This is going to be a gripe session, so if you don't want to read further you can quit now. I suppose some prompting was given to my thoughts here by my niece's blog last week. While the commercial she talked about is a bit weird, it isn't as offensive as many are.
Ads and commercials are part of who we are as a culture, and somehow I need to just get used to it. I agree, but nevertheless, I get so disgusted when I'm watching a program or movie and the commercials keep running so often that it becomes a temptation to look at something else. Also when I'm watching a sports event I like to have a secondary program to switch to during timeouts, between innings, etc. to avoid having to watch the commercials. Invariably when I do that anymore they're running a commercial on the other channel as well. And there's also the occasional ad that pops up on the bottom of the screen, or somewhere, while the program is running. Is this a consumeristic society or what?
Then there's ads on the computer. One needs to have a spam blocker for email, an ad blocker for web surfing, and still sometimes the ads find a way to appear on the computer screen. What really gets to me is when an ad pops up right in the middle of the screen and there's no way to click it off - you just have to wait until its finished. What a bummer!
I find it interesting that some people like commercials and ads. There's even a contest after a major sporting event like the super bowl to see which commercial the viewers thought was the best. That's one for the books! Judging commercials for the best one leaves me wondering what "best" is in the minds of the people who like them. Granted some are funny to a point, such as some of the Sonic ones where two people are sitting in a car at the drive in. But for the most part I mute them when they come on and do something else for the next 5 minutes or so. I could turn the TV off too, but its sort of like the old cliche that used to be said about men and their relationship with women - "you can't get along with them and you can't get along without them." I guess that's where the responsibility for all this falls onto me. So I guess I'll just keep on keeping on with things the way they are. Not much I can, or want, to do to change it. I just wanted to gripe a little. Amen.
Pilgrim on the way
3 comments:
Grandpa-
I know you hate ads but you just HAVE to watch the ad for the new macbook air. it's not annoying and it actually has nice music :) its only 30 seconds and I promise it won't be too painful! But I just think that technology is undeniably amazing sometimes.
www.apple.com (it's on the first page)
You're right about the technology, Whitney. I agree there are some nice, and cute commercials. I guess its the routine ones that I see over and over that get to me sometime. I haven't seen the one you refer to but I'll be on the lookout for it.
Grandpa K.
this is not a new topic for you, dad! hee-hee - grew up with your sometimes funny commentary on all the ads that bugged you. getting a tear in my eye just thinking about it.
hey, what's the cousin's name with the jeep commercial? is that a plank? she's funny. sense of humor runs kinda deep.
i hate the drug ads mostly. so completely stupid and weren't there before mr. bush stepped in, good buddy of the pharmacuetical companies. now we like to prescribe stuff for ourselves.
i have a favorite ad from ikea. it's about home. maybe i'll post it on my blog a little later. pretty music and all.
Post a Comment