Are Commercials and Products Really Killing Us?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ivan Seeking
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the impact of commercials and products on consumer perception and health, with a focus on advertising practices, the efficacy of marketed products, and the portrayal of pharmaceuticals. Participants explore various examples of misleading advertisements, particularly in the context of food, household products, and medications.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express skepticism about the claims made in commercials, particularly regarding the "natural aging process" of meat and the freshness of bread.
  • There is a shared disdain for drug commercials that promote "100% natural" remedies, with some arguing that natural does not equate to safe.
  • Participants recount personal experiences with herbicides, suggesting they are ineffective against persistent weeds like dandelions.
  • One participant discusses a conversation with a commercial director, highlighting differing interpretations of a Hummer commercial that seemingly promotes cheating in a race.
  • Several posts critique infomercials for hair care products, pointing out deceptive practices in demonstrating product effectiveness.
  • Interest is expressed in new treatments for psoriasis, with some participants seeking more information about specific medications and their side effects.
  • A humorous observation is made about the absurdity of listing drowsiness as a side effect of a sleep aid, questioning the logic behind such claims.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the misleading nature of many commercials and the questionable efficacy of advertised products. However, there is no consensus on the best approach to address these issues or on the safety and effectiveness of specific medications discussed.

Contextual Notes

Some claims about product effectiveness and safety are anecdotal and may depend on individual experiences. The discussion includes various assumptions about the nature of advertising and consumer behavior that remain unexamined.

  • #31
Not debunking here, but has anyone seen the Fruit of the Loom guys singing? That commercial cracks me up - "I see a lot of apple". :smile: I would love to write for commercials.

There is one running on the Sci-Fi channel that would seem to indicate an end of the "no beef" era. The lyrics are: "Eat steak eat steak, eat a big ole steer, eat steak eat steak, come'n get it here. Eat steak eat steak, eat a big ole steer, eat steak eat steak, come'n get it here". I can just imagine the vegetarians and vegans watching, all now heaving in their bathrooms...

But one that gets me is the Brady Bunch style commercial for sour cream. I forget the brand... but they show potatoes and all sorts of other foods loaded with sour cream, all while singing this cutesie little tune. The staging and melody connote wholesomeness, tradition, family, and a beautiful spring day. The contrast between the commercial and the reality of heart patients in the ER is what strikes me the most.

edit: how could I forget? Daisy brand sour cream
http://www.daisybrand.com/

"Pure and Natural" too! Doesn't that look healthy?
 
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