# Mad-Men: 5.02 "Tea Leaves" (open spoilers)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [April 1, 2012, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529 "2012-04-01T23:56:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 6

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**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529/101 "2012-04-10T16:01:01Z")

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> [@DianaG](#):
>
> Also, how am I supposed to take any of the Romneys seriously when they give their children such ridiculous names?

This is offensive in many ways.

> [@What\_the](#):
>
> “Nothing at all to do with” … do you disagree with the concept of subliminal messages? Do you think they work but something more “liminal” doesn’t?

I disagree with the concept of subliminal messages.

First, you’re using the term wrong, although I admit that the loose meaning is common. Second, true subliminal messages don’t work. There have been very few real world tests on them - they were outlawed about as soon as people started toying with them - and those tests are inconclusive at best. Third, this wasn’t subliminal even by the loose meaning. It was obvious and blatant, and people either rolled their eyes or nodded in glee, but it was clearly intended to be noticed, which is the opposite of subliminal.

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**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529/102 "2012-04-11T12:29:42Z")

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> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#):
>
> This is offensive in many ways.
> 
> I disagree with the concept of subliminal messages.
> 
> First, you’re using the term wrong, although I admit that the loose meaning is common. Second, true subliminal messages don’t work. There have been very few real world tests on them - they were outlawed about as soon as people started toying with them - and those tests are inconclusive at best. Third, this wasn’t subliminal even by the loose meaning. It was obvious and blatant, and people either rolled their eyes or nodded in glee, but it was clearly intended to be noticed, which is the opposite of subliminal.

JFTR, I wasn’t suggesting that it was subliminal.

Glad to find out that “liminal” is a real word. Although I was kind of hoping that I’d get bashed so I could lament never being a good enough writer to get to Hollyood and bash Democrats in my dialogue.

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**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529/103 "2012-04-11T12:52:47Z")

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This is a show in which a lot of the characters – perhaps a majority – are Republicans – Bert Cooper, Don Draper, Henry Francis, Harry Crane. The firm itself worked for the Nixon campaign. Cooper is an acolyte (and perhaps sometime paramour) of Ayn Rand.

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