can you see through commercials?

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One time, when I had not seen any TV for a few years, but had been meditating a bit, I went to visit my mother, and her set was on. I watched it while she was busy, and when some commercials came on, I found the psychological manipulation so transparent that I was astounded that they were on. After twenty minutes, all the action had retreated into my subconscious, but now I'm 66, and have never owned a TV. Jerry Mander's "Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television" is excellent, and points out the semi-trance it induces. I used to listen to radio, thinking that since I was not going to be buying a car, golf clubs, or anything else they advertised that it didn't matter, but later, I realized that ads generally try to make you unhappy about your current life situation to soften you up for the pitch, and that part was always getting to me.

I still remember all those ads for phone psychics on TV that usually came on late at night while I was watching TV. One time I saw a lady on a show who supposedly was a psychic taking calls and she would ask them things like their Zodiac sign, their birthday and, if possible, the time you arrived into the world. And I thought if she's really a psychic she wouldn't need you to tell her all those things, she can just read your mind and she'll know!

I've often wondered if anyone ever tries the "tests" they show for so many household cleaner ads at home (as long as they aren't dangerous), such mopping one side of a floor with the brand and the other with the "national leading brand".

I really hate ads use that fear and/or guilt-mongering to make you open up your wallet. Whoever does those ASPCA ads is like the next Sally Struthers. The only thing they make me do is see how fast I can hit the mute button or switch the channel. I even heard there's one ad for starving kids where they say "What would you do if a starving child was right in front of you?" Well TBH I'd probably call the police and tell them there's a starving kid who must have just broken into my apartment!

A few stores where I regularly shop ask me if I'd like to donate at least a dollar for local charities, but at least they don't guilt me if that's all I pay or say "sorry not today".

Consumer Reports sometimes tests cleaners, and I just mixed up some ATF-Acetone mix which a boating magazine found to outperform any other penetrating oil on the market by half. It needs frequent shaking. The "ionized water cleansers" and most "green" cleaners should definitely be compared to the universal solvent - plain water.

Ummm..
Digger made that post seven years ago.

I think most people see through the marketing scams and/or stupidity of commercials.

They can if they try, but most of it gets right into the subconscious. Advertising executive David Ogilvie once got into a NYC taxi, and the cabbie asked what he did. "Oh, advertising! That's a waste of money. It doesn't affect me at all."
David replied "Yeah, you are probably right. By the way, what kind of toothpaste do you use?"
"I use Gleem, but it's not because of the advertising." he replied, and then added, quoting the current ad word for word "It's because I drive cab, and I don't have TIME to brush after every meal!"

That's kind of scary...people are not getting any smarter, then. (And before anyone else can post this: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... ainObvious)

I've always hated commercials where all they do is tell you why the "other" brand is horrible and you should not buy it. Coke vs. Pepsi, Sega vs. Nintendo, McDonalds' vs. BK, Duracell vs. Energizer, and on and on.

Almost ever ad I used to see for Sega games and consoles were basically like, "We're better than Nintendo, their games are for babies and uncool people and their Game Boy doesn't have pretty colors rrrrghSEGA!! It was really stupid, and I actually owned a Sega Genesis.

I'll tell you what's even worse though, is that fanboys are still practically killing each over what they think is better. Miles and miles of hate-fueled threads. They need to get over it.

I've always been really good with sales (mainly Girl Scout cookies and fundraising items) and I know a lot of the tricks in the book.

I always get annoyed and kinda enjoy tearing apart some of the logic involved in those lawyer ads that tell you how you may be entitled to compensation. Like there was one about how you could qualify if you or a loved one were injured at a trampoline park. Pretty sure most of those places require you to sign a waiver first just in case something like that does happen. That's just one that bugged me the most. There are others involving prescription drugs where they are probably just listing very rare side effects of those drugs, else they probably wouldn't have been made available in the first place. I know they are just doing this for money, but still.

With other types of commercials, though, the marketing clearly works on me. Especially when it's an ad for a stuffed toy (I collect them, can't much help it).