# Capitalizing on people's insecurities **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 28, 2004, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-on-peoples-insecurities/236906 "2004-03-28T12:15:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThatGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e5b9ba/32.png) [@ThatGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThatGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-on-peoples-insecurities/236906/1 "2004-03-28T12:15:29Z")
Flipping through infomercials on every channel at 3 AM I stumbled across one of those penis enlargement infomercials, only they never actually said penis…they always refered to it as “that special part of the male body”. The program consisted of bimbos chatting about how they need a large penis to be satisfied followed by bullshit about how a 25% larger penis would make you so much more confident that you can tackle any obstacle! Something just disturbs me about marketing this product on society based insecurities that derive a man’s worth on his penis, making it seem that a larger member will open up new doors…allowing you to finally live life to it’s fullest as a much more of a man. I see this as the same tactic as an advertisement for a weight loss pill aimed at women featuring men talking about how they need a really skinny woman to be sexually pleased…it makes the viewer feel like crap for not reaching a society ideal, and hinders our wacked out ideas of sex from progressing. ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@Bob\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_1)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-on-peoples-insecurities/236906/2 "2004-03-28T12:55:59Z")
> [@ThatGuy](#): > > Flipping through infomercials on every channel at 3 AM I stumbled across one of those penis enlargement infomercials, only they never actually said penis…they always refered to it as “that special part of the male body”. The program consisted of bimbos chatting about how they need a large penis to be satisfied followed by bullshit about how a 25% larger penis would make you so much more confident that you can tackle any obstacle! Something just disturbs me about marketing this product on society based insecurities that derive a man’s worth on his penis, making it seem that a larger member will open up new doors…allowing you to finally live life to it’s fullest as a much more of a man. I see this as the same tactic as an advertisement for a weight loss pill aimed at women featuring men talking about how they need a really skinny woman to be sexually pleased…it makes the viewer feel like crap for not reaching a society ideal, and hinders our wacked out ideas of sex from progressing. Your .sig is pretty big…compensating for something? 😉 That particular infomerical is pretty disappointing. Couldn’t they get some A-list porn actresses? Throw in a Jenna Jameson or Nikki Dial, and I may watch it. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-on-peoples-insecurities/236906/3 "2004-03-28T12:56:54Z")
> [@ThatGuy](#): > > it makes the viewer feel like crap for not reaching a society ideal, and hinders our wacked out ideas of sex from progressing. I’m sure I won’t be the first one to mention this but . . . Replace the word “penis” for “breasts” or “weight” and you’ve had the bulk of the ads directed at women for the last umpteen years. I’m not saying that guys haven’t had other demoralizing ads directed at them through the years (baldness cures come to mind), but the primary targets of “insecurity advertising” seem to be women. If she’s too fat, her life is like crap. If her breasts are not large enough, her life is like crap. If she doesn’t wear the right clothes, have the right kind of hairstyle, and so forth and so on, she simply does not measure up. So they’re branching out and targeting men and that specific part of their body. So what else is new? More insecurities to exploit. It’s worked for advertisers all these years, after all . . . :shrug: ---
**Author:** ![cichlidiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f9b8f/32.png) [@cichlidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cichlidiot)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-on-peoples-insecurities/236906/4 "2004-03-28T13:07:29Z")
> [@ThatGuy](#): > > The program consisted of bimbos chatting about how they need a large penis to be satisfied \ Well, that’s about the time you need to consider the source. I know it can be difficult, but really, what do you care about what bimbos think of your penis? Like **yosemite** said, my life is supposed to be crap because I have small boobs. There’s times I feel badly about it, but if I try to keep an eye on the bigger scheme of things, I have more important things to worry about. I look at a lot of advertising as similar. You need _this_ shampoo, or you are going to have horrible hair! You need _this_ cologne or you are going to stink! Fear sells. ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-on-peoples-insecurities/236906/5 "2004-03-28T13:14:36Z")
It is an improvement over those constant ads about foot odor that once filled up late night TV commercial slots. _Odor Eaters_, anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-on-peoples-insecurities/236906/6 "2004-03-28T14:16:05Z")
This really isn’t any different from advertising for any personal product, or really any product at all. They all play on insecurity, from erection enhancement products to douches to “Jim never has a second cup at home.” To judge from the ads, we all stink and we all look like shit. Not to mention toenail fungus. ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-on-peoples-insecurities/236906/7 "2004-03-28T14:21:04Z")
Yeah, too bad those pills don’t work. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-on-peoples-insecurities/236906/8 "2004-03-28T14:33:13Z")
Don’t forget all those hair restoration products. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-on-peoples-insecurities/236906/9 "2004-03-28T17:30:48Z")
