# Does anyone here think advertising does not affect them? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 24, 2006, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-think-advertising-does-not-affect-them/365803 "2006-07-24T11:13:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-think-advertising-does-not-affect-them/365803/41 "2006-07-26T17:39:48Z")
If you don’t think that advertising affect you,[sub]Coke is it[/sub] then you’re exactly the kind of person that ad executives are aiming for.[sub]Don’t leave home without it[/sub] Advertisers want to draw people in[sub]Do the Dew[/sub] without them ever realizing it.[sub]What’s in your wallet?[/sub] They want people to think that their purchasing decisions are entirely rational[sub]Zoom, zoom[/sub], and that they are unaffected by any form of emotional manipulation.[sub]I am a gecko.[/sub] People seldom realize how many ads they encounter in a given day[sub]Where’s the beef?[/sub] That’s how insidious these things are.[sub]You quiero Taco Bell[/sub] They intrude into our lives without necessarily looking intrusive.[sub]Just keeps going, and going, and going.[/sub] It’s not mind control by any means,[sub]Can you hear me know?[/sub], but it’s sweetly and seductively manipulative.[sub]Try it. You’ll like it![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-think-advertising-does-not-affect-them/365803/42 "2006-07-26T20:02:09Z")
I honestly believe that advertising doesn’t get into my head very often, but it has a much larger effect on other people. Case 1: fast food restraunts. In Nashville, we have **Cheesebruger Charley’s** and the **Baja Taco Company** , two local fast food chains that never advertise (that I know of). We also, of course, have the usual suspects: **McDonald’s, Arby’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Subway, Taco Bell**. All of the them saturate the airwaves and use billboards, print advertising, etc… I only eat fast food at **Cheeseburger Charley’s** because they have the best food. Likewise I prefer **Ben and Jerry’s** even though **Baskin Robins** advertises more. Yet obviously the big nationwide chains get plenty of business, I’d suspect more per location than the local ones. Case 2: soft drinks. I drink only A&W brand soft drinks. They never advertise. Coke and Pepsi do, obviously. Everyone I know who’s tasted an A&W cream soda agrees that it’s the best thing ever, yet their portion of market share is tiny. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-think-advertising-does-not-affect-them/365803/43 "2006-07-26T21:19:44Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > Do you use shaving cream? Usually, but not right now, as I’ve run out and keep forgetting to get more. > [@](#): > > If so, which brand do you use? Whichever one is the cheapest. > [@](#): > > Which brand of razor do you use? Couldn’t say without checking. It was recommended by my brother. > [@](#): > > And what kinds of cleansers do you use in your apartment? Again, couldn’t say without checking. I bought them either because they were the first that caught my eye or because they were cheapest, depending on how much in a hurry I was. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-think-advertising-does-not-affect-them/365803/44 "2006-07-26T21:41:06Z")
I don’t listen to the radio and I don’t watch TV. I’d say I am less affected by ads than your average Joe American. But I’m not totally immune. I’d like to be on an iPod billboard. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-think-advertising-does-not-affect-them/365803/45 "2006-07-26T22:02:55Z")
> [@ITR champion](#): > > Case 1: fast food restraunts. In Nashville, we have **Cheesebruger Charley’s** and the **Baja Taco Company** , two local fast food chains that never advertise (that I know of). We also, of course, have the usual suspects: **McDonald’s, Arby’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Subway, Taco Bell**. All of the them saturate the airwaves and use billboards, print advertising, etc… I only eat fast food at **Cheeseburger Charley’s** because they have the best food. Likewise I prefer **Ben and Jerry’s** even though **Baskin Robins** advertises more. Yet obviously the big nationwide chains get plenty of business, I’d suspect more per location than the local ones. For some reason, I have a sudden craving for a pizza and a burger. Don’t ask me why. ---
**Author:** ![blinkingblinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-think-advertising-does-not-affect-them/365803/46 "2006-07-26T22:26:37Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > . I bought them either because they were the first that caught my eye or because they were cheapest, depending on how much in a hurry I was. Why did they catch your eye, is what advertisers ask. Maybe sub-consciously the advertising made them catch your eye. This thread has been going well without my help. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-think-advertising-does-not-affect-them/365803/47 "2006-07-26T22:31:56Z")
> [@blinkingblinking](#): > > Why did they catch your eye, is what advertisers ask. Maybe sub-consciously the advertising made them catch your eye. I couldn’t say. What I _do_ know is that if I didn’t make the decision based entirely on the price, I grabbed the first one I found that seemed to do roughly what I wanted. Like I’ve said, I find it unbelievable that I would be immune to advertising. I just can’t find any evidence that I’ve ever been affected by it. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-think-advertising-does-not-affect-them/365803/48 "2006-07-26T23:01:31Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > Like I’ve said, I find it unbelievable that I would be immune to advertising. I just can’t find any evidence that I’ve ever been affected by it. One area in which almost everyone is affected by advertising is the movies. Since they’re essentially a one-time product, the only way you’re going to know about a new one is if you see it advertised (of course, you might then check out reviews to see if you want to see it or not, but it’s usually advertising that brings it to your attention, even if it’s just the theater marquee). Unless you just walk up to the theater and say “Give me two for whatever is playing at 8:00 p.m.,” if you go to the movies at all, you are probably influenced by advertising. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-think-advertising-does-not-affect-them/365803/49 "2006-07-27T00:12:41Z")
