As far as movies and video games go, there is a stark difference there because it’s entertainment. Expectations can be set appropriately for those experiences because the understanding is that they’re not real. We also pay to experience movies and games, so we choose it.

The Nike thing, however, is paid media that uses the product benefit (it’ll make you jump higher) to promote an incredibly unsafe activity. In this sense, it’s much guiltier of “training” us to do something. Advertisers make ads because they want somebody to carry out an action and they pay to push it on us. Viral video has blurred the paid media line for some, but not for me.

But go on believing that this is just silly, innocent fun. Because that’s exactly what Nike wants you to do.

I mean, honestly, if a 15 year old kid cracked his skull open because he saw Kobe do this, would that be his own “damn fault?” Would you say that to the kid’s parents?

I “saw” Kobe do this and didn’t crack my skull. I saw him do it from the comfort and safety of my computer. So “seeing” Kobe do this is very safe.

It is in the actual attempt to jump over a car that the danger lies. And for that, my explanation to the parents of the kid with a cracked skull would be: He didn’t jump high enough.

Also, in the last day I’ve seen several cars drive up and down sides of buildings, jumping from one to the next. Do you think a lot of people are gonna go out and buy these cars thinking they can do this? Is Ford in for a lot of lawsuits because people are driving their cars off buildings?

Give people a little more credit for their capacity to use common-sense.

The reason I think this crosses the line is it’s ADVERTISING. This isn’t just Kobe doing this on his own with friends, it’s designed to sell shoes. So my point is it’s extremely irresponsible and dishonest for a star of Bryant’s magnitude to do this and post it on his website as if it were just him goofing with some friends.

I mean, honestly, if a 15 year old kid cracked his skull open because he saw Kobe do this, would that be his own “damn fault?” Would you say that to the kid’s parents?

Its an add. Its not encouraging people to stand in traffic and jump over cars. He even expressly says DO NOT try this at home, multiple times! I assume the counter argument would be “What about the people who are too stupid to take that warning seriously, or who just see that as a challenge? What about them? What if they hurt themselves? Won’t Nike and Kobe be responsible for their injuries?” The answer is NO. Time for people to take some responsibility for themselves.

If you try to jump over a speeding car, and you don’t make it, thats your own damn fault. Don’t blame anyone else…. even if you DID see it in a commercial.

I don’t doubt Kobe has the athletic skills to pull the stunt off. He might get fined by the NBA or Lakers, but at worst that’d be a slap on the wrist to someone in his income bracket.

As far as kids trying to copy this, I am tempted to say “evolution in action”, but you are probably right, there will be some stupid enough to try it, and it is is irresponsible for Kobe/Nike not to disclose that it is a fake.

Some people are stupid and they will attempt to do this and get hit by a car. Why does Nike have a responsibility to censor their ads so that stupid people don’t hurt or kill themselves?

1) They stole the shot from a movie. I can’t remember which one but I believe I remember Steven Segal being involved. Exit Wounds maybe? Either way, its not exactly new to pop culture and I’m sure it will be seen far more often in the movie than in Kobe’s YouTube.

2) Joey Gathright, center fielder for the Kansas City Royals was way ahead of him when he did this a few years back.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cySfw8f0beg