# Again with the annoying commercials! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** commercials-ads\ **Created:** [June 28, 2017, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089 "2017-06-28T22:06:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 97
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1924 "2020-10-30T01:43:02Z")
I watch a lot of YouTube does the thing all online only things do where they only have a limited selection of commercials and play them in almost every commercial break. I’ve seen that Verizon? cable internet commercial where it’s dozens of actual people singing into a webcam “Surfing USA” what has to be a thousand times now. It made me curious how Verizon got all those people for that commerical, hopefully they paid them and didn’t do the shitty thing where they got people on Twitter to volunteer to sing for free ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1925 "2020-10-30T01:47:01Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Joe Namath has been hawking Medicare insurance. He whines. He begs. He annoys the hell out of me. The call is free- so what are you waiting for? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1926 "2020-10-30T01:57:27Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > > > Joe Namath has been hawking Medicare insurance. He whines. He begs. He annoys the hell out of me. > > The call is free- so what are you waiting for? - I’m amused at the way his voice breaks like he’s going through puberty again. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1927 "2020-10-30T02:58:18Z")
its a ca state senate election commercial that’s a hit on Kipp Muller and after the usual mudslinging a slightly off-tune ditty goes "Kipp Muller thinks he knows better than you " Ummm If you didn’t think you knew better and or more than joe schmoe why are you running for public office as it’s a prerequisite for doing so? ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1928 "2020-10-30T12:22:23Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > I watch a lot of YouTube does the thing all online only things do where they only have a limited selection of commercials and play them in almost every commercial break. Sounds like they’re very highly targeted ads? I’ve never seen that Verizon one; for some reason, I always get a GoDaddy ad aimed at small business owners. (I’ve seen two over the last few months; the first was about people starting businesses during dire times, and the second is about reopening.) ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1929 "2020-10-30T12:37:59Z")
Speaking of political commercials (and I cannot WAIT until after Tuesday when they finally stop) there’s a very annoying local bait-and-switch ad that recently started playing. So everybody knows who Tim Allen is. You may also be aware that he’s done a million “Pure Michigan” tourism ads, in which he extolls the wonderful virtues of Michigan in a warm, folksy, relaxed tone. This ad starts out just like a “Pure Michigan” ad, but quickly turns into an ad for John James, the Republican challenger to Senator Gary Peters. Barf. Not even making a partisan statement, it’s just very annoying how the familiar tone of the Pure Michigan ads is used to schill a political candidate. ---
**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:** [October 30, 2020, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1930 "2020-10-30T12:50:22Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > > > Joe Namath has been hawking Medicare insurance. He whines. He begs. He annoys the hell out of me. > > The call is free- so what are you waiting for? I asked my wife last night, “Aren’t _all_ calls free these days?” Although, if you’re an oldster on Medicare, you may still have a landline and a long distance plan with MCI, so maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1931 "2020-10-30T13:53:28Z")
I’m not an oldster, but I do work in telecom, and I know how unreliable cell phones are. Also, there’s no need for middle schoolers to have their own phones. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1932 "2020-10-30T14:54:14Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Joe Namath has been hawking Medicare insurance. He whines. He begs. He annoys the hell out of me. That “Medicare Helpline” commercial, where they try their hardest to tell seniors they qualify for more benefits _from_ Medicare, but the tiny print says they are not affiliated with any government agency. Basically, they are a Medicare supplement plan. Somehow they claim they can cut your payments and your premiums and do it at no cost. 🤨 That’s a scam ad in my opinion. It’s misleading as hell. > [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Also, there’s no need for middle schoolers to have their own phones. “But what if they have an EMERGENCY and need to contact you?” More realistically, so much of life is shifting to virtual, incorporating practice in phone responsibility is a possible goal. Basically, text all your friends. Don’t lose the phone. Yeah, I’m 🤨 too. My high schooler nephew had enough challenges with that. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1933 "2020-10-30T17:14:47Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > long distance plan with MCI Not exactly a commercial, but this reminded me of the **giant** MCI posters that were in the customer service department at either Sears or Penney’s in the late '80s-very early 90s. They featured an extreme close-up of a phone operator’s face with some kind of headset; the style of the headset really freaked me out for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1934 "2020-10-30T18:21:59Z")
My local GOP congresscritter, is using the same attack ads over and over and over. And they are 100% lies. He has never run a ad saying how good HE is, just attacking his opponent. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1935 "2020-10-30T18:33:40Z")
