Photograph by dospaz
Classics TV Ads that kept it human – BT ‘Ology’
Did you fail any GCSE’s? I did – getting D’s in Maths and Science. I remember not particularly caring because I never wanted to be a Scientist or a Mathematician and got A grades in the subjects I enjoyed. So why did getting a double DD really matter anyway?
According to my teachers at the time it mattered quite a lot. I was forced to retake both subjects to be able to stay in school to do A Levels there (two years which I despised) and a doom laden Head of RE informed me that “No University will take you without pass marks in Maths and Science” which I found out later was a blatant lie.
Anyway after two of the most depressing years of my existence I escaped to a world of magazines, newspapers, creative writing, photography and on the job experience. University in some ways did end up being the best time of my educational life.
The only maths I have ever had to use as an adult in the working world is percentages, which someone cleverer can always help you out with if you get stuck and apart from mismanaging my finances a lot which as nothing to do with algebra or trigonometry then numbers and me plod on in relative harmony.
Getting to the whole reason for this post though (and apologies if I have bored you already) is the point I want to make about the ‘BT Ology’ Advert below which I think is one of the best ever examples of humanity in advertising.
The truth is that as humans we can’t be good at everything, it’s simply not possible. For me this conversation between Maureen Lipman and her Grandson Anthony epitomises human relationship’s and the fact that sometimes in life we can all fail at something so have to learn a lesson from that and go on to discover what we are good at and what the unique skills are that we have to offer.
My secondary school Headmaster Mr Hatton used to say to us “Every single one of you has a talent and you must ensure you find that talent and make a success of it.” That thought always stayed with me and at thirty one I have spent the last thirteen years working in ways that would harness my skills as a writer as I feel that’s my best talent.
Some of you reading this may disagree with that and everyone is entitled to their opinion. I still feel there is a lot to learn and welcome any ways of improving my craft. In many ways even the best talents can become stale and stifled if you don’t see life as a continual learning curve where you can gain thoughts and insights from those around you.
As for Anthony – he may well have turned out to be a celebrated ceramic artist or gone on to pursue sociology at college – who are we to decide? One thing’s for sure – when you are down in the dumps and feel you have done badly its only the people around that truly love you who will pick out the positives to cheer you up.
This is what this advert expresses so well. I am sure Anthony perked up a bit after his Nan helped him see a brighter side. I am also sure he didn’t pursue a career as a neurosurgeon without A’s in Maths and Science but then again neither did I.