Sometimes, you just have to smile. I noticed that there’s a bit of a disagreement going on at the moment about the use of emails to advertise goods and services, and the definition of “spam”.
It’s an interesting one, because if I get an email from someone out of the blue, it’s apparently “spam” if I don’t want the service. But what if I do? What if the service was one I didn’t know about? Is it “spamming” to tell people about it? To advertise?
But that’s not specifically my point. In the case I have in mind, one of the services being offered is a register of only Grade 5 and 6 instructors, with the argument that we’ve got to push quality in the industry forwards. A couple of things, though:
- Grade 4s are not always inferior to Grade 5s and 6s
- Grade 4s are perfectly acceptable as far as the DSA – the people who call the shots – are concerned
So, where’s this oxymoron at, then? Well, one of the other services on offer is a register intensive driving course providers throughout the UK!
Now, this is strictly my own opinion – and it’s also right – but intensive training is designed absolutely and specifically to get people to pass the driving test in the shortest time possible. It isn’t about “safe driving for life”. Even if someone offering it pretends not to be just doing it to get people through the test, the simple fact is that gaining driving experience requires time on the road, and signing up for an intensive course which allows you to go from absolute novice to driving a Ferrari (but probably an Audi) in less than a fortnight (usually a week) is hardly pushing quality in the industry forwards.
I’m not criticising anyone’s advertising or entrepreneurial moxie in any way. Nor do I see it as spam (like some others seem to do) – it’s just simple advertising, and you can take it or leave it. It just seems odd to me that two totally conflicting variables are in the equation.
On a related note, a local Chinese restaurant has signs up outside advertising its Chinese New Year party, which appears to take place over two nights. They say:
Chinese Lion Dance + ABBA Tribute
Chinese Lion Dance + Elvis Tribute
Not quite oxymorons. But nearly.