Red Bull People.

I will admit, this post has nothing to do with the internet at all. It does however relate greatly to a new and interesting form of advertising that I experienced first hand. Doubtless you have heard of Coke's famed energy drink, Red Bull. It has been advertised on television as granting the drinker the supernatural ability to fly (Though when I have tried it the only result was a nasty aftertaste and a slight buzz). Despite being disappointed with the beverage I cannot deny the effectiveness of the advertising, now whenever I think of energy drinks I think Red Bull. Recently this point was driven home with even greater force.

Noon last Saturday, it was a nice day warm with a cool breeze. I slept in, as I tend to do on weekends, and was enjoying the warm comfort of my bead when suddenly there came an unorthodox pounding at my door. Out side I heard a number of voices, some I recognized, others foreign, and as I stood I wondered when I became so popular that strange women would come to my room to greet me, not that I minded. I had brief fantasies of opening the door to a huge crowd of people, all of whom adored me and wanted to gift me with huge amounts of money. This was quickly followed by thoughts of being clubbed, bagged, and shipped to China as slave labor. Having covered most of the possible outcomes I figured I was prepared for what awaited me on the other side. I was sorely mistaken.

What greeted me where, easily, the two most cheerful people I have ever met. Both of them were female, between 5'6'' and 5'9'', and with them they bore the colossal smiles and strange cooler backpacks. Now let me say for a moment that I have worked at an amusement park, a place where unnatural friendliness is practically a requirement, yet I no one I had worked with there came even close to how friendly these people were. It was a attentiveness that could only have come 200mg of sodium, 27 grams of sugar, and 80mg of caffeine...per serving. Which is exactly what they were wearing on their backs.

Each of them bore with them a cooler pack, shaped like a can of Red Bull (slashed in half vertically, to be more form fitting). They informed me, in a stream of words so cheerful that it was almost sickening, that they had come to hand out free samples of Red Bull, and that she did not want me to miss out on the opportunity. Extending her hand, she offered me a beverage. drowsy and confused, I accepted. At once they swept from the house, almost as abruptly as they had come, pausing on the way out to inform me that they had placed some complementary cans about the apartment. And then they were gone.

For the rest of the week I have been discovering cans of Red Bull about the house, in the couch, the shower, kitchen cupboard, etc. which has kept me constantly thinking about the beverage, and the individuals who delivered it. I call them Red Bull people, although I think a simple equation would fit them better.

P + x(R) = Red Bull Person
(x being the number of R one can drink in about 15 minutes)

I have also been wondering about the ethics of this campaign. I cannot deny that it is effective, and I am pleased to know that they mostly stick to targeting friends, or friends of friends. Regardless I am left wondering if everone will take it with the same good humor as myself.