11-17-2006, 01:46 PM
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#1 | | Incorruptible
Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NJ
Posts: 2,758
| Latest USFA newsletter email
I had a concern about the latest newsletter email from the USFA.
It has consistent font size and style througout, even for the congratulations for the American showing in Italy with one exception...
"Special savings with a new 0% APR VisaŽ!" in giant bold letters dominates the newletter.
Shouldn't the top notch results be in giant bold letters instead?
This may seem overly nitpicky or reading too much into it (or maybe I'm just in a pissy mood). After all it's just formatting, right? I think it demonstrates lackluster enthusiasm for the athletes in favor of financing.
Thoughts, comments?
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Fencing T-shirts available at Off-The-Piste Wear **New designs** including f.net themed designs for easy recognition of fellow f.netters at tournaments!
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11-17-2006, 01:55 PM
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#2 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brevard, NC
Posts: 466
| If there is one thing that can destroy sports it is comercialization (think NASCAR). At the same time though, the USFA needs money to keep things going, and fencing is not at all comercial in the US so we should realy be happy that a bold font is the worst thing we have, although we have to be vigillant or the big money may take over fencing... wait, fencing and money- na, that will never happen. 
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"Being a good feind is like being a photographer, you have to search for the right moments."
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11-17-2006, 01:58 PM
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#3 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Dana Hall School, Wellesely, MA
Posts: 3,821
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Beowulfman6  If there is one thing that can destroy sports it is comercialization (think NASCAR). At the same time though, the USFA needs money to keep things going, and fencing is not at all comercial in the US so we should realy be happy that a bold font is the worst thing we have, although we have to be vigillant or the big money may take over fencing... wait, fencing and money- na, that will never happen. | yeah, NASCAR is a great example of a sport that's been destroyed by commercialization... 
-m | |
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11-17-2006, 05:27 PM
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#4 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 318
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Beowulfman6 so we should realy be happy that a bold font is the worst thing we have, | Yeah, which fencer would be thrilled to have the STP logo on his/her lame????? If I knew anything at all about NASCAR, I could come up with other corporate sponsors that are more hideous. | |
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11-17-2006, 05:59 PM
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#5 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005 Location: The Driftwood Bar, Louisiana
Posts: 485
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Originally Posted by Phincer Yeah, which fencer would be thrilled to have the STP logo on his/her lame????? If I knew anything at all about NASCAR, I could come up with other corporate sponsors that are more hideous. | I'll go first if STP wants to pay me.
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Just push the button!
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11-17-2006, 06:44 PM
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#6 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 491
| The repeated SPAM coming from Corinne and the USFA risks costing the USFA far more than it might make from pimping that Visa card.
The USFA's SPAM violates the federal CAN-SPAM law in several ways. Each violation of its provisions is subject to fines of up to $11,000.
The USFA SPAM committed the following transgressions:
1) The emails did not give recipients a valid, working opt-out method. [The address used by the "click to remove" is invalid]
2) The emails did not provide the sender's valid physical postal address.
3) The emails did not contain a clear and conspicuous notice that the message is an advertisement or solicitation and that the recipients can opt out of receiving more commercial emails.
4) The email sent out in August was entirely an advertisement for the Visa card, no other content, yet it was sent with the Subject line "USFA Newsletter: Calling all USFA members". The CAN-SPAM law prohibits deceptive subject lines when sending commercial advertising emails.
5) The USFA did not respect opt-out requests.
Now unlike most SPAMers, it won't be terribly difficult to track down the USFA and fine them. | |
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11-17-2006, 06:45 PM
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#7 | | Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 10,177
| Quote:
Originally Posted by epeemike81 yeah, NASCAR is a great example of a sport that's been destroyed by commercialization...
-m | Exactly, I was more under the impression NASCAR was created by commercialization, myself. It's certainly designed in format to emphasize media coverage and such.
Last edited by KD5MDK; 11-17-2006 at 07:51 PM.
Reason: indicated my agreement with mike
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11-17-2006, 07:30 PM
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#8 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Dana Hall School, Wellesely, MA
Posts: 3,821
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Originally Posted by KD5MDK I was more under the impression NASCAR was created by commercialization, myself. It's certainly designed in format to emphasize media coverage and such. | hence the rolleyes....
-m | |
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11-17-2006, 07:50 PM
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#9 | | Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 10,177
| Sorry. I knew I agreed with you. I just found it more convenient to tag onto your post than dig through his. I was worried I'd be misunderstood like that. Let's see if the revised wording is more clear. | |
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11-17-2006, 08:24 PM
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#10 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brevard, NC
Posts: 466
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Originally Posted by Phincer Yeah, which fencer would be thrilled to have the STP logo on his/her lame????? If I knew anything at all about NASCAR, I could come up with other corporate sponsors that are more hideous. | Like Viagra? I wouldn't care to have that on my lame.
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"Being a good feind is like being a photographer, you have to search for the right moments."
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11-18-2006, 01:11 AM
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#11 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: near Boston
Posts: 3,308
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Originally Posted by Beowulfman6 Like Viagra? I wouldn't care to have that on my lame. | Why not? It pays to advertise. Or is that what we are complaining about?
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It is now after July 4th. My avatar with the Xmas hat is no longer late.
It is now officially early.
