Bark Out Loud: Creative or Crass?
Last week Jaime and I got into an interesting conversation over our thoughts regarding the Povodokus Retractable Dog Leash above. Through our conversation, we realized just how provocative this concept design piece is, and decided that we would love to hear your thoughts on it.
Bark out Loud: Do you find this product creative or crass? What are some of your reasons?
Crass. No matter how kitschy or cool it may seem, it send the wrong message and isn’t funny.
AWFUL. I dont understand how any dog lover would think this would be funny or cute.
!!!TERRIBLE!!! No dog owner would ever walk their loved one like this.
I think it would work for Lady Gaga (because everything she does is tongue in cheek) but it’s crass for the average dog lover.
I can appreciate the design element to it, but I definitely would never buy one.
I can just foresee getting surrounded by police while walking your dog in the evening! And I think it does sorta send the wrong message. Perhaps it might be perceived differently if it was made to look more like a toy squirt gun or something? I wonder if that would change people’s reactions to it?
I think that’s a great point Kyley. Perhaps if this was made to look much more like a toy gun or a squirt gun, it would be looked at in a totally different light. Much more funny than aggressive.
Yeah, maybe if it was hot pink with bright neon accents I might feel a little differently.
While i originally sent this to the guy I am dating because he’s enjoys sight gags (gun umbrella was a fave), I admit I don’t really like this idea myself. Turns out my guy doesn’t like it either… because he thinks it sends the wrong message to kids. Not to mention there’s the entire possibility that a strong enough dog could snap the lead all together.
We will stick to the fraying cotton horse lead for my dog’s walking excursions and leave the violent kitsch at home.
I have to give them the creativity award but for everyday use, I wondered if this is practical. Imagine holding that for a long walk and what if you have a puller of somehow something scares your dog… how much control will you get?
Totally crass. Also, possibly illegal: aren’t fake guns supposed to have, by law, the little orange tip on them so that people know they’re fake? I like that girl’s boots, though.
ha ha katherine! I like her boots too.
I can’t figure out why the designers would choose to announce this revolutionary and humorous product on April 1st of all days!
Nope. Can’t suss that one out for the life of me.
We’re not debating whether this is a real product. We’re debating the design and whether or not the idea and design is creative or tasteless. Regardless of whether it is a joke, it certainly brings up an interesting discussion.
Crass. It makes me upset that this exists, or that anyone would buy it.
Oh my good lord doesn’t anybody have a sense of humor anymore or is it just dog owners? Listen I don’t own a dog but I would buy one just to get to use this product. It’s FUNNY. Fine, maybe it isn’t FUNNY to your particular sense of humor but that hardly means it’s sending a wrong message. I think people have the cognitive ability to recognise if they are keeping a dog on a leash it is at cross purposes to shoot that dog. I just wish they made one of these for those baby harneses, now that would be a riot.
YESSSSS!!! The reactions to this are so over the top. Finally a commonsensical one. You pretty much said it for me, but I’ll add that I happen to own a dog and I would get this.
However, people’s general reactions to this are probably on par with what the average joe on the street would think, and I live in Texas, so maybe for my own safety (and that of my dog) I’ll hold back…Grrr, come to your senses people! I really want this leash!
I cant believe ppl are offended, oh well to each his own. but to sit and say no one should buy this blah blah blah. Get over yourselves. I find it cheeky, and funny in a dark comedy kind of way. ive been a dog owner all my life, and its totally a product id buy.
I agree with most of the previous comments CRASS. The reason being is I truly don’t think it is that original also it sends a bad message in some way visually.
Crass.
It’s far too real and sinister looking to provide a real sense of humour of kitsch sensibility about it.
I agree with Jaime, above, that if it came in another colour it would seem different, for example if it was a range of pastel colours it would seem more like some part of a crazy Austin Powers getup.
But this way? Not for me.
I just think that this product is odd looking, not to mention dangerous for the user. Imagine what a police office might think if you were walking the dog on a dark street? I think I’ll take a pass on this product an not risk getting shot :O
Zha did a redesign — looks more like a water gun: http://zhazha0601.blogspot.com/2011/04/water-gun-redesign.html
Yeah, see now that doesn’t bother me so much. It’s way more “playful”.
This, as someone said above, is ridiculous. Why would you want to even LOOK like you are pointing a gun at your supposedly loved pet? How is that funny at all? If someone else was pointing a gun at them, I think most of us would be in tears…And for the dingbat who suggests they make these for baby harnesses? Are you for REAL??? Besides not wanting kids to think guns are funny or ok, do we REALLY need any MORE of a show of violent objects in our every day life?? Pets are calming comforting companions to those of us who love and appreciate them. The idea of this is just appalling…
1. Retractable leashes should be taken off the market.
2. Anything gun related is a no-no, toy or not.
3. Any weapon pointed at anybody or any animal is a no-no, toy or not.
4. I get quirky – just not in this way.
5. Thumbs down for me.
Always love Ron’s photography.
All best regards ~
My thought too was…retractable leashes..yuck! Don’t walk you dog like this, with or without a gun shaped handle. And truely will police like it, no, will small children recognize it as a retractable leash, or a gun pointed at a dog
Live in huge Urban City, seen gun violence and violence towards animal spirits; your leash is a visual violence advocator. BEYOND CRASS TOTALLY NEGATIVE!!!!
LOVE THIS! I’m a vegetarian, I love dogs and animals and I LOVE this idea! Too Funny!
Not a fan at all! I think its awful.
LOOOL
Oh how I wish the world was made up of people with just my sense of humor
Would totally buy this but I can’t get away with anything terrible and dirty in public. If it were just me and my dog alone though it’d be hilarious but everyone else would see it as an opportunity to get outraged and lecture.
Would I point a gun-shaped toy at my dog’s head? Let’s just say if he’s walking loose-leash he won’t have that problem :I
But hold on – it’s a retractable leash – it’s impossible to walk loose leash with one unless you lock it at one length.
They should be banned from use in public anyway,I reckon. Dangerous things – not reliable enough, other dogs can’t see the cord and hurt themselves on them if they run into it – especially if the other dog is pulling the leash out – rope burns – ouch. Plus, they teach some dogs to pull on the leash.
I think the idea is clever – I see the humour in it, black humour though it may be.
Crass. People might see the idea as cute, but I think it’s terrible. I love my dog, and would never want to send this kind of message when we’re out walking. Terrible.
Obviously, this was designed by a NON-dog owner. I don’t think any normal dog owner would use anything like this. And, why would they??
BBbbbbbboooooooooooooooooooooo…bad taste!
Get over it people!!! This is a funny creative idea. Step off your high horse and enjoy life!
i love it. i’d definitely put my boyfriend on a leash like that. would i walk a dog with it? no, everyone with eyes would be all over me for animal abuse. it’s great, just impractical on a walk outside of the house.
Bad. People walking dogs are dog-lovers. Who would want to look like they are shooting their dog? It’s an unethical product.
NOPE… sorry, I am all about interesting design ideas and I believe I have a good sense of humor, but I really don’t like this. I don’t like the idea of having a “gun” pointed at my dog, who I love, it just seems incredibly wrong. Yuck…
No way my luck I’d get stop by the police! It’s creepy and just wrong