# Advertising and slogans that leave you Amused or Confused **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** commercials-ads\ **Created:** [March 18, 2024, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-and-slogans-that-leave-you-amused-or-confused/998976 "2024-03-18T08:45:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-and-slogans-that-leave-you-amused-or-confused/998976/81 "2024-03-21T22:10:47Z")
I just saw a commercial for Allstate. The first line of the fine print was “not available in every state”. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-and-slogans-that-leave-you-amused-or-confused/998976/82 "2024-03-21T22:22:36Z")
> [@Beesnest](#): > > The Theme song we all recognize from MASH is “Suicide is Painless” which always confused me. It’s from the movie that preceded the TV series. Basically, one of the characters has decided to escape the war by committing suicide, and the others decide to talk him out of it by pretending to go along with it, and give him what they tell him is a lethal dose of pills but which will actually just put him to sleep for a few hours (after which they hope that he’ll regret the attempt). As he’s preparing to take them, they sing that song to him. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-and-slogans-that-leave-you-amused-or-confused/998976/83 "2024-03-21T22:57:01Z")
The Painless Pole was suicidal because of temporary impotence, not because he wanted out of the war. Lt. Dish cured him. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-and-slogans-that-leave-you-amused-or-confused/998976/84 "2024-03-21T23:47:24Z")
Famously, Robert Altman, director of the film, said his son made a lot more from writing the song than he did as the director. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2024, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-and-slogans-that-leave-you-amused-or-confused/998976/85 "2024-03-22T18:45:00Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > I just saw a commercial for Allstate. > > The first line of the fine print was “not available in every state”. The insurance company started out as a subsidiary of Sears, which also used the brand name for car tires, car batteries, and – for a couple of years – the car itself. > **[Allstate: 1926-1995 (Sears' divestment)](http://www.searsarchives.com/brands/allstate.htm)** > > Sears has opened the doors to its vast archival collection and invited the public to peek inside. More than 100 years of stories, product and brand histories, photographs, catalog images and more are now available online. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2024, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-and-slogans-that-leave-you-amused-or-confused/998976/86 "2024-03-22T21:00:57Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > The first line of the fine print was “not available in every state”. Many Insurance companies are backing out of Florida, and Fire insurance in CA is getting hard to get. > [@Chronos](#): > > It’s from the movie that preceded the TV series. Basically, one of the characters has decided to escape the war by committing suicide, and the others decide to talk him out of it by pretending to go along with it, and give him what they tell him is a lethal dose of pills but which will actually just put him to sleep for a few hours (after which they hope that he’ll regret the attempt). As he’s preparing to take them, they sing that song to him. And his nickname was Painless. So, it’s not so much that “Suicide doesn’t hurt” it’s more like “Our dentist buddy is miserable and wants to die”. However, of course, the meaning is in the ears of the listener. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2024, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-and-slogans-that-leave-you-amused-or-confused/998976/87 "2024-03-22T23:40:48Z")
Years ago there was a gum commercial that touted the fact that “Four out of five dentists recommend Trident to their patients who chew gum”. That extra qualifier at the end makes me think it’s not really the ringing endorsement they want you to think it is. It sounds more like the dentists said something like “Well, I really don’t recommend chewing gum at all, but if you must I guess Trident’s okay.” ---
**Author:** ![pirviii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pirviii/32/3233_2.png) [@pirviii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pirviii)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-and-slogans-that-leave-you-amused-or-confused/998976/88 "2024-03-23T02:53:05Z")
That’s my answer when someone say “guess what?” “the fifth dentist caved and they all recommend Trident now?” ---
