Ramblings of a Confused Guy

Originally posted May 6, 2019

Many of us have been listening to and watching commercials for most of our lives. Do you have have a moment while listening to a commercial where a statement or phrase they say hits you the wrong way or makes you wonder if they really meant to say that?

There is a laser eye surgery company that has a number of different ads currently being aired. The one that first put me off was one where the equate someone who doesn’t get laser eye surgery as a chicken. Someone who is a coward. When i was younger, no comments required, calling someone a chicken was often a way of bullying them to do what you wanted them to do. I know that in today’s modern era, that words and phrases like this have taken on new meaning and are used in a more humorous way, but for me, when i first heard this commercial it was a bit of a shock. I’m not sure i would want to promote my business by bullying people to get surgery.

The second thing I’ve notice in this same company’s commercials is their ending tag line. “Take care of yourself, promise me!”

Why would i need to make a promise to some women on the radio that I will take care of myself? What does she have to benefit other than making more money off of people who fall for these ads?

Yes, these ideas may be petty, in some respects, but I am frustrated with the attempted manipulation of advertising in many areas. I wish that we were smarter as humans and could recognize the truth through the cloud of suggestive information.

Don’t be a chicken, do what you want, not what an advertiser wants you to do!