The "balloon boy's" parents... What is the limit to free publicity?

[Dien Rice]

Hi,

I've been following the "balloon boy" story... If you don't know of it, you can read about it on (for example) google news...

http://news.google.com/news/search?q=%22balloon+boy%22

In brief, about a week ago, there were fears that a 6 year old boy had become "caught" in a helium balloon (with basket) that he had accidentally released. People were afraid for the boy's safety, and many were riveted to the news story (I was one of them). The helium balloon was tracked as it traveled at high altitude across the country. Planes were diverted away from its airspace. Rescue teams were activated, especially when the boy was found not to be in the balloon, and there were fears he had fallen out.

In the end, it turned out that the kid was never in the balloon at all, but was "hiding" at his parents' house.

Now, there is the real possibility that the whole thing was a hoax, or a "publicity stunt". The boy's parents had apparently wanted to create a reality TV show, starring them and their strange activities and experiments. When his Dad asked the boy on national TV (CNN) why he was hiding, the boy answered to his father, "You guys said that we did this for the show."

So, what are the limits for publicity stunts? When you look into the history of publicity stunts, the limits of what's "accepted" are usually stretched. Do you think such a publicity stunt is justified? Where is the limit?

- Dien

P.S. You can find some interesting past commercial publicity stunts on the "Museum of Hoaxes" website...

http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/a...y/advertising/

Dien, I think it has more to do with setting limits. A stunt is a stunt...except when it costs other, innocent, people their time and money. When you're usurping needed search and rescue personnel, costing air traffic controllers, pilots, and airlines time and fuel costs and risking the lives of others who may have not received the appropriate amount of attention to their emergency due to the usurpation of the authorities and rescuers resources on a hoax, it's long past time limits were set, and realistic punishments enacted, for those who do not use good sense and want publicity at any price.

That's my feeling about it and some other stunts I've heard about over the years. As the saying goes: your right to swing your arm stops at the end of my nose. So, too, with publicity stunts.

Sandi Bowman

Dien,

A few important Lessons to Learn about Publicity stunt planning...

Never-Ever leave a paper and/or email trail in Today's world which is Almost impossible...

Especially if you're Going to Hookup, Joint Venture or Network a couple of fairly Unintelligent people together...

They must of being Thinking of becoming the next “Dummy” related Write a Book series Success story...

Bet we'll be Seeing a variety of "Balloon Boy" related Story books, Gadgets etc. etc...

Actually "Balloon Boy" Product Creation in pretty Quiet so far...

Could be some Quick "Balloon Boy" Story Books and business opportunities for a few Creative entrepreneurs who get in fast and play off of the current Publicity...
http://www.newser.com/story/71831/we...-souvenir.html

Sure Give away your Secrets...

Exclusive: I Helped Richard Heene Plan a Balloon Hoax
http://gawker.com/5383858/exclusive-...a-balloon-hoax

Robert Thomas, a collaborator with Richard Heene, revealed that Heene was planning a media stunt to promote the show...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091019/...us_balloon_boy

Media outlet agreed to pay Heenes in balloon hoax
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/ar...n-balloon-hoax

A few more Great reads on Publicity stunts...
http://www.google.com/search?q=publi...tbs=ww:1&tbo=1

Phil

It seems this family was also featured on the TV reality show "Wife Swap".
They should have to foot the bill for the search mission. It's so obvious
that it was a PR stunt. Unfortunately they are likely to get away with this
one but their credibility is shot now and that will make it more difficult for
them to pull off another bogus stunt.

Cheers,
Steve

Check Out These Free Cash Cloning Internet Marketing Videos!

Looks like I was wrong. Seems the balloon boys parents are not going to get away with their irresponsible, orchestrated, publicity stunt.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091113/...us_balloon_boy

Cheers,
Steve Shulenski
www.DigitalFantasyBackgrounds.com