I can't remember the last time I was this angry...

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by Deity Dude
I think in alot of these instances the donor looks worse than the recipient.

Exactly!

Don't they get it? Can't they figure out that this is one of the major reasons everybody hates big corporations: they lack any shred of decency.

[ajbera]

How about a Philip Morris Terminal Cancer Ward?

[Elok]

Not very good advertising, either...nothing to make you want to buy a brand of clothing like a psychological association between the brand and severe injury. And reminding a guy of golf when he's in intensive care, hardly able to move, is just tacky.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Some businesses have a long storied histories with their community, so naming stuff after Ford in Detroit, or Kodak in Rochester, or Heinz in Pittsburgh, isn't offensive.

But Comerica Park? Does anyone really identify Comerica with Detroit? Does anyone in Detroit identify with Comerica?

And Abercrombie & Fitch? A company made up largely of teens in McJobs selling clothing manufactured in the 3rd world? Is this part of anybody's community?

[Asher]

My school has lecture theatres named after oil companies (Esso Theatre; Shell Theatre; BP Theatre; etc). The best part is when the lectures are liberal arts inside.

[Elok]

Has there ever been a course on Alaskan Coastal Ecology in Esso Theatre, Asher?

[Deity Dude]

Originally posted by Rufus T. Firefly
Some businesses have a long storied histories with their community, so naming stuff after Ford in Detroit, or Kodak in Rochester, or Heinz in Pittsburgh, isn't offensive.

One could argue that part of feeling comfortable with that long association is because they do slap their name on everything and we all get used to it.

BTW - the original name of the Detroit Pistons was the Ft Wayne Zolner Pistons. I'm sure glad the Zolner Piston Corporation sold the team

[Q Classic]

Originally posted by Deity Dude
Well if being a whore means I can saves thousands of lives, if not more, I'll be a whore.

Tell a kid who can't get an operation to save his life now that he is dieing for the integrity of the name of the hospital. Pretend its your kid.

I'm not against taking the money for a better purpose. I just think that this is case where branding's gone too far.

Nationwide, I don't mind so much, though I also don't approve; it's the A&F one that irks me. A brand should have the sense and the decency to realize that slapping its name everywhere can overplay it, if not hurt it, particularly in cases like this.

Where is the sense in linking a brand with a Trauma Ward? How does it help your brand at all?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Originally posted by Deity Dude


One could argue that part of feeling comfortable with that long association is because they do slap their name on everything and we all get used to it.

Nah. It's because, in each of those examples, everybody in town either worked for those companies or knew someone who did; they were the lifeblood of their cities, and their fate and the fate of the larger community were intertwined. Hell, the Pittsburgh Steelers still have the old U.S. Steel logo on their helmets; U.S. Steel wasn't a company, it was a Pittsburgh institution. Nothing wrong with that.

But "Limited Too?" I ask you...

[mrmitchell]

Guynemer

[Mrs. Tuberski]

i have often wonderedwthat is in a name of a building, if this is indeed a kids hospital do any one of you think the parents of said sick child care what the name of the building is?? I hardly think so. I dont understand what diff it makes who donates the money who names the buildings as long as they are used to treat the kids they were set up to treat.... I for one dont give a crap if its named the plyaboy kids wing if the staff on board was qualified to treat my kid that is ill. As disgusting and evil as it may sound the money has to come from some where and in the medical field of treating children the "rich white folks" can call what ever building they want as long as the hopsital continues great wonderful care for the patients.

[mrmitchell]

Anyway the Nationwide story checks out and good for it. Fifty million dollars is a lot of money.

(Plus it's not something obvious like if Wal Mart got the naming rights. People who go to Nationwide hospital will think they're going to one that treats people from across the country.)

[Arrian]

Meh. It's silly and yes, vaguely icky, but at the end of the day, take the money. $50 million dollars is quite a contribution.

Would you prefer they didn't give the money? I would prefer they gave it and didn't demand the hospital take their name, but it's not like this is anything new.

-Arrian

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Guynemer
One can only assume that it is a matter of time until we have the Victoria's Secret Oncology Unit.

Wouldn't they be more likely to sponser a Obgyn unit?

[Lorizael]

While this is disgusting and horrible, unless they start using Abercrombie & Fitch articles of clothing to dress wounds, I don't think it matters all that much.