Off Topic: The Dumbest Advertisement I’ve Ever Seen. Ever.

I’ve decided to test out a new column here at PotD called “Off Topic.”  Off Topic posts, as you might’ve surmised, will have nothing to do with personal finance or intelligent consumerism.  If you’re not interested in this type of content, skip the post; if enough of you do, I’ll notice the lack of traffic and take the hint.  But without further ado, I present you with the installment of “Off Topic.”

On my way back from work yesterday, I noticed an advertisement on the subway for a fairly well-known law firm, Jacoby & Meyers, and snapped a picture with my iPhone:

Jacoby & Meyers Advertisement

Take a few seconds to really appreciate what’s going on here.  On the left, we have an illustration of a medieval battlefield.  A slight, unarmored, pre-pubescent young man sporting a magnificent scarf appears to be pinning down an older, heavily-armored, fully-bearded warrior.  The young man appears to be in the process of unsheathing a large sword, and presumably intends to use that sword to put the older man out of his misery.

On the right, the question “Who will stand up for you?” appears in large font above the Jacoby & Meyers logo and toll-free telephone number.

Now I ask  you – what the hell is going on here?

Is this ad actually suggesting that the older gentleman needs an attorney at this moment?  He’s about to be slain on a medieval battlefield, and he’s lying there praying for a good personal injury lawyer?  In the unlikely event that he does survive, what are his chances of prevailing in a lawsuit under the scarved invaders’ judicial system?

If you have any rational explanation for this ad, please post it in the comments.  I’m at a total, total loss.

  • Julie

    I think they’re making a David and Goliath comparison — they’re representing the little guy and taking on the big shots of corporate America or what have you. http://www.pitts.emory.edu/dia/detail.cfm?ID=11822. Clearly a big marketing fail when even the most educated people on the train (who, by the way, are definitely not this ad’s target audience) don’t get it.

    • David

      What a find Julie! I always imagined a much bigger size differential between David and Goliath…