Billboards Should Be Outlawed

fintail

Yes, exactly. And I see no proof that billboards create a benefit to exceed the cost.

I am sure billboards had more of a value in a time before more efficient (electronic) venues existed. Today, I do not see the overall costs exceeding benefits, and I don't see any proof of otherwise.

I have never lived in an area with widespread billboards, and I have never seen widespread complaint among the business community.

euphonium

"Since you have not made any attempt to argue the cons of directional sign advertisements, I would gather you must agree there are none." Wrong!

The main problem with DSA's, they are almost invisible, too small, and prevent individuality & uniqueness in advertising. I've seen them at upscale ski resorts and because they are all the same size, (wood burning the verbiage into the shingle) it is impossible to discern where you want to shop.

The DSA's along side of the highway can have some individuality due to different color schemes, but they as well can go to H--l for they are too small for the too fast motorist zipping by.

Thus, due to their nature, the DSA, unlike the conventional Billboard do not contribute to "Repetitive" advertising goals.

As for paying for the road by the taxpaying driver, he didn't pay for the adjoining land adjacent to the right of way. So, his opinion doesn't get recognized.

jipster

The main problem with DSA's, they are almost invisible, too small, and prevent individuality & uniqueness in advertising

Oh come on... if they were too small or invisible McDonalds and Shell wouldn't be paying for them. I go faster than the average driver, and I see them perfectly fine. You certainly want them quick and to the point as to maintain traffic safty. i.e McDonalds 1 mile Exit 4... I mean what else is there to say?
Individuality and uniqueness is more for television advertisement or print. Too much individuality and uniqueness on billboards or DSA's would be a safty hazard.

I would have restrictions on DSA's as well. i.e Scenic attractions, food, gas, lodging... that's about it. If you want to find out where "Joe's Porn Shop" is, look in the yellow pages. :lemon:

euphonium

" If you want to find out where "Joe's Porn Shop" is, look in the yellow pages."

All things considered today, the Gov of New York would know better than the YP's.

oldfarmer50

"...If you want to find out where "Joe's Porn Shop" is, look in the yellow pages..."

I don't know, when that kind of hankering comes upon you, it might not be socially acceptable to stand up and start letting your fingers do the walking.

Besides, where is the last place besides your home, that you could even find a phone book?

davethecarnut

What if the gov./tax payer got a "piece" of the billboard as in a fee or tax? Would they still block your view?

fezo

They do get taxed - it's property and taxed as such.

euphonium

showing her singing so it'll be over. :P

jipster

What if the gov./tax payer got a "piece" of the billboard as in a fee or tax? Would they still block your view?

Yes they would! The Jipster is no sell out. :P

This is just common sense folks, you don't put 80' X 40' advertisments in the sky, it's just plain "ignert" and low class... IMO.

euphonium

and needing a new tire, I was pleased to see a large billboard advertising "Cal Tires" in Kamloops. They had one matching Michelin X1 at their first store I stopped.

Billboards are great for promoting business, but not for the promotion of many other programs that are non profit and socialistic.

jipster

Wow... good thing you saw that billboard. Otherwise you would have just continued on your way with that flat tire. :sick:

Billboards were slightly more practical in the 50's and early 60's, when a lot of folks didn't have television and its advertisements. With t.v, internet, cellphones, GPS systems, junk mail and the smaller directional signs on the side of the highway, there is absolutely no reason to have those billboards... which I believe are the epitome of selfishness. :mad:

euphonium

"epitome of selfishness" is wanting to see another's land/mountain/scene free of visual contamination. Denying the owner his right to plant a billboard on his property, that is not yours, is selfishness.

Billboards inspire, involve, & inform. Communication is advertising and advertising promotes business growth and PROFITS.

If you don't want a billboard on your property, fine. Don't plant one.

fintail

I think I'll move on to your block and put up a big billboard for the 'fintail restoration center' or something... :P

euphonium

I live in the rural area & your billboard wouldn't make any difference so welcome to it.

fintail

Sounds good. The property has to be a better deal than here in the PRPS...I'm also going to get it rezoned so I can create a small car recycler. I'll just be working as a good capitalist businessman entrepreneur etc, so I am sure you'd be fine with it. :P

euphonium

Too late Fintail. The property was just rezoned by the county to permit strip mining.

However, Welcome to the membership rolls of independent Republican capitalist businessman entrepreneurs. We are organized and the secret password is "Profit".

jipster

The property was just rezoned by the county to permit strip mining.

Strip mining in your backyard? Great! All the dumptrucks, noise, dirt, dust and inconvience... just keep telling yourself that secret password... it'll cheer you up. :P

gagrice

When I traveled with my folks as a kid in the 1950s we played alphabet to make the trip go faster. First one to see all 26 letters in a row would be the winner. It would have been tough without billboards and road signs. I then passed the game onto my children. I learned that my daughter needed glasses as a result of that game. She could not read the letters and never told anyone she could not see distant objects.

The billboards around here that are a bit too plentiful are all for Indian Casinos and radio stations. They could get rid of them as I don't play alphabet with my wife.

fintail

You're not kidding, are you? I guess in Clark county a strip mine isn't really a big deal...blends in with the clearcut forests and meth houses :P

My next plan will be to buy up some cheap houses in some old SW WA town and become a slumlord...a popular avocation among those entrepreneurs, or so I hear. I'll give reduced rent to those who have a billboard on their lawn.

iluvmysephia1

come on, just picture your self in Las Vegas cruising down the Strip. Would you like the lights blighted out! Hell no!

Just read up and drive on. Think about your retirement, baseball, the Seattle Sonics moving to Oklahoma City, or the next Mitsubishi you're gonna buy. Don't notice them...they're just there for ambience and perkiness of landscape. Let the sponsoring parties throw their money down the drain. No biggie.

davethecarnut

Graffiti....If Fin and Jip have the same venom for graffitti as they do for billboards, I can understand their passion somewhat. I mean, come on, what's worse? Graffitti or billboards? Billboards don't even come close to being the eyesore as a bunch of work done by tagging hooligans. Plus billboards pay ya, right?

stever

"A new study,conducted by researchers at the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute and funded by the Swedish Transport Administration, concludes that digital billboards attract and hold the gazes of drivers for far longer than a threshold that previous studies have shown to be dangerous.The Swedish government had given temporary authorization to erect digital billboards in 2009. As a result of this and related studies, however, the government has ordered the removal of all digital billboards.

"This study validates what is common sense when it comes to digital billboards," said Mary Tracy, president of Scenic America. "Bright, constantly-changing signs on the side of the road are meant to attract and keep the attention of drivers, and this study confirms that is exactly what they do."

Digital billboards dangerously distracting to drivers says new study (Fleet Owner)

lemko

I hate graffiti with the white-hot passion of a thousand suns and what I would like to do to tagger hooligans would make Hannibal Lecter puke!