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20 People Shot With BB Guns At LG G2 Promotional Event

Posted by Unknown on from the run-for-cover dept.

coolnumbr12 tipped us to a tale of a contest gone wrong at LG's G2 release event. Quoting El Reg: "The PR boffins at LG decided it would be a good idea to release 100 helium-filled balloons, each carrying a voucher entitling the recipient to claim their 950,000 won ($852.54) smartphone. It then took to social media to promote the event, inviting people to witness the balloons' release and encouraging them to grab one of the vouchers. But what must have sounded like a good idea in the marketing meeting quickly dissolved into chaos. People aren’t stupid. They figured out that the only way to get the voucher was to burst the balloons, and they showed up equipped to do so with BB guns, knives on sticks, and other tools." In the ensuing carnage, 20 people were injured. Whoops.

38 of 151 comments (clear)

  1. any pub is good pub by turkeydance · · Score: 2

    and vicey-versy.

    1. Re:any pub is good pub by Joviex · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Isnt that one of those sayings people who fucked up say to make themselves feel better? There is plenty of publicity that is horrible to receive, especially when unwanted. Anthony Weiner. You think the publicity he got made good for him imagewise? Pollwise? Granted, the guy was a dick to begin with, who would have voted for him, but the phallusy that all publicity is good, hardly.

    2. Re:any pub is good pub by c0lo · · Score: 4, Funny

      any pub is good pub

      Not this one, no.

      --
      Questions raise, answers kill. Raise questions to stay alive.
    3. Re:any pub is good pub by LurkerXXX · · Score: 5, Funny

      Les Nessman: I'm here with hundreds of people who have gathered to witness what has been described as perhaps the greatest turkey event in Thanksgiving Day history. All we know for sure is that in a very few moments there are going to be a lot of happy people out here. Now the crowd is...
      [passers-by gawk at Les]
      Les Nessman: The... the crowd is uh... curious but well behaved. And I think I hear something now. Uh... The crowd is moving out into the parking area. And... oh yes! I can see it now. It's a... it's a... helicopter and it's coming this way!
      Andy Travis: A helicopter?
      Les Nessman: It's flying something behind it and I can't quite make it out. It's a large banner and it says H A P P Y... T H A N K S... giving... from W... K... R... P! What a sight, ladies and gentlemen. What a sight. The 'copter seems to circling the parking area now. I guess it's looking for a place to land. No! Something just came out of the back of a helicopter. It's a dark object, perhaps a skydiver plummeting to the earth from only two thousand feet in the air... There's a third... No parachutes yet... Those can't be skydivers. I can't tell just yet what they are but... Oh my God! They're turkeys! Oh no! Johnny can you get this? Oh, they're crashing to the earth right in front of our eyes! One just went through the windshield of a parked car! This is terrible! Everyone's running around pushing each other. Oh my goodness! Oh, the humanity! People are running about. The turkeys are hitting the ground like sacks of wet cement! Folks, I don't know how much longer... The crowd is running for their lives. I think I'm going to step inside. I can't stand here and watch this anymore. No, I can't go in there. Children are searching for their mothers and oh, not since the Hindenberg tragedy has there been anything like this. I don't know how much longer I can hold my position here, Johnny. The crowd...
      Dr. Johnny Fever: Les? Les? Les, are you there? Les isn't there. Thanks for that on-the-spot report, Les. For those of you who've just tuned in, the Pinedale Shopping Mall has just been bombed with live turkeys. Film at eleven.

      Jennifer Elizabeth Marlowe: You want me, Mr. Carlson?
      Arthur 'Big Guy' Carlson: Oh, yeah. Come in, Jennifer. Have a seat.
      Jennifer Elizabeth Marlowe: No, thank you.
      Arthur 'Big Guy' Carlson: Well all right. At this particular point in time, I would like to dictate a press release.
      Jennifer Elizabeth Marlowe: I don't take dictation.
      Arthur 'Big Guy' Carlson: What? Alright, I guess I can do this thing myself. It's probably going to be a long meeting though; so why don't you get coffee for all the guys here?
      Jennifer Elizabeth Marlowe: I don't get coffee, Mr. Carlson. We agreed.
      Arthur 'Big Guy' Carlson: Oh, yeah.
      Jennifer Elizabeth Marlowe: You have to draw the line somewhere.
      Arthur 'Big Guy' Carlson: You got that right.
      Jennifer Elizabeth Marlowe: Will there be anything else I can do?
      Arthur 'Big Guy' Carlson: No. I think that about does it.
      Jennifer Elizabeth Marlowe: Thank you.
      Arthur 'Big Guy' Carlson: Oh, no. Thank you.
      Les Nessman: How does she get away with that?
      Herbert 'Herb' Tarlek: Are you kidding?

