[DC LoCo] When did Fruit Loops become Open Source cereal?

[Robert Simmons]

On Sun, May 29, 2011 at 11:42 AM, Kevin Cole <dc.loco at gmail.com> wrote:
> On May 29, 2011 11:18 AM, "Robert Simmons" <rsimmons0 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Sun, May 29, 2011 at 10:31 AM, Kevin Cole <dc.loco at gmail.com> wrote:
>> > Just what is Linux mascot Tux doing in a TV cereal commercial? [Video]
>>
>> That's called extremely effective viral advertising.  It got you to
>> watch a fruit loops ad and even forward it to other people on a
>> information channel that fruit loops advertising normally does not
>> travel.
>
> I suppose so, but I cannot believe Tux would cause many Linux users to have
> a sudden craving for a bowl.  (Maybe if the box contained a CD... but even
> then, probably not.) Not likely to make parents go buy it for their kids
> either...
>
> It seems more likely that enthusiasts would just bore their non-geek friends
> and families by pointing Tux out and launching into a FOSS evangelical
> tirade. That's what I'd do. :-)
>
> "Repent! Even Toucan Sam opposes proprietary software!"
>
> Then again I may start referring to "lo" as the fruit loopback device. :-)

Actually the second scenario is exactly the point.  Not all
advertising is to generate direct product sales (your first scenario),
much of viral advertising is to increase brand awareness.  And, I know
that most everyone who watches the commercial is already aware of
fruit loops.  But how many are actively aware of fruit loops?  Of all
the people who have now seen that ad, how many would have thought
about fruit loops today without the ad?  Probably the ones who watch
TV (specifically Sat morning cartoons).  But, I have not watched TV
for years, and now I've thought about fruit loops repeatedly in the
past hour now.