GEAR GUARD "THINGY" POLL -- Love it, Hate it or Indifferent?

[Lil'O Annie]

I'm glad to see a number of people embracing the Gear Guard little thingy, not because I like it, but because I'm more on the side of in the big scheme of things it really doesn't matter to me. But, to be honest, my first impression was "Ugh--I don't like it." I don't know why I don't like it, but it just doesn't do anything for me and I lean a bit to the don't like it side. What is it suppose to represent?

For me, I think I'd like to see a choice between different things, like maybe a grizzly bear, cougar, badger, golden eagle, etc. (I think you get my drift).

So, while we sit twiddling our thumbs waiting for our Riv Babies, this is basically another nonsensical poll for something to talk about while we wait.
Like I said, it really isn't important to me in the grand scheme of things, but I think over time I might find it a little irritating to have to look at something I find a bit on the ugly side.

So why even post this poll? Well, I'm wondering if I'm the only one that doesn't find this little character all that appealing.

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[DuckTruck]

I'm glad to see a number of people embracing the Gear Guard little thingy, not because I like it, but because I'm more on the side of in the big scheme of things it really doesn't matter to me. But, to be honest, my first impression was "Ugh--I don't like it." I don't know why I don't like it, but it just doesn't do anything for me and I lean a bit to the don't like it side. What is it suppose to represent?

For me, I think I'd like to see a choice between different things, like maybe a grizzly bear, cougar, badger, golden eagle, etc. (I think you get my drift).

So, while we sit twiddling our thumbs waiting for our Riv Babies, this is basically another nonsensical poll for something to talk about while we wait.
Like I said, it really isn't important to me in the grand scheme of things, but I think over time I might find it a little irritating to have to look at something I find a bit on the ugly side.

So why even post this poll? Well, I'm wondering if I'm the only one that doesn't find this little character all that appealing.

This creature must be closely related to Bill Walton. If I were snooping around in the back of the truck and this creature started ranting like Walton does during a PAC-12 basketball game, I would run for the hills!

 

[Gator42]

There was a thread a while back with discussion of Tesla's easter eggs and fart jokes. I'd much rather see the company be a little more stoic with the vehicle but then again I'm not twenty. Once the company missteps, as it inevitably will (or has) the imbedded playfulness doesn't seem so fun to me anymore.

 

[kommonplace]

I somewhat mentioned this in another post but seemed to be in the minority. I'm not a fan. I wouldn't say I HATE it as it's that big a deal to me, but if we could replace it with something else, I'd prefer that.

 

[KenJ]

I'm glad to see a number of people embracing the Gear Guard little thingy, not because I like it, but because I'm more on the side of in the big scheme of things it really doesn't matter to me. But, to be honest, my first impression was "Ugh--I don't like it." I don't know why I don't like it, but it just doesn't do anything for me and I lean a bit to the don't like it side. What is it suppose to represent?

For me, I think I'd like to see a choice between different things, like maybe a grizzly bear, cougar, badger, golden eagle, etc. (I think you get my drift).

So, while we sit twiddling our thumbs waiting for our Riv Babies, this is basically another nonsensical poll for something to talk about while we wait.
Like I said, it really isn't important to me in the grand scheme of things, but I think over time I might find it a little irritating to have to look at something I find a bit on the ugly side.

So why even post this poll? Well, I'm wondering if I'm the only one that doesn't find this little character all that appealing.

It could have been so much worse … LOL

 

[jessefive]

I'm on the side of love. I think she's a playful little addition and I'm glad she's around!

And I'm still calling her Gigi...

 

[Mjhirsch78]

Fits perfectly here in the PNW. A truck with a Sasquatch-type critter protecting it? Yup.

 

[crashmtb]

It's fun to have fun sometimes. Usually designers only get to put this sort of thing in hidden spots, like the shark on the size of vauxhaull/opel gloveboxes.

They had to have something attention grabbing to show the security system is active, so why not a samsquanch lookin character with a camera?

 

[kneebuster]

Do you think she turns white and becomes an abominable snowwoman in the winter?

Either way, I think that her name should be s00nie!

 

[CommodoreAmiga]

It could have been so much worse … LOL

Microsoft Bob says, “hold my beer.”

 

[SeaGeo]

Do you think she turns white and becomes an abominable snowwoman in the winter?

Either way, I think that her name should be s00nie!

I mentioned that last night actually. I would absolutely love it if they could straight up license the the abominable snowman from the old stop motion movie for December. That'd be such an awesome Easter egg. Or having it be a little situational aware where it gets hot in the summer.

Also, it's sort of cool how they have an old "film" camera thst matches the vignette theme they like in their marketing videos.

 

[Gator42]

Fits perfectly here in the PNW. A truck with a Sasquatch-type critter protecting it? Yup.

If they were going that route they could have just gone with Squatch. They say he's 'retired' but I think he's really just unemployed

 

[ATX]

Hate would be an overstatement but I‘m not a fan. It’s not that I mind something fun or playful. I think some of the Tesla easter eggs are fun/clever (although what, there are fart jokes? ugh). But I’m just not a fan of the art or character design. It looks too juvenile? unrefined? Not sure i can put a finger on it. Just don’t like it.

 

[TessP100D]

This creature must be closely related to Bill Walton. If I were snooping around in the back of the truck and this creature started ranting like Walton does during a PAC-12 basketball game, I would run for the hills!

#32 could really score.

 

[kylealden]

My thought - I love it, I think it's a great playful quirk without being a Tesla fart machine, and I think it fits the "adventure" brand nicely. In a vacuum, I'd be all for it.

HOWEVER

I'm pretty concerned that it doesn't effectively signal "you're triggering an active alarm system and being recorded." FWIW the Tesla versions (both the new Portal-ish one and the old HAL one) have the same problem, as does the cutesy-but-low-contrast Dog Mode animation.

These are going to be viewed through windows, probably tinted, with glare and all kinds of other effects obscuring visibility. The semantic goal here is to warn the person that they are being monitored and may trigger an alarm (or in the case of Dog Mode, to please not break a window). Whimsy and entertainment are very low on the list of values here.

I'd much prefer something like a full-width, full-brightness yellow screen with flashing highlights and a "caution" symbol with clear block text warning like "ALARM IS ARMED, RECORDING 360° VIDEO." Then if you want to embed a playful animation in the corner or on the aux (driver) display, go for it. But goal number one is to warn/inform and draw attention to the screen.

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