It’s this blog’s birthday this week and in celebration I’m taking a trawl through the archives and republishing some of my favourite posts.
I’m including this because it took me bloody ages to write and so I feel it deserves some extra milage.
And that’s the end of the week of reruns. Make sure you come back tomorrow for that important post. And make sure you bring your credit cards. Bwa-ha-ha-ha.
That’s a load of rich creamery butter
Originally posted September 6th, 2007
We recently re-subscribed to satellite TV after an absence of around a year. There are many reasons for us returning to the fold: the genius of Sky+, endless repeats of Ironside, and a wider variety of “nothing on the telly” than we had before. But one of the main reasons we got it is for the kids channels. Cbeebies on freeview is all very well and good, but it’s worthiness and dare I say banality gets a little wearing after a while.
One side effect of all these different channels is that Amy is being exposed to advertising like never before. She sits glued to the TV during the breaks and after each commercial turns to us and asks “Can I have one of those?”.
Of course her mind is young and easily manipulated. You wouldn’t catch a mature and culturally literate man such as myself become prey to the sub conscious influence of the advertiser’s slogans. Whether I’m looking for a breakfast of champions or some milk chocolate that melts in my mouth not in my hand, I make sure I am choosing the real thing. I want quality products at reasonable prices and the best a man can get, not whatever some suit in an office thinks I should be using my flexible friend on. Advertising executives are grrreat at asking where do you want to go today and making you think that their products will put you in the happiest place on earth. But you need to block out their messages.
Take a leaf from my book and don’t fall for their tricks, have it your own way. You need to challenge everything, think different, and just do it. Choose freedom and don’t listen to the advertiser’s propaganda, no matter how finger lickin’ good they make it sound. They would like you to think that only smarties have the answer, but they underestimate the public - we know when we’ve been tangoed, we can tell if its live or if it’s memorex.
I have a feeling that there is something special in the air. Maybe its frustration with being lied to, maybe its the impact of consumerism on the planet, or maybe it’s maybelline; but there is an explosion of disgruntlement coming, and once we pop we can’t stop. Life is short, play hard and live your life. Because life is complicated enough without branding. For successful living you have to lift and separate the truth from the lies or you will end up with the 501 blues. You need to look sharp, feel sharp and make sure you are making the right choices. Because, after all, you’re worth it.
I was going to republish my comment from the first time you wrote it, but after I searched for it and saw it I changed my mind. I wasn’t nearly as clever back then.
Jeff’s last blog post..Is that the only thing he ever writes about?
The new Anchor Butter adverts with the cow animation is the new ‘funniest advert’. It makes my brother smile. I love adverts. They make me want to buy things! And who doesn’t like shopping!?!
Bec’s last blog post..Listened To
Pure Genius!
Donna’s last blog post..The joy of teaching
With us, it’s “Can I have that for my birthday? We should buy that.” A child who’ll look a large, strange adult in the face and tell him “Don’t be silly. There are no monsters in the attic,” will believe anything provided it’s told to him by an ‘adblip’.
I have no idea where he got ‘adblip’ from. He was the best part of a decade from being born when Radiohead ran that OK Computer campaign.
(un)relaxeddad’s last blog post..You mean we?re eating Flopsy?/Dresses
Making my rounds and wanted to say have a Great Weekend. I am sitting at work and will be here again tomorrow…
Johnny on the spot’s last blog post..Wife annoyed at me from a dream…
adds..are real killers.
That’s why I skip them..or turn off the tv, I can’t stand em.
I’ll try to be here tomorrow if the internet works on this end that is.
Arjan’s last blog post..Audacity: streamripper
Very clever! I’m sorry to have missed that last September on my birthday! Thanks for publishing it again.
:beer: BlogHopping
Dan,
This was SO FUNNY! How the inuendos just snap, crackled and popped off the screen was mesmerising. Thanks for enlightening me to sneaky advertising, I will certainly look outside the bun from now on. Thanks for stopping by my blog today. If you ever want to come again, We’ll leave the light on for you.
KEEP BELIEVING
Angie’s last blog post..Irony
Happy blogiversary!
Hip to the hop & you don’t stop…..
Mr Lady’s last blog post..Entirely not appropriate
Hi! Thanks for popping by my blog!
I enjoyed reading through some of your older posts. In particular, your post about your dyslexia and how your parents handled it really touched me. My youngest son has ADHD, and we have struggled to keep his self-esteem up while treating this.
Sports Mama’s last blog post..I’m Not Sure About The Outfit, Though
My youngest son retains those commercial slogans like a sponge. If my back hurts, for instance, he’ll whip out “You know what you need mom? A Craftmatic Adjustable Bed!”. Or if I forget something I was meaning to pick up at the grocery, “Mom, you should get a digital voice recorder!” I honestly don’t need to watch tv with him around.
KendalsWife’s last blog post..Oh yea, the interview
Happy blogversary! Thanks for stopping by. LOVE the pics of those cuties!
Slothage’s last blog post..Potty Talk
That was awesome! I don’t even have a TV so I’m sure I missed some of them, but man, they must be “good” because I could place about half the brands of the slogans I recognized. Stupid reverse psychology or something like that!
Hot Mama’s last blog post..My New Band