I, like most Americans, spend a fair amount of time watching TV and much of that time is watching commercials, not by choice of course. Thank God for Tivo ® and fast forward.
I wonder, do commercials reflect our society or simply the morons who think them up? I know most are straightforward, and some are actually entertaining, some are just dumb especially the homemade variety for auto dealerships, but I can understand that. On the other hand, some send a disturbing message. Oh, I don’t know like destroying property, doing stupid things, or simply trying to get away stealing.
Here are a few examples, a child is playing in the yard and covered with mud, the mother says as soon as you get cleaned up we can go for ice cream, so the father simply turns the garden hose on his son and when he falls backward he sprays him again.
A women is checking out at IKEA and notices her bill with surprise, the screen reads “It’s not a mistake” but the women thinking it is runs out of the store screaming, “Start the car, start the car” jumps in and speeds off yelling with delight thinking she has just ripped off the store.
A young woman stops her car pulls out a chain saw and cuts down a telephone pole that falls into a string of polls all of which come tumbling down. I bet the phone company loves that and no doubt, some imitator will try it. Where is a cop when you need them?
However, it is not only those that send an absurd message, we are now heading into new territory with television advertising. I was watching the Lifetime network recently and could not believe my eyes (or ears). Two young women were discussing and whispering about the benefits of a new product. An older woman overhears the conversation and says, “I ‘love’ mine.” I bet she does, no pun intended. What could it be, new nail polish remover, new hair remover, or a fantastic new diet pill?
Hey be creative, see for yourself what’s advertised on TV these days. You may want to get a bottle of wine and turn on some mood music first.
Here’s the link: Fun With Dick and Jane, or at least Jane
What are these advertisers thinking?
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