The evils of Billboard

Welcome to Billboard Land aka Malaysia. Seriously this was one of the comment from an American business associate when she visisted in January this year. She said " Wow, Malaysia sure do have many Billboards!" This blew me away. Seems like we have dethroned America as the King of Billboards!

Are you one of those who are increasingly agitated by the explosion of Billboards in and around KL? It's everywhere. You can't move around with out being bombarded by Billboards. If you look up the definition of Billboards at Wikipedia it has a very limited description of it. In fact in Malaysia Billboards take many shape and form. You see we are a creative lot when it comes to making money at the expense of others. Billboards here can take a form of a bus or taxi, a railing handle on LRT/Monorail/Aerotrain, the whole LRT and whatever else you can put a sticker on. The latest shocker came straight in my face last weekend as I approached one of the Plus toll. It had MCSB advert plastered on all the surrounding pillars. I wondered if I was paying to Plus or the MCSB fund. Well maybe its both ?

I did a 2 minute research and look up some concerns regarding the evils of Billboards and most spoke about visual and environmental concerns. Some did spoke of some economic impact to those who happen to have a 1.2 Million RM house next to a giant Billboard of Milo. You would have thought the house was sponsored by Nestle.

Actually what concerns me most are not these. Its much more fundemental and subtle at the same time. I feel that Billboards are encroaching upon our liberties. Assuming we have some here. The Billboard people is not only buying a phyiscal space to advertise but he is getting for free your field of vision and worst yet although unproven your subconscience for FREE ! This bugs me. Some say Billboards don't bother them as they do not notice them or chose to ignore them. Give me a break how can you not notice them if they are straight in your face. Like it or not you look at Billboards especially when you are driving. Closing your eye is definitely not an option.

Well this is a topic that I wanted to get your feedback and at the moment thats the only avenue I could vent my frustration and concern for the proliferation of Billboards. Do you have the same frustrations and concerns ? Do you think Billboards are getting out of hand here ? Do you find Billboards helpful in anyway ? Maybe you find them entertaining ? Please feel free to comment.

Remember to keep this blog free of politics though.