Steve Chapman: 2016 Olympics audio ads on CTA are doubly offensive

newsblogs.chicagotribune.com - 9 weeks ago - 578 views

In its bid to win the 2016 Olympics, the city of Chicago has come up with a tactic that is perfectly designed to turn locals not only against the Games but against public transportation. I got an earful of it several times this week while I was riding the bus, minding my own business, only to be assailed by the blare of a recorded voice celebrating the Olympics.

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by lfitzpatrick 9 weeks 6 days ago

what about the numerous chicago 2016 ads on www.chicagotribune.com?

by Mike Doyle 9 weeks 6 days ago

What does that have to do with anything? The Tribune is private, it can do what it wants. Chapman is talking about using a captive public transit audience to run politically motivated PSAs.

by Tamale Chica 9 weeks 6 days ago

I just returned from a luncheon in Andersonville. To get there, I had to take the Damen 50 bus and got treated to an loud earful of having to hear those ads. The only way you can escape it is to get off the bus or plug your ears. I paid money for that ride?

by lfitzpatrick 9 weeks 6 days ago

of course the trib can take whoever's money it wants. just interesting because it's paying chapman's salary. and is profiting already from the 2016 bid in ad revenue.

by John Kristoff 9 weeks 5 days ago

I heard one on the #3 bus for the first time last night, and I really don't see the big deal. If you don't want the Olympics, that's fine. But calling 15-20 seconds of audio promoting the games during your commute "offensive" is ridiculous.

I agree with this commenter on the Trib's site.

I would much rather listen to these ads rather than hearing all the other bs chatter as folks communicate loudly in all sorts of languages about trivial matters. If these calls we so important, why would you be talking on an 'L' train or a bus where you can hardly hear who you are talking with, requiring conversations to get louder and louder?

Champman says it himself:

No one likes being aurally assaulted while part of a captive audience.

So what about the loud talkers and the oblivious cell phone users?

There are much, much more annoying things we'll encounter during our daily commute, so stop freaking about about these ads. The announcement is two weeks from Friday, so we'd better get used to this.