# Marketing Through Side Effects **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 18, 2003, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-through-side-effects/202286 "2003-09-18T02:35:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-through-side-effects/202286/1 "2003-09-18T02:35:14Z")
[This thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=211883), commenting on the prescription drug commercials, got me wondering… I mean, advertising _prescription_ drugs seems like a crazy concept in he first place (“Ask your doctor if Paxephedriloma is right for you” – Me: “What the hell does it do?!”) But… What if **other** products were marketed this way? You know – the way they repeat the name of the product but never tell you the _good_ things it supposedly does. But then they have to tell you the side effects, the _bad_ things it could do to you. * * * Buy the new Toyota Camry! Ask your car dealer if the Camry is right for you. Warning: Driving the Toyota Camry could result in crashing into telephone poles or other cars. Side effects may include lacerations, amputations, and death. * * * Others? ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-through-side-effects/202286/2 "2003-09-18T02:44:07Z")
Could cause partial engorgement of your elbow skin. Some users had reported Libertarian tendencies, although not more that statictically seen with a placebo. Used as a placebo in other medical testing. Ask your Doctor about Placebolene! (Coming soon, Placeboline D) (Placobeline D has been known to cause hemmoragic fever, chills, night sweats, and, infrequently, death.) ---
**Author:** ![wolfstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-through-side-effects/202286/3 "2003-09-18T03:39:55Z")
Levi’s. Ask your tailor about it. (Levis may cause discomfort, an overly casual appearance, low sperm count, and tripping) Windows XP. Talk to your computer salesman. (May cause loss of essential files, extreme frustration, anger, annoyance, and in rare cases, violent tendancies. Do not use when operating heavy machinery.) Chateau Picard Champagne: Call your bartender for a consultation. Do it today. (Flying corks can cause bruising, blindness, haemorraging, loss of consciousness, coma, or death. Side effects of wine include loss of secrets, misplacement of clothing, impaired motor functions, loss of consciousness, liver damage, and pregnancy.) ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-through-side-effects/202286/4 "2003-09-18T04:09:40Z")
Trojan Condoms! Ask your local convenience store clerk if they’re right for you. Product occasionally tears, which can lead to HIV infection, herpes, syphillis, and/or pregnancy. Buy Trojans today! ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-through-side-effects/202286/5 "2003-09-18T22:20:47Z")
[FDA Aproves Sale of Prescription Placebo](http://www.theonion.com/3936/news2.html) from TheOnion… ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-through-side-effects/202286/6 "2003-09-19T02:53:19Z")
Ah, and how could we EVER forget: Olean may cause anal leakage. [homer shudder] ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-through-side-effects/202286/7 "2003-09-19T03:09:39Z")
Introducing the Big Mac! Ask your local McDonald’s employee if the Big Mac is right for you. Side effects may include heart attack, high blood pressure, increased risk for stroke and obesity.