# Verb. It's what you do. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 16, 2002, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verb-its-what-you-do/143178 "2002-12-16T22:04:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verb-its-what-you-do/143178/41 "2002-12-17T22:52:12Z")
I went to that website a while ago, but I did it just to find out what all those frickin’ commercials are _for_. The first thousand times I saw/heard them, I figured it was some kind of sports drink or something and I had just missed the product-pushing part. But no. They’re selling… verbs. I dunno. Even after reading this thread I still don’t get it. This insidious government brainwashing campaign is selling… kids not being fat and staying off drugs? With corporate sponsorship? Wouldn’t McDonalds rather fund an after-school program or something? Or anything other than this thing, which isn’t even any thing? Is anyone with me on this? ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verb-its-what-you-do/143178/42 "2002-12-17T23:32:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jarbabyj \* > \*\*And learning how to cook correctly WILL prevent obesity. \*\* No kidding. So, should I make a sensible, balanced meal from healthy ingredients for dinner tonight? Fuck it, I don’t know how to cook anyway. {beep-beep-boop-beep) Hello, Domino’s? (Reminds me of a TV ad for a phone that could store numbers with voice-activation. The commercial showed how you could order more pizza _without even sitting up from the couch far enough to reach for the phone!_ And my thought was, if you’re too fucking lazy to reach for the phone to order more pizza, you probably shouldn’t be having a second one anyway. Christ!) ---
**Author:** ![Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/2bfe46/32.png) [@Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xavier)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verb-its-what-you-do/143178/43 "2002-12-17T23:34:37Z")
> [@](#): > > **Demise:** I’m thinking that’s not a verb, but you know, if you could make it into one, I’m sure the explanation would be interesting. I need a shitload of string and a bottle o’ whisky… ---
**Author:** ![Lucki\_Chaarms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lucki\_Chaarms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucki_Chaarms)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verb-its-what-you-do/143178/44 "2002-12-18T01:13:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Manduck \* > \*\*That’s a weird website. I kept hunting around it trying to find out what VERB means. I thought it was an acronym or something. \*\* Duh… V.E.R.B. = Violently Effeminate Republican Blowhard. Think Rush Limbaugh with a Boa. LC ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verb-its-what-you-do/143178/45 "2002-12-18T01:23:15Z")
Everytime I think about those commercials the Batman theme song pops into my head. Only with verbs appropriate for me. Like “sit” and “nap” and “click.” ---
**Author:** ![Theobroma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@Theobroma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theobroma)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verb-its-what-you-do/143178/46 "2002-12-18T10:19:15Z")
My kid saw it and asked, “what was THAT all about?” That’s what this thread is all about. The message is fine: it’s just not getting through to its intended targets because the packaging is confusing and stupid. Consider the same commercials, with the “Verb: it’s what you do” tagline replaced by, say, “Exercise. Go out and have some fun!” --At least the kids would figure out what they were getting at. I asked my husband (after hearing about the campaign, and therefore in on the secret) what the commercial seemed to be for. He said: “Ummmmmm, a sports drink?” Next will be the anti-drug campaign: “Clean! Aware! Awake! --Adjective! It describes things!!” … ---
**Author:** ![Lucki\_Chaarms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lucki\_Chaarms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucki_Chaarms)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verb-its-what-you-do/143178/47 "2002-12-18T14:23:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Theobroma \* > **Next will be the anti-drug campaign: "Clean! Aware! Awake! --Adjective! It describes things!!"** Agggh! Made me laugh in the library! Now I’m getting glares. I seem to remember when I was a tot the campaign was “actual reality”, mocking a promo for virtual reality. As in “You’ll feel the weight of the ball in your hands- because you’ll actually be holding it! You’ll feel the wind on your face- because you’re actually outside!” etc. I don’t recall ever having been inspired to go outside by that commercial. Oh well. Say, that’s it! That’s what these commercials are for! They’re so annoying and confusing and dense that they make you want to… that’s right… TURN OFF THE TV!!! Victory. LC [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verb-its-what-you-do/143178.md?page=2)