Monday, March 23, 2009

Commercials

I understand the need for commercials. Some are very clever and fun. Lately there are many of them that are very irritating.

Besides the disturbing Old Navy mannequin ads (I don’t feel the need to elaborate), the one on top of my list is the new Kleenex commercials where the lady keeps repeating the word TOUCH. Touch this, touch that, the list goes on and on for the whole commercial. I mute it every time it comes on or I change the channel – opposite effect I believe the advertisers want.

Then there are the stupid commercials that try to have these catchy tunes but seriously need to get a clue - (Hillshire Farms – Go Meat and Subway’s – Five Dollar Foot Longs).

My favorite though is any NEW drug commercial. What I dislike about these are all the possible side effects. They can include everything from dry mouth to cancer for the same drug (talk about a stretch). They always end the same – “Ask your doctor if this drug will be right for you.” Oh yeah, that makes it better. Why would I want to try something that could kill me when my original problem is not life threatening?

Repetitions of ads help sell their products. It puts it in the consumers mind and they remember them, even years later. I still can sing the Oscar Mayer bologna song.

When I first became a Christian, I memorized scripture. I still know those verses 30 years later. I need to be more careful of what gets repeated over and over and gets stuck in my brain. I need to guard what comes into me because enough of it becomes something solid.

So Lord, help me to continue to repeat more of You in my life and more of Your word.

© Nadine Zawacki 2009

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree some commercials are terrible!

Dawn said...

But the marketing worked, right? Even if the commercials irritated you, you do remember enough of them to tell us about them.

I guess I've missed the Old Navy commercials and I'm guessing I haven't missed anything of value.

Blessings!

Susan said...

I hate most commercials and I mute them when watching the very little TV we watch. I hate that every where, every minute someone is trying to sell me something. Can't we do a few things "just because" without looking at everything as a way to make money?
Susan

Scarlet said...

We can all use that prayer (your last line). I need more of his thoughts floating in my head rather than that little devil's. I hear you, girl friend!

I still remember the "two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun" commercial. The kids get so impressed when I sing it fast. ;)

Dawn said...

I don't think I've seen any of those commercials except the horrible drug ones. I liked it better when there were things you couldn't advertise. The ED ones irritate me the most!

I record most of my faves now, so can ff through all commercials. YES!!

Brenda said...

And have you noticed how the commercials are louder--some a lot louder--than the show you're watching.
That's definitely something we haven't missed since we turned off the tv!

Louise said...

So incredibly true, I need to become more aware of what is sticking in my head and heart!!
Thanks for the great reminder.
Hugs, thinking of you :)

Shawna said...

Oh, Nadine, I am the same way. I am so convicted of what is going in that lately I am just turning it off even more, or if I am watching something, I will usually mute the commercials, or change the channel for a minute until a certain part is over with.

I'm not saying everyone has to be this extreme, it is just what I am convicted of right now for me.

j said...

There are some AWEFUL commercials out there. Sometimes I am shocked at what advertisers use! And you are right, a terrible commercial can make me NOT buy a product.

Allie said...

I am so glad I am not the only one who finds the Old Navy commercials disturbing!

One I do like even though I don't buy their products are Gerber adds they always put me in tears.

I hope the UBP is as good to you as it has been for me - glad I found your site!

palmtreefanatic said...

I totally hate commercials, some are dumb and most are dumber! One thing I miss about the DVR is you can foreward all that nonsence!

Unknown said...

My least favorite commercial right now is "A Large for $5.99?" It drives me crazy. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Bex said...

i wish we had some catchy commericals to remember scriptures! that is so hard for me to do. if i do memorize one, ten days later, i have forgotten. but yes, i remember, "my bologna has a first name, Its O-S-C-A-R ..."

Vi (pronounced Vy) said...

the old navy commercials are creeping me out. seriously. i agree 100%

she
www.shebecameabutterfly.net

Lala's world said...

thanks for the reminder :)

julie said...

Hi, Nadine,

It's Julie Cole. (Streams) I'm visiting your blog for the blog party. I had never heard of a blog party before--so I'm participating because of reading about it on your blog. Blessings to you and Tom!

Always a Southern Girl said...

The Old Navy commercials are very interesting to say the least. I read another blog that mentioned them as well. At least they have everyone talking right! That is what they are supposed to do. I really enjoyed your post. I'm glad I stopped by.

Jen(n) said...

That's why I like to tell you how much I love you guys... so you will hear it over and over in your head whenever you think of us! :)))

Praying for you and your wonderful husband today.

Cindy Swanson said...

So agree with you on the Old Navy commercial! Goodness!

Good words here, Nadine.

Reva said...

Thanks for bringing up those irritating commercials and especially the medical ones which I can't stand. They are just trying to sell their experimental concoctions to all us lab rats willing to sign up.
By the way, I haven't sent you any bits of my book yet cause I've been in and out of the hospital alot lately and I've not been working on it. I hope to get back into it soon. When is yours going on the market? Can I get one soon?
Thanks,
Reva

Anonymous said...

My kids love that 5 dollar footlong commercial. They sing that song constantly and beg me to go to Subway to get a 5 dollar foot long.

Anonymous said...

I don't even watch commercials anymore. Can't even remember the last time I did really...We have ExpressVu, and PVR everything we watch.

Marla said...

I don't tend to watch commericals much, that' when I get up for a snack or trip to the bathroom. I really don't watch TV much, I have it on for the noise, I guess.

United Studies said...

Those Old Navy ads are the worst!! On so many levels. It's just disturbing that, yet again, women are objectified by having her clothes fall off.

And yeah, I always find it ironic that you can take a drug for peeing too much, but that pill might give you heart disease, or cancer, or cause death. I'd rather just pee several times a day.

Then there was the one, I think for RA, that can cause sudden sexual or gambling urges. What??

elizabeth embracing life said...

We adopted the no TV during the school week. It was something I did with the first two kids when they were in school. And I am happy to be hearing less and less of those dumb commercials.

CC said...

I'm so with you on teh Old Navy and Kleenex commercials. I hate them. I only watch about 60 min of tv per week and if I'm gonna watch commercials I want entertaining ones!!

I really want to work on memorizing scripture. Any advice on how to get going on that???

CC said...

One more question, do you have a list of verses you go through, or do you just find something in the Bible that speaks to you at the moment? How do you choose the scripture to memorize?

American Homemaker said...

I don't watch tv and when it's on it just annoys me all together... LOL Today at work a coworker was watching America's Top Model for 2 hrs online. I could hear it the whole time and wanted to scream.

Theresa said...

My stepson says that during lunch all the kids sing commercial songs like "Credit Score dot comm" I think it crosses the line over to brainwashing if you aske me.

Any chance of stopping in CT on your way to NY?

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a great point! It's amazing how we absorb what we see and hear around us.