I have to say, the responses here are a lot like those of people who claim that even though everyone else who claims to have had a supernatural experience is deluding themselves, they’re own personal supernatural experience is absolutely, positively, genuinely real and couldn’t possibly be a mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Not\_Appearing\_on\_This\_Site](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7cd45c/32.png) [@Sir\_Not\_Appearing\_on\_This\_Site](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Not_Appearing_on_This_Site)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-think-advertising-does-not-affect-them/365803/50 "2006-07-27T00:46:26Z")
What about the adds on the bottom of this site? Has anyone ever clicked on them? Right now they are about car dealers and computer drivers. Are interested on clicking those ads while surfing a message board? I know I’m not, and probably never will. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-think-advertising-does-not-affect-them/365803/51 "2006-07-27T01:20:39Z")
I know I’m very susceptible to advertising. And I’m in sales, so it’s a little embarrassing. If I see an ad for a new food, I want it. If I see an ad for a new TV show, I’ll at least consider it. One downfall is my incredible curiosity. If I see a product and can’t either figure out how it works or if it works, I’m tempted. Like magic erasers (which do work, by the way). ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-think-advertising-does-not-affect-them/365803/52 "2006-07-27T07:02:31Z")
> [@Kyrie Eleison](#): > > Interesting. Where do you think, though, that people get the idea that other people will think they’re cool for having a Hummer? That’s a good question. I think it might be useful to consider the following question: Should we give advertising credit when someone buys something due to advertising even though _they themselves have not encountered any advertising for that product_? Assume there are two people, Alice and Bob. Alice sees an ad for a Hummer, and is influenced to some extent by the ad. She goes out and buys the Hummer. She’s very happy with it. She drives it to Bob’s place to show it off. Bob has not seen any ads for Hummers, but listens to Alice talk about how awesome it is. He likes the rugged look of the vehicle. He goes out and buys one. (Simplistic, I know, but play along.) Did Bob buy a Hummer based on advertising? If Alice had not seen the ad, she would not have bought the Hummer. If she had not bought the Hummer, then Bob would not have bought one either. So the advertisement had a direct causal effect on Bob’s purchase. On the other hand, Bob never saw an ad at all! He bought a Hummer because he liked the way it looked and because a friend of his raved about how cool it was. Given those two things, he would have bought one _regardless of why his friend bought one_. If Alice bought one because she was an engineer who designed part of it and thought it was a really neato car, and hadn’t actually seen any ad for the car, then Bob would have bought one all the same. It seems odd to say that Bob bought a car because of an ad when not only has he not seen the ad, but when he also would have bought the same car if the ad had never existed. My guess is that most people are a bit more like Bob than like Alice. While advertising has its effect, they largely make purchases based on testimony from trusted friends, based on habit, based on cost, or because they think it’s cool (even if no advertising told them to think it was cool). Alices help jumpstart the cycle. I think it might also be interesting to think about what really constitutes an advertisement, but I’m tired and need sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-think-advertising-does-not-affect-them/365803/53 "2006-07-27T10:29:59Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > One area in which almost everyone is affected by advertising is the movies. Since they’re essentially a one-time product, the only way you’re going to know about a new one is if you see it advertised (of course, you might then check out reviews to see if you want to see it or not, but it’s usually advertising that brings it to your attention, even if it’s just the theater marquee). Unless you just walk up to the theater and say “Give me two for whatever is playing at 8:00 p.m.,” if you go to the movies at all, you are probably influenced by advertising. There we have it. I rarely go to the movies, but when I do it’s usually because of advertising. When I rent movies, which I do much more often, it’s also usually because of advertising. ---