      [Les walks in, looking dazed]
      Venus Flytrap: Les! Are you okay?
      Les Nessman: I don't know. A man and his two children tried to kill me. After the turkeys hit the pavement, the crowd kind of scattered but, some of them tried to attack *me*! I had to jam myself into a phone booth! Then Mr. Carlson had the helicopter land in the middle of the parking lot. I guess he thought he could save the day by turning the rest of the turkeys loose. It gets pretty strange after that.
      Venus Flytrap: [to Andy] *How* is it strange?
      Andy Travis: Yeah, right. Les, c'mon now, tell us the rest.
      Les Nessman: [freaked out] I really don't know how to describe it. It was like the turkeys mounted a counter-attack! It was almost as if they were... organized!
      [Mr. Carlson comes out of his office]
      Arthur 'Big Guy' Carlson: As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!

    4. Re:any pub is good pub by LordLucless · · Score: 4, Funny

      but the phallusy that all publicity is good, hardly.

      I so hope that was deliberate

      --
      Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face
    5. Re:any pub is good pub by VortexCortex · · Score: 2

      The best part was:
      Read the rest of this comment...

    6. Re:any pub is good pub by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      You misunderstand the GP, he's British and commented in the wrong thread. He's saying any TAVERN is a good tavern. Not that I agree with him, but...

      "Any pub." Sheesh, you guys are lazy. If you're too lazy to spell it out, just lurk.

  2. Obligatory: by faedle · · Score: 5, Funny

    "As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!"

    1. Re:Obligatory: by loosescrews · · Score: 4, Informative

      Wild turkeys can fly.

    2. Re:Obligatory: by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 4, Funny

      Was Les Nessman doing a live broadcast for this event too?

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    3. Re:Obligatory: by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 2

      Red Wigglers - the Cadillac of worms!

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    4. Re:Obligatory: by jfdavis668 · · Score: 3, Informative

      "This is where the walls of my office would be if I had walls"

    5. Re:Obligatory: by DaveAtFraud · · Score: 5, Informative

      WKRP in Cincinnati episode (for those who didn't see it back when).

      Cheers,
      Dave

      --
      They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither safety nor liberty.
      Ben
    6. Re:Obligatory: by Joviex · · Score: 3, Interesting

      You must hate classic 80's TV. WKRP reference FTW

    7. Re:Obligatory: by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 2

      Actually, I believe you can see it in reruns.

      About the only difference between syndication and the original broadcast episodes are the music--in the original episodes (and, sadly, I'm old enough to remember them) they used music that you'd hear on the radio. In syndication, since they didn't want to pay again for the right to air the music, they replaced it with generic rock music.

    8. Re:Obligatory: by Ashenkase · · Score: 2

      Right up there with "chi chi rod-ode-wheez". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_fq4RQgwuA

  3. Uhh... by readingaccount · · Score: 3, Insightful

    People arenâ(TM)t stupid

    BB guns, knives on sticks

    20 people were injured

    Apparently they are.

    1. Re:Uhh... by djupedal · · Score: 2

      "You get his phaser, Jim - I'll grab his wallet!"

    2. Re:Uhh... by philmarcracken · · Score: 2

      You can have as many smartphones... as you can eat

    3. Re:Uhh... by Darinbob · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You don't bring a BB gun to a knife fight. Except in Fallout.

  4. Link? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/08/12/20_injured_at_lg_smartphone_giveaway_as_pr_stunt_turns_sour/

    1. Re:Link? by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 4, Funny

      Be fair - nobody reads the stories anyway.

      --
      #DeleteChrome
  5. Link? by Microlith · · Score: 2, Informative

    So why did no one bother to ensure there was a link to the article from which the submission was plucked? Stop being so sloppy, Unknown Lamer.

  6. Link? by LordLucless · · Score: 5, Informative

    Seriously, is it too much to ask for a link?

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/08/12/20_injured_at_lg_smartphone_giveaway_as_pr_stunt_turns_sour/

    --
    Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face
  7. Re:So, You're Saying... by HornWumpus · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You shoot a balloon. Someone else gets the (your) voucher. What to do, what to do?

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  8. Re:Oh Shit! by macmastery · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Kimchi"

    You're welcome.

  9. Re:False reporting - 20 people were not shot! by PCM2 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Actually, it's not false reporting. It's just Slashdot pasting a misleading headline onto what was otherwise an accurately reported story.

