Shell Oil flubs the facts in ‘Global Technical Career Campaign’
By way of Skeptico, comes a story regarding Shell’s current ad campaign seeking talent for Global Technical Careers. The campaign, which is running in a number of business publications and is carried through on the corporate website, features the tagline “You use only 10% of your brain. Plenty of scope for exploration. Make a difference”
Thing is, the ‘10% of the brain’ factoid is an old wives tale. The claim that the brain has significant, untapped resources has no basis in science nor fact. The ad is factually incorrect.
On the other hand, the 10% myth is so pervaisive that the ad does effectively communicate its message. The tagline is factually incorrect, but there is no misleading information in relation to Shell as an employer, the nature of the work or the employment process.
To what extent should Shell, or any other company, adhere to the factual truth? Or is it enough to stick to the truth as accepted by the crowd? Is this a flub or one of the lies that marketers tell?
August 16th, 2006 at 12:02 pm
I work for shell. I’m excited to make lots of money and pollute the earth.
It’s all about money. They are providing the most and are educating me. I love it.
Couldnt ask for better.
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