr. cartoon talking bug - Creepers no! And you know what - I don’t need electricity in my home… Do You??? (cartoon talking bug points at the screen)
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Quick note before I go on. I think the word Mr. cartoon talking bug was looking for was destruction. I’m not sure the extent of a cartoon talking bugs vocabulary though.
These commercials are the definition of propaganda - no basis in truth - no facts - no logic.
Someone at Walker Machinery needs to get the book out that has the word dictionary wrote on it and maybe the word Webster’s (probably on the binding (outside edge) or front cover) - flip through there and find the definition for asinine. If you need help - get a bunch of your buddies from Massey Energy corporate office. Look in the a’s (towards the front of the book) somewhere between ar and at. If you need help further - go ask anyone on the street to assist you.
*Maybe Walker Machinery will consider doing an interview with a cartoon talking tree or a cartoon talking stream (birdbath) or a cartoon talking mountaintop. Ask them when they’re coming back. On second thought - don’t bother asking the cartoon talking tree because you already killed it or the cartoon talking mountaintop for that matter. The cartoon talking stream is probably too sick for questions right now - come back in 50 years or so. A cartoon talking bear could probably do an interview but he may not be on your side seeing as how he looks for his dinner in a dumpster. — hmmm - I concede, so maybe the cartoon talking bug is the logical choice for an interview.
Implication running rampant.
Commercials like these caused me to get involved. It’s one thing to support your arguments with fact and logic it is quite another to support your argument with a cartoon talking bug.
Walker Machinery - your audience is more intelligent than you’re giving us credit for. Treat me like a child and I’ll return the favor. Makes me think you don’t have an argument to support. Maybe if we discussed profit margins you could contribute something useful to the discussion.
Traditional Coal Mining
“This is West Virginia…”
Mountaintop Removal
“…this is West Virginia on drugs.”
If this is a good thing -
I’d try some of whatever they’re smokin’.
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*This entire paragraph is in response to the newest commercial. The reporter is basically asking Mr. cartoon talking bug when he can return to his new habitat.
(All of the photos displayed within the mountaintop removal posts were taken by myself.)
January 31st, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Amen. These commercials are pure propaganda. Also, have you seen the latest one with the centipede? I think, if possible, it is the worst of all of the commericals..especially the part where the centipede says “there’s no more water in these streams that a bird bath” and then it proceeds to say “we need coal for electricity, so why care about a few bugs” (paraphrase).
These commericals are a blatant distortion of facts, but when you can buy all major media outlets in the state and have near unlimited funds to prmotoe your message, you can air anything you want without fear of repercussions.
I think the people of WV should be outraged at Walker Cat, if for no other reason, that they insult our intelligence by airing this tripe. It kind of reminds me of the old “Smokey the Cigarette” commericals from back in the 60’s, where Smokey told us that cigarettes were harmless and basically they were good for you. Both commercials are blatant misrepresentations of the truth.
You can also check out a few more commercial gems on the Walker Cat website, while the new “Bug” commercials aren’t there, there are some that are nearly as rediculous.
January 31st, 2008 at 3:54 pm
I hate, hate, hate those commercials. Surely they’re trying to convince children because I can’t imagine and adult who would take them seriously.
Um, on second thought, unfortunately I can and that’s just a damned dirty shame. Matter of fact I can probably look forward to some Massey worker at a family hoedown quoting those cartoon bugs.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:06 pm
i thought these commercials were a parody when i first saw them… then i realized they were real. i think they make our point for us….
January 31st, 2008 at 6:18 pm
kwahaddi - I think we are probably talking about the same commercial… I play my TV mostly as back ground noise and have heard the commercial you refer too. To be honest they make me so mad that I either try to tune them out or dive for the remote. The people of WV are outraged - they just didn’t have a way to respond.
Buzzardbilly - GRRR!! I try to keep my responses toned down, if they could only hear what I want to say.
Blue - I’m with you… I thought so to - I think what really made me mad is when I realized they were serious. And yes they do make our point - a lot of why I wanted to bring broader attention to it.
February 2nd, 2008 at 4:24 am
I found you through BlueMountainMama. I am from Appalachia, though I don’t currently live there. Those commercials are despicable. I suppose they think the viewing audience is too stupid to actually listen to a real argument about the issue and that they will just swallow the propaganda. I wish opposers of MTR had the money to put on a parody of that ad.
February 2nd, 2008 at 4:31 am
Thanks for commenting and visiting.
I don’t know what they are thinking other than to blatantly make fun of the peoples lives they are destroying.
Thanks again and come back and see us!!