**Author:** ![DangleYourModifier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@DangleYourModifier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DangleYourModifier)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-think-advertising-does-not-affect-them/365803/54 "2006-07-27T12:27:32Z")
The company that must be making a lot of money from advertising is the one that manufactures all the measuring apparatus. You know - the ones that measure 30% stronger hair or 75% more colour or 40% whiter teeth. How do they measure that anyway? ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-think-advertising-does-not-affect-them/365803/55 "2006-07-27T17:52:48Z")
> [@ITR champion](#): > > I drink only A&W brand soft drinks. They never advertise. You mean the one with that frosty mug taste? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-think-advertising-does-not-affect-them/365803/56 "2006-07-27T19:21:27Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > One area in which almost everyone is affected by advertising is the movies. Since they’re essentially a one-time product, the only way you’re going to know about a new one is if you see it advertised (of course, you might then check out reviews to see if you want to see it or not, but it’s usually advertising that brings it to your attention, even if it’s just the theater marquee). Unless you just walk up to the theater and say “Give me two for whatever is playing at 8:00 p.m.,” if you go to the movies at all, you are probably influenced by advertising. I can’t remember the last time I saw a movie after seeing the ad (I don’t watch a lot of movies and I don’t see a lot of ads, so I’m sure about this). What _does_ make me interested in a movie is hearing about it from friends, or seeing it in the news, or seeing discussions about it on the net, at which point I try to find out more about it and decide whether or not I want to see it. So, close to advertising in principle (exposure), but not really advertising. However, this does sound a lot like **BlackKnight** ’s Alice and Bob scenario, which is interesting since it would mean I _am_ affected by ads in a fairly direct way. ---
**Author:** ![934spe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/90db22/32.png) [@934spe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/934spe)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-think-advertising-does-not-affect-them/365803/57 "2006-07-27T20:57:20Z")
Having a 3 year old daughter, I have become very familiar with the evil empire that is known as marketing, especially on TV. She doesn’t watch all that much TV, maybe an hour or so each evening before bed story time. She has this new facination with cartoons, any cartoon no matter the content. It can be something on Disney Channel, the Cartoon Network, Boomerang, or even something from Adult Swim, as long as it is animated, she is there. You don’t think marketing works? Try taking a child down the toy aisle and see what they pick out… 9 out of 10 things will be something they have seen a commercial for. I didn’t even know she WATCHED the commercials… Since I have a DVR, I rarely watch _live_ TV anymore and just fast forward through them during my shows… So to those of you who don’t think advertising works, you have never had to experience the joys of dragging a screaming, crying child out of the store because you won’t buy them the $50 super barbie dream set… ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-think-advertising-does-not-affect-them/365803/58 "2006-07-27T21:26:01Z")
> [@934spe](#): > > 9 out of 10 things will be something they have seen a commercial for. I didn’t even know she WATCHED the commercials… Actually, the way kids’ programming works, she doesn’t even need to see the commercials. A huge amount of childrens programming nowdays is part of an integrated marketing scheme, whereby the characters in childrens’ shows are also products on the shelves of the toy stores. The programs themselves are, in effect, little more than advertisements, designed to turn kids into consumers-by-prxy as early as possible. ---
**Author:** ![934spe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/90db22/32.png) [@934spe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/934spe)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-think-advertising-does-not-affect-them/365803/59 "2006-07-27T21:31:19Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Actually, the way kids’ programming works, she doesn’t even need to see the commercials. A huge amount of childrens programming nowdays is part of an integrated marketing scheme, whereby the characters in childrens’ shows are also products on the shelves of the toy stores. The programs themselves are, in effect, little more than advertisements, designed to turn kids into consumers-by-prxy as early as possible. How ever the hell it works, it sure works. I have an empty wallet and a full kids room of crap we don’t need… ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2006, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-think-advertising-does-not-affect-them/365803/60 "2006-07-28T00:09:33Z")
> [@934spe](#): > > So to those of you who don’t think advertising works, you have never had to experience the joys of dragging a screaming, crying child out of the store because you won’t buy them the $50 super barbie dream set… I don’t think anyone in this thread is saying that advertising doesn’t work, just that they think it does (or does not) have an effect on _them_. In fact, your example fits pretty well with “Bob’s.” _You_ didn’t actually see any ads for the product, but after listening to a convincing argument from a woman close to you, you are compelled to buy it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-think-advertising-does-not-affect-them/365803.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-think-advertising-does-not-affect-them/365803.md?page=4)