Mistakes just happen.Typos in print editorials, advertisements etc. that make us take a second look at what may possibly be Freudian slips can do it. Like: “They were married and lived happily even after.” Or “The sergeant is a twenty-year veteran defective on the police force.”

Then there’s the situation when Mad Magazine viciously spoofed the Circuit City stores, a once flourishing electronic distributor. Circuit City stores immediately removed the magazine from stores and discontinued selling the magazine. After a half-hearted apology from the Mad magazine people, Circuit City decided to put the magazine back on its shelves for customers to buy and also arranged to add some self-deprecating humor to their advertising campaign. The company recognized the value of humor in corporate marketing. Alas, that value wasn’t strong enough to withstand the recession of the 2000s.