Instant Karma’s Gonna Get You
Metlink, the public transport system in Melbourne, Australia, has recently launched a new advertising campaign aimed at encouraging riders to buy tickets when using their system.
We’ve all been there before. We shelled out the ever increasing fee for a ticket, rode the tram/train/bus around all day and not once were we asked for our ticket. The whole time we’re asking ourselves why we have to be so morally responsible and always cough up the dough when they guy sitting next to us never does!
Well, Metlink is taking as stab at telling its riders just why it’s in their best interest to buy a ticket, and this is what they’ve come up with: Fare Evasion Karma. Metlink’s website explains it like this, “…the advertising campaign reminds us that the universe is always watching and is ready to exact retribution if you cheat the public transport system.”
From a creative aspect this campaign is fairly clever and fun. The randomness of the funny/creepy “Karma Lama” makes me chuckle every time I visit the campaign microsite.
The issue I’m having with this all is how relaxed the transit authority is about embracing this eastern philosophy of cosmic Karma. The advertisers have boiled right and wrong (obedience and sin) down to the simple idea of “what comes around, goes around.” The statement from their website (”..the advertising campaign reminds us that the universe is always watching and is ready to exact retribution if you cheat the public transport system.”) definitely leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
It’s no doubt that we live in a post-Christian, post-sin society. What do you think about advertising like this? Has the pendullum swung too far the other way? Is society OK with anything but Jesus? I’m curious to hear what you have to say.
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It deffinatly seems as though the entire “eye for an eye” mindset is being taken on this one.