Thread: A Bunch of Sheep

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

I even tape tv so I can skip the worthless, trivial dross that would otherwise be inflicted on me.

yep me too can't abide those boring, and repetitive, ads for things i will never buy thank goodness for the PVR i say !...

ian

I promise each and every one of you that you fall for advertising every day of some description or another. It's the nature of the beast.

I would say that in terms of my lifestyle choices as many of the others here I pretty much do my own thing (a long with every one else doing the same thing) but I'm not going to pretend that I'm immune or anything, I just happen to be a great user of the internet and a lot of the stuff I buy isn't really advertised anywhere, so I end up buying on the basis of peer reviews quite often.

I avoid TV adverts like the plague. If there is something on with adverts, I pause it long enough that I can fast forward through the adverts, and do something else for a while.

I agree. Maybe not in ways we are immediately cognizant of, but I think there's a lot of influence advertising has on the majority of us. An example: I don't spend a whole lot of time researching which dishwashing liquid is the most effective. So when I'm in the store looking to pick of a bottle of this innocuous stuff, exactly what leads my mind to pick up the bottle of Palmolive versus Dawn? Ultimately "something" inside my brain prompts me to pick up one brand over the other, and in all likelihood it's linked to something in the advertising of the product. Same with a zillion other products that aren't necessarily very important in the grand scheme of life, but "something" prompts me to pick up the box of Brillo rather than SOS.

And when it comes to purchases where I am fairly cognizant of what I'm buying and why, don't discount the subconscious influence advertising can have. When was the last time any of you guys picked up a package of "Secret" deodorant to use? It's marketed to women, and although it's got the same active ingredients as uber-masculine Axis or Right Guard, no guy I know reaches for the Secret. That's a function of the influence of advertising.
One final example: although it's not my cup of tea, Michelob beer has always been marketed as an upscale brew. Its made by Anheiser Busch, which also makes Old Milwaukee. The ingredients are probably pretty much identical. But it's hard to deny the upscale "luster" that attaches to Michelob over Old Milwaukee.

Originally Posted by gregs656

I promise each and every one of you that you fall for advertising every day of some description or another. It's the nature of the beast.

I would say that in terms of my lifestyle choices as many of the others here I pretty much do my own thing (a long with every one else doing the same thing) but I'm not going to pretend that I'm immune or anything, I just happen to be a great user of the internet and a lot of the stuff I buy isn't really advertised anywhere, so I end up buying on the basis of peer reviews quite often.

I avoid TV adverts like the plague. If there is something on with adverts, I pause it long enough that I can fast forward through the adverts, and do something else for a while.

There was a thread on here, I think by our very own super hero, about choice.

The fact is, we are faced with a crap load of choice these days, and when you're in a store looking at fifty or so brands of shampoo or candy or washing tablets - you don't make that decision based on much more than price and advertising. There is a reason why, for example, big brands sponsor big sports events and tv shows. They don't even need to tell us what they do then, just show us a name and make an association with something we like.

I don't particularly believe this is a bad thing, ultimately if you are happy with a product and you are happy with what you pay for it, who cares? How ever, I do think it is a little naive of any one to suggest they do not take notice of advertising. Indeed, even if that's true, their parents probably did and instilled a preference in them of particular brands.

It's all about perception at the end of the day. You can't help but perceive things. No one is objective enough, or cares enough, or has enough time, to actually test each product against the next, it just doesn't happen.

Over 50 ignored? Wonder who all those never ending ED commercials are aimed at. Did you ask your doctor about Lipitor? Merck needs geezers.

You see there is method to the madness here.

Most people would never admit to being influenced by an ad. It kind of makes them seem like a..sheep or easily influenced. No he-man would admit to that would you?

Just think when you go into the store to buy some pasta sauce. You have all those brands staring you in the face. What makes you go for a specific one. Do you read the labels of every product available you are considering purchasing. What if ads didn't exist? Then you would have to research every single item you consume or use. Think that would cramp your style or your time?

Like it or not my position is we are all heavily influenced. Just think of all those commercials with obnoxious pitchmen and horrible jingles. Its all designed to grab your attention so you will never forget it especially when you go shopping. The more unconscious the effect the better because you won't even know you've been had.

So your in the store and you're drawn to a few brands and then the labeling adds more to the effect and they have you hook-line and sinker. Go to a typical supermarket. The place is designed by pros. They know just how to stack products, place them, the proper lighting, giveaways or samples with the smells wafting through the store. They make you walk the entire length and width of the store to get a few essentials giving them more opportunity to sell you something you don't want. Think your not affected? If it didn't work they wouldn't do it.

Originally Posted by wescap34

Over 50 ignored? Wonder who all those never ending ED commercials are aimed at. Did you ask your doctor about Lipitor? Merck needs geezers.

THANKS, I forgot about those ED commercials....

The only role it plays in my buying decisions is that of informing me of products that I may not be aware of.

Originally Posted by fccexpert

The only role it plays in my buying decisions is that of informing me of products that I may not be aware of.

'Zackly

I am also decidedly NOT an impulse buyer. If I see something that looks like an amazing deal I always walk away and think about it for a day or two.

Originally Posted by 59caddy

THANKS, I forgot about those ED commercials....

WHO is ED anyway ?