    --
    Breakfast served all day!
  10. Inaccurate summary by Jiro · · Score: 4, Informative

    Fortunately someone else posted the link to the article, which in turn has a Korea Times link. 20 people were hurt, but they seem to have been hurt in the riot; the fact that BB guns were shot is a separate statement and nowhere does the article sayor imply that the 20 people who were hurt were shot by the guns.

    1. Re:Inaccurate summary by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 2

      Actually, considering the number of people who are accidentally shot when the gun "just goes off" while it is being cleaned, put in a holster, unloaded, or simply held, I wouldn't be too sure that those guns aren't out to get us.

      According to the NRA, all gun owners are highly responsible people, so it can't be the people who own the guns. It must be the guns themselves. They're out to get us, I tell ya!

    2. Re:Inaccurate summary by ProzacPatient · · Score: 2

      These people probably didn't visually and tactiley inspect the chamber and even worse is that they probably didn't keep their finger off the trigger.
      The amount of ignorance regarding the same handling guns is unbelievable but a couple things to keep in mind is: THE GUN IS ALWAYS LOADED, NO EXCEPTIONS and the other is TO ALWAYS KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER.
      If you keep the mentality that the gun is always loaded and ready to fire then you and the people around you will be a lot safer; its kind of like the rule to carry a knife pointing downward or never run with scissors because there always remains the chance you could trip and impale yourself.

      The NRA had an educational program at one point in schools to teach kids gun safety should they ever encounter a gun but unfortunately it became too politically incorrect to teach kids how to be safe because certain groups seem to think the world is covered in bubble wrap or that teaching kids how to be safe with a gun, or what to do should the encounter one, is going to turn kids into psychotic serial killers.

  11. Re:Citation Needed by M.+Baranczak · · Score: 2

    Without a link, this is just rumor-mongering.

    The link goes to The Register. So it's really not much better.

  12. Re:Why BB guns? by Pumpkin+Tuna · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yeah, until some enterprising guy with a bb gun realized that you are really just another balloon.

  13. Offtopic Alert by denmarkw00t · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Mods: I have some simple requests:

      - It's ok to edit poor grammar or at least add a [sic] when it's just unbearable to read
      - Headlines should actually reflect the content of the story ACCURATELY
      - Sensationalizing is for the source, it has no place here
      - It's generally expected of us here in the comments to RTFA before going off blasting things out of our arses - we'd appreciate the same from you
      - Post some crappy book reviews every now and then - why not?
      - Make updates when it makes sense or when comments accurately point out misleading or important details - I notice this happening on some things (kernel-related stories) but not so much on "news" news.

  14. Re:So, You're Saying... by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 4, Informative

    "The BBs go up,
    who cares where they come down?
    That's not my department," says
    various Koreans trying to win a free phone.

    (With profuse apologies to Tom Lehrer)

  15. Re:950,000? by black3d · · Score: 2

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korean_won

    --
    "The true measure of a person is how they act when they know they won't get caught." - DSRilk
  16. Is it good pub if it causes you to fail? by Camael · · Score: 4, Informative

    Well, it got you talking about him, his name on the tip of your tongue and in the mouths of those nationwide

    Yes, people are talking about him. Negatively. So?

    The publicity from his first scandal caused him to resign form the Congress seat he had already won.

    The publicity from his second scandal is doing a fine job of killing his bid to be the NYC mayor.

    The publicity is always about his sexual habits. Not about how good a leader/person he is, his achievements or qualifications, his contributions to society etc. None of that matters. And it gives his opponents a free shot at him that he can't dodge.

    The fact that he resigned in 2011 and kept a low profile for a year I'm sure was because he hoped the publicity would die down and be forgotten. All in all, I'm pretty sure he'd rather not have to deal with this '"good" publicity.

    1. Re:Is it good pub if it causes you to fail? by Geoffrey.landis · · Score: 2

      Well, it got you talking about him

      Yes, people are talking about him. So?

      Talking about what? The article is about "a contest gone wrong at LG's G2 release event." So, apparently one two-letter acronym was releasing another two-letter acronym. I don't even know what country this event was in. It does quote "El Reg," so I assume it's Spanish-speaking.

      Stupid acronyms.

      --
      http://www.geoffreylandis.com
  17. Bullshit. by bmo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    People are dumb. The amount of dumbth is directly proportional to the crowd size.

    Some of us are old enough to remember the Rolling Stones concert with the Hell's Angels drunken "security" detail and the Who concert with "festival" seating.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altamont_Free_Concert

    I was a wee tyke when this happened, but I remember the news story.

    http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/eleven-people-killed-in-a-stampede-outside-who-concert-in-cincinnati-ohio

    --
    BMO - "You'll put your eye out!" /christmas_story