Free Advertising

So, what happened to advertising after the government banned hoardings in the city? People just got more innovative, finding new and varied places to display their signs. Does your gate look something like this, by any chance?

All over the city, companies have started placing their ads on 'No Parking' signs - and fixing them to your gates, whether you want them or not. While it seems philanthropic on the surface - to them, it is really nothing more than advertising space. And when there are six boards jostling for attention on one gate, with loud colours and many different kinds of lettering, it becomes nothing more than an eyesore. And to me, seeing them everywhere just makes me want to scream!

I sometimes wonder if we are just so resigned to living in a messy city, that we don't even notice them anymore. We don't need these 'No Parking' signs. It should be understood that one should not park in front of a gate. And if you really have a problem with people parking in front of your gate, then get your own sign made and remove all the other junk. Or hire a watchman to shoo them away :)

I often feel like collecting all these ads and returning them to their respective companies, with a note saying that we don't want them on our gates. Or on our trees. Or on our compound walls. What do you think? Does it bother you as much? Leave a comment or drop me a line at childofchennai@gmail.com