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11-18-2006, 12:01 PM
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#12 | | Super Shoebie
Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: VA
Posts: 1,083
| Haha! This is hilarious! OK... sponsorship implies there's a market that advertisers want to reach. Even if there were huddled masses, yearning to watch fencing (which there ain't), there isn't anywhere to do that with enough eyeballs to make it more attractive than the National Spelling Bee/World Dominoes or even more confusingly - PAINT BALL (talk about non-telegenic...). I'm confident Inq.'s whites will remain pristine and sponsor free for Another geologic period, at least... Although it would be interesting to see how he would resolve his inner conflict between rabid traditionalism and rampant capitalism - the size of the crisis depending upon how big that check from the Little Blue Pill was, of course...
Perhaps Inq. IS Mark Martin! Hmmmmmmmm. Has anyone seen them at the same place and time? | |
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11-18-2006, 12:27 PM
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#13 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,145
| If some company wants to pay me to advertise for them on my jacket or mask all they need to do is send me the check and the sticker to put on. The more the merrier!
As for the VISA ad, it is just that, ADVERTISING It is how organizations make money on newletters and such. Jeez, quit whining.
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If you give a man a fire, he is warm for the night.
If you set a man on fire, he is warm for the rest of his life.
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11-18-2006, 01:15 PM
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#14 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2004 Location: Issaquah, Washington
Posts: 372
| While the spirit of the comparison is clear, the NASCAR example isn't entirely one-to-one with the USFA, because NASCAR is actually a corporation that was created solely to be a commercial endeavor. There isn't any notion within NASCAR of individual participation, athletics, clubs, etc. It's all "driven" towards profit, sponsorship, and sales.
Last edited by Timacheff; 11-18-2006 at 01:19 PM.
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11-18-2006, 07:32 PM
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#15 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brevard, NC
Posts: 466
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Originally Posted by Timacheff While the spirit of the comparison is clear, the NASCAR example isn't entirely one-to-one with the USFA, because NASCAR is actually a corporation that was created solely to be a commercial endeavor. There isn't any notion within NASCAR of individual participation, athletics, clubs, etc. It's all "driven" towards profit, sponsorship, and sales. | True. Terribly true- they were doomed from the start as a sport, but genious as a business.
As for everyone having a price, I just don't know. Fencing is expensive and I would be willing to be sponsored under the right circumstances (wink, wink, Craig), but I do have standards- I would never sell out or wear advertising for something I didn't believe in (like cigarette companies, etc.).
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"Being a good feind is like being a photographer, you have to search for the right moments."
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11-19-2006, 11:45 AM
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#16 | | Curmudgeon-in-Chief
Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Somewhere in your nightmares!
Posts: 23,538
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Originally Posted by swordsen If some company wants to pay me to advertise for them on my jacket or mask all they need to do is send me the check and the sticker to put on.
| Not necessary, because modern corporations have conditioned consumers to pay to wear their advertising, rather than having to pay them to wear it. Look around you the next time you're out, and see how many people are wearing t-shirts, caps and so on with corporate names, logos and legends---people who actually bought the stuff, often at a premium price.
All a sponsor needs do is put out a line of jackets and lamés with their ads on them, and charge extra at that. There are enough fools who will buy and wear them. Heck, we already see the tip of the iceberg with the Adidas uniforms.
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Use the Shift key, people! Keyboard manufacturers everywhere are ineffably saddened when you ignore what they made just for you!
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11-19-2006, 12:55 PM
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#17 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brevard, NC
Posts: 466
| It's scary isn't it!
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"Being a good feind is like being a photographer, you have to search for the right moments."
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11-19-2006, 03:32 PM
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#18 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,145
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Originally Posted by Inquartata Not necessary, because modern corporations have conditioned consumers to pay to wear their advertising, rather than having to pay them to wear it. Look around you the next time you're out, and see how many people are wearing t-shirts, caps and so on with corporate names, logos and legends---people who actually bought the stuff, often at a premium price. |
Very true. And that is the reason I cut most of the labels off my jackets and such. I own a couple of TCA T-shirts that they gave me years ago when I told them that if they wanted me to be abillboard for their company they could give me the advertising. I wasn't going to pay for it.
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If you give a man a fire, he is warm for the night.
If you set a man on fire, he is warm for the rest of his life.
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11-19-2006, 10:33 PM
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#19 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 364
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Originally Posted by Beowulfman6 If there is one thing that can destroy sports it is comercialization (think NASCAR). At the same time though, the USFA needs money to keep things going, and fencing is not at all comercial in the US so we should realy be happy that a bold font is the worst thing we have, although we have to be vigillant or the big money may take over fencing... wait, fencing and money- na, that will never happen. | NASCAR is not a sport. F1 is a sport. | |
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11-20-2006, 12:25 AM
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#20 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brevard, NC
Posts: 466
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Originally Posted by Soberin NASCAR is not a sport. F1 is a sport. | I used to watch both, and I agree. Why, becouse NASCAR is essentialy a money-making business run of of rampant advertising and comercialization, whereas F1 has very restrictive rules on advertising. You never see an F1 driver get out of their car and thank fifty different sponsors- they aren't allowed to. NASCAR, much like pro wrestling, is essentialy a spectacle desighned to be a good show. Trying to make sprots into a show inevitably kills the sport (are you listening Mr. Roach?).
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"Being a good feind is like being a photographer, you have to search for the right moments."
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