**Author:** ![wanderer2575](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/2acd7d/32.png) [@wanderer2575](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wanderer2575)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-and-slogans-that-leave-you-amused-or-confused/998976/89 "2024-03-23T03:14:54Z")
The song was about 15 years old at the time, but sure, let’s use it in an advertisement trying to promote that the product is cutting-edge new. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-and-slogans-that-leave-you-amused-or-confused/998976/90 "2024-03-23T03:32:56Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Years ago there was a gum commercial that touted the fact that “Four out of five dentists recommend Trident to their patients who chew gum”. Cecil has addressed this. (For some reason, there are two versions of that particular column.) > **[4 out of 5 dentists recommend sugarless gum. What does the 5th recommend?](https://www.straightdope.com/21341339/4-out-of-5-dentists-recommend-sugarless-gum-what-does-the-5th-recommend)** [https://www.straightdope.com/21343564/4-out-of-5-dentists-recommend-sugarless-gum-what-does-the-5th-recommend](https://www.straightdope.com/21343564/4-out-of-5-dentists-recommend-sugarless-gum-what-does-the-5th-recommend) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2024, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-and-slogans-that-leave-you-amused-or-confused/998976/91 "2024-03-28T15:08:02Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > And his nickname was Painless. So, it’s not so much that “Suicide doesn’t hurt” it’s more like “Our dentist buddy is miserable and wants to die” I thought he was the anesthesiologist. ETA: Huh. Dentist, even in the book. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2024, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-and-slogans-that-leave-you-amused-or-confused/998976/92 "2024-03-28T15:16:58Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Then there’s the classic for the invasion of Iraq. The Neocons wanted a strong slogan to promote their offensive in Iraq and came up with the title about it being a “Just Cause”, as in justice Nitpick: Operation: Just ‘Cuz was a GHWB production that invaded Panama to oust Noriega. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2024, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-and-slogans-that-leave-you-amused-or-confused/998976/93 "2024-03-28T15:48:57Z")
> [@pirviii](#): > > That’s my answer when someone say “guess what?” > > “the fifth dentist caved and they all recommend Trident now?” I’m sorry, but the correct reply to that question is, and has always been, “Chicken butt.” ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2024, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-and-slogans-that-leave-you-amused-or-confused/998976/94 "2024-03-28T16:37:12Z")
Everybody knows that. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2024, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-and-slogans-that-leave-you-amused-or-confused/998976/95 "2024-03-28T17:57:46Z")
Guess why? Chicken thigh. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2024, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-and-slogans-that-leave-you-amused-or-confused/998976/96 "2024-03-28T18:02:58Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > ears ago there was an ad for some outdoorsy clothing company (maybe L.L. Bean?) that used the song “Big Rock Candy Mountain” and showed a family out hiking. If you actually listen to all the lyrics, it’s not a song about a fun camping trip. It’s a hobo’s idea of paradise, where cigarettes grow on trees and the streams flow with alcohol instead of water. When I was a kid I had the Burl Ives version, which was released as a kiddie song. So ignoring the true meaning goes back over 60 years. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2024, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-and-slogans-that-leave-you-amused-or-confused/998976/97 "2024-03-28T18:18:30Z")
And in any version, it’s still someone’s idea of a perfect place. Which is the kind of thing you do actually want in an advertisement. OK, in the modern day, you probably want to de-emphasize the booze and cigs, but there are plenty of other aspects of Big Rock Candy Mountain that would still appeal, even for a family. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2024, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-and-slogans-that-leave-you-amused-or-confused/998976/98 "2024-03-28T18:29:31Z")
According to wikipedia, when Harry McClintock recorded the first record of the song in 1928, He cleaned it up from the version he had performed live. So, bowdlerizing it goes back to the very beginning. Browsing YouTube, it is remarkable how many different versions of the lyrics have been written over the years. > **[The Big Rock Candy Mountains](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Rock_Candy_Mountains)** > > "The Big Rock Candy Mountains", first recorded and copyrighted by Harry McClintock in 1928, is a country folk song about a hobo's idea of paradise, a modern version of the medieval concept of Cockaigne. It is a place where "hens lay soft-boiled eggs" and there are "cigarette trees". McClintock said that he wrote the song in 1895, based on tales from his youth hoboing through the United States while working for the railroad as a brakeman. It is catalogued as Roud Folk Song Index No. 6696.\[ The s... ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2024, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-and-slogans-that-leave-you-amused-or-confused/998976/99 "2024-03-28T18:53:53Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Nitpick: Operation: Just ‘Cuz was a GHWB production that invaded Panama to oust Noriega. Well son-of-a-basketball player, I conflated the two. Thanks for alerting me. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2024, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-and-slogans-that-leave-you-amused-or-confused/998976/100 "2024-03-28T19:12:19Z")
Guess when? chicken hen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-and-slogans-that-leave-you-amused-or-confused/998976.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-and-slogans-that-leave-you-amused-or-confused/998976.md?page=6)