# Does anyone actually voluntarily watch TV commercials? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 22, 2011, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-voluntarily-watch-tv-commercials/579317 "2011-04-22T02:40:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Submerged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Submerged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Submerged)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-voluntarily-watch-tv-commercials/579317/1 "2011-04-22T02:40:13Z")
I hit mute every time. I doubt I’ve seen a commercial in years. Does anyone actually watch them, and if so why? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-voluntarily-watch-tv-commercials/579317/2 "2011-04-22T02:41:21Z")
Laziness. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-voluntarily-watch-tv-commercials/579317/3 "2011-04-22T02:42:11Z")
Yes. but they watch them on YouTube. 🙂 This takes the scheduling out of the hands of the network operator and puts it back into the hands of the viewer. ---
**Author:** ![curious11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ac91a4/32.png) [@curious11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curious11)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-voluntarily-watch-tv-commercials/579317/4 "2011-04-22T02:45:46Z")
I always try to watch the superbowl commercials… There beating on the ref like a rented mule, where does a guy learn to take a beating like that! \ "…And the garbage is still on the porch, how long are you going to leave it out there, and would it kill you to tell me you loved me everyonce in awhile… Hee-Hee ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-voluntarily-watch-tv-commercials/579317/5 "2011-04-22T02:52:05Z")
Yes, if I’m watching a live show (as opposed to on the DVR). Then again, I work in advertising. So, all of you guys who mute or skip ads are taking food out of my family’s mouths. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Submerged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Submerged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Submerged)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-voluntarily-watch-tv-commercials/579317/6 "2011-04-22T02:52:12Z")
> [@curious11](#): > > I always try to watch the superbowl commercials… There beating on the ref like a rented mule, where does a guy learn to take a beating like that! \ "…And the garbage is still on the porch, how long are you going to leave it out there, and would it kill you to tell me you loved me everyonce in awhile… Hee-Hee (shrug) never saw 'em. Regardless of how amusing you thought they were, they are still just insidious psychological ploys to sell you stuff that you don’t need. Do people really not realize that? The superbowl ad thing is so baffling to me. ---
**Author:** ![Submerged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Submerged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Submerged)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-voluntarily-watch-tv-commercials/579317/7 "2011-04-22T03:02:14Z")
Could a mod possibly fix my subject line typo? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![ramel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb8c5e/32.png) [@ramel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ramel)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-voluntarily-watch-tv-commercials/579317/8 "2011-04-22T03:03:21Z")
I used to not mind watching adverts too much. Some were funny. But the past few years adverts have become increasingly annoying. So I now avoid them. On TV I either mute or go channel hopping for a few minutes. Online I use noScript and FlashBlock. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-voluntarily-watch-tv-commercials/579317/9 "2011-04-22T03:10:17Z")
I don’t watch TV very often and when I do, I get up and do something else when commercials come on. Then I usually get interested in the other thing and miss the rest of the show. But at least once a week, I’ll be talking to someone who will say “It’s like in that commercial for X. You know, the one where Y and Z happens.” then they can’t believe I’ve never seen it. They seem to have enjoyed the commercial well enough to want to share and are shocked that I haven’t seen it. It makes me think normal people must be watching and discussing commercials enough that they find it odd that someone exists who hasn’t seen one of their favorites. ---
**Author:** ![Submerged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Submerged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Submerged)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-voluntarily-watch-tv-commercials/579317/10 "2011-04-22T03:14:51Z")
> [@Fubaya](#): > > I don’t watch TV very often and when I do, I get up and do something else when commercials come on. Then I usually get interested in the other thing and miss the rest of the show. But at least once a week, I’ll be talking to someone who will say “It’s like in that commercial for X. You know, the one where Y and Z happens.” then they can’t believe I’ve never seen it. They seem to have enjoyed the commercial well enough to want to share and are shocked that I haven’t seen it. It makes me think normal people must be watching and discussing commercials enough that they find it odd that someone exists who hasn’t seen one of their favorites. Yeah, I just don’t get that either. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-voluntarily-watch-tv-commercials/579317/11 "2011-04-22T03:21:51Z")
I don’t. I either get up to go do something, channel hop through mostly news channels, or surf online. But sit and actually watch and listen to a commercial? Almost never. ---
**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:** [April 22, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-voluntarily-watch-tv-commercials/579317/12 "2011-04-22T04:17:15Z")
> [@Submerged](#): > > Regardless of how amusing you thought they were, they are still just insidious psychological ploys to sell you stuff that you don’t need. > > Do people really not realize that? Well, duh! Most people over the age of, say, 3, are perfectly well aware that commercials exist to try to sell you stuff. Some of them, while being fully aware of this, still find at least the occasional commercial funny, clever, or entertaining, and most of the rest not unpleasant, annoying, or dangerous enough to make an effort to avoid watching? Are you really looking for information here? If you just want to express disdain towards commercials or the people who watch them, the thread might be better suited to a different forum. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-voluntarily-watch-tv-commercials/579317/13 "2011-04-22T04:29:13Z")
I get my tv via the Internet so I never see commercials. However, when I’m at my parents’ and sort of left alone to watch TV by myself, I usually watch the commercials. Because I never see commercials, I am generally interested in them. Plus, with these new digital TVs and cable boxes, changing the channel isn’t as zippy as it once was. And I don’t know the channel number. So if we’re watching some sort of fluff programming it’s just easier to leave the channel on than to flip away and find my way back. I actually would really like to check out some kids’ programming some time to see what kids’ commercials are like these days. I haven’t see a toy commercial in forever. ---
**Author:** ![badlyburnttoast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@badlyburnttoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badlyburnttoast)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-voluntarily-watch-tv-commercials/579317/14 "2011-04-22T04:30:07Z")
Sure I watch them. What, you mute them and then stare at the wall? that’s worse then just watching the commercials. I mean sure I’ll get up to use the restroom or make a sandwich or something if the need arises but if I don’t have anything better to do it beats staring off into space. ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-voluntarily-watch-tv-commercials/579317/15 "2011-04-22T04:33:47Z")
I don’t even voluntarily watch TV. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-voluntarily-watch-tv-commercials/579317/16 "2011-04-22T04:36:16Z")
Since this is asking for personal opinions, it’s best suited to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Silophant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-voluntarily-watch-tv-commercials/579317/17 "2011-04-22T05:30:53Z")
Depends on the commercial. Old Spice? Emerald Nuts? Hell yes I watch them. Insurance? Not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-voluntarily-watch-tv-commercials/579317/18 "2011-04-22T05:42:00Z")
> [@badlyburnttoast](#): > > Sure I watch them. What, you mute them and then stare at the wall? that’s worse then just watching the commercials. If I’m on the computer while watching TV sometimes I’ll mute it. Otherwise I’ll channel surf. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-voluntarily-watch-tv-commercials/579317/19 "2011-04-22T08:20:11Z")
I record everything I watch on TV so the commercials go by in fast forward mode (the way God intended). ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-voluntarily-watch-tv-commercials/579317/20 "2011-04-22T10:43:29Z")
Ditto, but I stop for miniature giraffes. I want me one of them miniature giraffes. > [@Submerged](#): > > Regardless of how amusing you thought they were, they are still just insidious psychological ploys to sell you stuff that you don’t need. > > Do people really not realize that? Most people are smart enough to both realize that \*and \* to resist the overwhelming urge to pull out their credit card and BUY NOW! NOW!!! If you’re afraid that watching commercials will lead you to zombified consumerism and financial ruin, you’re profoundly overestimating their power. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-voluntarily-watch-tv-commercials/579317.md?page=2)