The campaign ads in my area never ever say what party the candidate belongs to. It’s information that’s good to know. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1936 "2020-10-30T21:03:09Z")
We have some confusing state legislature campaign ads, claiming Bubba Schlobotnik “voted with Republicans 100% of the time!” That’s the whole ad. 60 lonnnng seconds of “Bubba Schlobotnik voted with Republicans 100% of the time! Bubba Schlobotnik voted _with_ big business 100% of the time… Bubba Schlobotnik voted _against_ the environment 100% of the time… yes, Bubba Schlobotnik voted _with Republicans._ 100% of the time. _THAT’S_ who Bubba Schlobotnik is… 100% of the time!” Ummm, but he’s the Republican, right? (I checked, yep, he’s the Pubbie, and this ain’t no primary)… So why is his voting record surprising? Let alone a reason to vote Democrat. All I can figure is that he must be making promises (in ads that _aren’t_ running on TV) to be an independent. Or maybe a RINO. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2020, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1937 "2020-10-31T05:02:13Z")
Are we to believe that the slacker who spins the Progressive sign on the corner has a reasonably attractive (albeit bugeyed) girlfriend? ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2020, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1938 "2020-10-31T05:34:00Z")
what’s with the trend of taking great songs from the past and well making them wimpy? Spectrum has a a totally insulting version of "go your own way " for its new mobile phone business …if i was any part of fleetwood mac id sue … Note I hope whoever oked the non ramones version of pet semetary at the end of the remake gets haunted by the crew for the sacrilege ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2020, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1939 "2020-10-31T05:38:06Z")
The one I detest is another patent medical commercial wherein is played a rockified “You are my sunshine”. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2020, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1940 "2020-10-31T10:14:44Z")
So what’s the deal with those reverse mortgages that Tom Selleck keeps promising aren’t a scam for the bank to take your house? They’re just a scam for the bank to take your house right? ---
**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:** [October 31, 2020, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1941 "2020-10-31T13:13:07Z")
Oh man, campaign ads could be a whole thread of its own. There’s one around here where the Republican challenger for a House seat accuses the Democratic incumbent of voting with Nancy Pelosi 99% of the time! Like, it’s some horrible thing to vote with the rest of your party. (And probably still a lower percentage than most Republicans.) I think this is the same candidate with an ad that tells me I should vote for her because she’s a mom. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2020, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1942 "2020-10-31T15:49:16Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > They’re just a scam for the bank to take your house right? Not really. You have to die for them to get the house, right? ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2020, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1943 "2020-10-31T23:15:24Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > So what’s the deal with those reverse mortgages that Tom Selleck keeps promising aren’t a scam for the bank to take your house? > > They’re just a scam for the bank to take your house right? Well, they’re trying so hard to convince you otherwise, one might think so. But this thread finally gave me the impetus to look it up. > **[Reverse Mortgages](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/reverse-mortgages)** > > Reverse mortgages let you cash in on the equity in your home: these mortgages can have serious implications. > [@](#): > > When you have a **regular** mortgage, you pay the lender every month to buy your home over time. In a **reverse** mortgage, you get a loan in which the lender pays _you_ . Reverse mortgages take part of the equity in your home and convert it into payments to you – a kind of advance payment on your home equity. The money you get usually is tax-free. Generally, you don’t have to pay back the money for as long as you live in your home. When you die, sell your home, or move out, you, your spouse, or your estate would repay the loan. Sometimes that means selling the home to get money to repay the loan. > [@](#): > > If you get a reverse mortgage of any kind, you get a loan in which you borrow against the equity in your home. You keep the title to your home. Instead of paying monthly mortgage payments, though, you get an advance on part of your home equity. The money you get usually is not taxable, and it generally won’t affect your Social Security or Medicare benefits. When the last surviving borrower dies, sells the home, or no longer lives in the home as a principal residence, the loan has to be repaid. > [@](#): > > Reverse mortgages can use up the equity in your home, which means fewer assets for you and your heirs. Most reverse mortgages have something called a “non-recourse” clause. This means that you, or your estate, can’t owe more than the value of your home when the loan becomes due and the home is sold. With a HECM, generally, if you or your heirs want to pay off the loan and keep the home rather than sell it, you would not have to pay more than the appraised value of the home. See also > **[Reverse Mortgage Guide With Types and Requirements](https://www.investopedia.com/mortgage/reverse-mortgage/)** > > Everything you need to know about reverse mortgages—what they are, how they work, and how to decide if one might be right for you. I’m annoyed by the song for SoFi consolidation loans. “Express Yourself” in such a whiny twangy noise. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089.md?page=96) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089.md?page=98)