I like the mumbled disclaimer for the erectile disfunction pills. “If erection lasts more than 4 hours, see your doctor immediately”. WAAAA HAHAHAHA!!! If your erection lasts more than 4 hours, your wife is going to buy you a new car!!! ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-on-peoples-insecurities/236906/10 "2004-03-28T18:05:53Z")
Dude, priaprism is not a… pleasant thing. And yes, it is a conceivable side effect from screwing with your genitals in that manner. It’s sort of like nitrous in a car engine. Yeah. You’ll go faster. But you might just go too fast and burn something out. ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-on-peoples-insecurities/236906/11 "2004-03-28T18:31:46Z")
I actually like the viagra commercials. [Scene: Jim walking around the office] Cow-orker 1: Jim is that a new suit? Jim: No. C2: Hey Jim, get a new haircut? Jim: Nope. C3: Is that a new tie, Jim? Jim: Huh-uh. [Scene: Jim goes home] Wife: Jim, did you talk to you doctor? Jim About Viagra? Yes, I did. Wife: I can tell, because you’ve been walking around work with a HUGE BONER, you idiot. [Fin] ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-on-peoples-insecurities/236906/12 "2004-03-28T19:15:25Z")
> [@ThatGuy](#): > > …making it seem that a larger member will open up new doors… Well, this could be useful for when your arms are full of groceries, I’ll give them that. ---
**Author:** ![ThatGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e5b9ba/32.png) [@ThatGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThatGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-on-peoples-insecurities/236906/13 "2004-03-28T20:54:36Z")
I don’t believe all advertising uses this shitty tactic, what’s wrong with “our shampoo is awesome at cleaning hair” or even “our shampoo is better than brand X at cleaning hair” as opposed to “without our shampoo your hair will smell so bad, nobody will like you and you can’t live a normal life” ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-on-peoples-insecurities/236906/14 "2004-03-28T21:16:44Z")
> [@ccwaterback](#): > > I like the mumbled disclaimer for the erectile disfunction pills. > > “If erection lasts more than 4 hours, see your doctor immediately”. > > WAAAA HAHAHAHA!!! > > If your erection lasts more than 4 hours, your wife is going to buy you a new car!!! Trust me, if your erection last more than 4 hours, your wife is going to file for divorce! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![county](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@county](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/county)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-on-peoples-insecurities/236906/15 "2004-03-29T18:59:19Z")
“it makes the viewer feel like crap for not reaching a society ideal,” Yeah, I expect that you guys with little dicks feel bad watching programs like that 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-on-peoples-insecurities/236906/16 "2004-03-29T19:18:30Z")
That’s despicable. What was the name of these product again:? I need to know, so I can not buy it. Because I don’t need it or anything. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-on-peoples-insecurities/236906/17 "2004-03-29T19:23:46Z")
Erm…“what was the name of _this_ product again”. A simple typo. Not nervous or anything. Did they mention if there’s anything on the outside of the package that says what it is when they mail it to you? Heh, y’know, like I’d care! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-on-peoples-insecurities/236906/18 "2004-03-29T21:15:46Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > “Jim never has a second cup at home.” Ah yes, I’ll never forget that particular ad for Bloussant. ---
**Author:** ![KJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b2d939/32.png) [@KJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KJ)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-on-peoples-insecurities/236906/19 "2004-03-30T05:06:31Z")
> [@](#): > > Bimbo: And it’s specifically designed for that certain part of the male anatomy! > > Dumbass: Huh? > > Bimbo: You know… > > Dumbass: Oh, you mean the penis! Man, I was so confused, why didn’t you say so? I thought you were talking about beards. I find the particular informercial mentioned in the OP infuriating, because they try to disguise it as a talk show called “Up All Night.” In keeping with the traditional crappy infomercial standard, they have a “special guest” who they were “really lucky to have on the show” about to tell them about an amazing revolutionary discovery. It always leaves me with two questions: 1. How fucking dumb are you that you can’t come up with a more creative title for a fake talk show than “Up All Night?” 2. _How God damned stupid do you think I am!?!_ That seems to be the trend I see in 99% of television advertising. It’s so insulting to my intelligence it feels like a slap in the face every time someone tries to sell me something through the TV. Do you think anyone producing these abominable infomercials disguised as TV shows expects anyone to genuinely believe they’re waching some crappy late night talk show instead of an infomercial? If not, what’s the point? ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-on-peoples-insecurities/236906/20 "2004-03-30T05:30:59Z")
> [@KJ](#): > > That seems to be the trend I see in 99% of television advertising. It’s so insulting to my intelligence it feels like a slap in the face every time someone tries to sell me something through the TV. Do you think anyone producing these abominable infomercials disguised as TV shows expects anyone to genuinely believe they’re waching some crappy late night talk show instead of an infomercial? If not, what’s the point? Well said, I am constantly thinking “if you feel like you have to lie to me to get my interest then your product must be crap” and I choose not to conduct business with these people, you proved to me that you were liars in the first 5 seconds, yet I am supposed to think that you are ethical liars?, WTF?, and you can shove your “ironclad money back if your not 100% happy” crap, as someone has already stated YOU ARE LYING TO ME!!!. Unclviny [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-on-peoples-insecurities/236906.md?page=2)