# What do Progesso soup and Comcast cable have in common?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-progesso-soup-and-comcast-cable-have-in-common/142041
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [December 11, 2002, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-progesso-soup-and-comcast-cable-have-in-common/142041 "2002-12-11T17:32:56Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2002, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-progesso-soup-and-comcast-cable-have-in-common/142041/1 "2002-12-11T17:32:56Z")
Disingenous commercials, that’s what.
Starting with Progesso, I’m not sure why, but it really chaps my hide that they continue to compare their product to Campbell’s condensed soup line when Campbell offers a comparable line, Campbell’s Select. Geez Louise, why? Of course your soup’s better than Campbell’s condensed soup! The funny thing is, I prefer the taste of Progress over anything Campbell’s has to offer so I’m not sure why I’m even complaining.
Comcast cable’s commercials that tout their service as better than having a satellite dish chap my hide, too. In a fair amount of their commercials, they have actors complaining that the dish isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. In inclement weather you get the pixelization and clicks and pauses in the broadcast that, supposedly, one would not get if one had Comcast. Well, guess what? I _have_ digital cable provided by Comcast and I get that same shit in my movie channels – it’s the ‘clicking’ noise that bothers me the most! At least dish owners sometimes have the option of going outside and fine tuning their dish. I can’t drive to wherever your _dish_ (that’s right, I know you’re using a dish, too) is located and fine tune it, now can I? As a matter of fact, I problems with my movie channels _even when the weather’s fine_. You guys suck.
On preview, I find this rant to be so lame it’s barely even Pit-worthy…
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### Author:  [@apotheosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/apotheosis)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2002, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-progesso-soup-and-comcast-cable-have-in-common/142041/2 "2002-12-11T18:05:00Z")
Dunno about progresso soup, but Comcast’s cable service (tv-wise, anyway) is pretty hideous. Maybe it’s just the decoder boxes, but that 2+ second lag in tuning each station gets damned annoying when you’re channel surfing.
Perhaps I got spoiled by Roadrunner’s instant tuning…but then again, Roadrunner makes you suffer through approximately 2^24 AOL and/or Roadrunner commercials per hour, so the annoyance factor kinda evens out.
Comcast’s cable modem seems ok, now if they’d just figure out how to offer static IPs… ☹
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### Author:  [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2002, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-progesso-soup-and-comcast-cable-have-in-common/142041/3 "2002-12-11T18:09:24Z")
You guys think you have it bad?
I have Cablevision, top that in the agony factor.
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### Author:  [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2002, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-progesso-soup-and-comcast-cable-have-in-common/142041/4 "2002-12-11T18:11:45Z")
With regards to Comcast cable’s digital service:
A year ago we subscribed to the service, paid the installation fee, first months’ service, had the guy come out and install the box, yada yada yada. They tell us it’ll take about 24 hours to ‘cycle’.
I said WTF? but didn’t think anything of it. 24 hours goes by. Still no channels. I call back. They say that b/c it’s a holiday weekend, I’ll need to wait until Monday to get my service. WTF?
Monday comes and goes, I’m too busy to call in. Tuesday, still no service. I call in. They say I should have channels. I say, I have no channels! Bah!
After a week of calling back and forth and generally annoying the hell out of them, I _finally_ get someone who can tell me what the problem was…
_They didn’t even have any lines run in my area of town yet._
Not only that, they never _planned_ on installing any.
AND YET THEY CAME TO MY HOUSE AND INSTALLED THE D\*MN BOX!
Freakin’ morons.
I never did get the installation fee back.
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### Author:  [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2002, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-progesso-soup-and-comcast-cable-have-in-common/142041/5 "2002-12-11T18:21:23Z")
> [@](#):
>
> from **JETGIRL**
> Freakin’ morons.
> I never did get the installation fee back.
You should keep calling them and pressing for this to be refunded. Don’t give up.
Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience with them. I’ve had no problems with Comcast, myself, and I got digital cable through a promotional offer, so my rate is not much more than analog. I love the cable modem, too. When I’ve had issues or problems, I’ve always been able to get them resolved here – although I do have to say that it’s the local office that has been more helpful. I’ve gotten stuck on some far-away customer service call center (when first setting up the cable modem), and those guys SUCKED.
I do find the channel-switch lag on the digital cable a little annoying, but I’ve found that it’s easier to preview through channels on the info bar to see what’s on.
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### Author:  [@wireless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wireless)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2002, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-progesso-soup-and-comcast-cable-have-in-common/142041/6 "2002-12-11T18:35:01Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by apotheosis \*
> \*\*[N]ow if they’d just figure out how to offer static IPs… ☹ \*\*
**AMEN!**
(I think they _can_. I think they just _don’t_ because they use it as a way to discourage (high traffic) businesses using the cheaper “home” service.)
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### Author:  [@Naz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Naz)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2002, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-progesso-soup-and-comcast-cable-have-in-common/142041/7 "2002-12-11T18:49:28Z")
Comcast? Cablevision? Nah, try Classic Cable. Only place that offers service on base where I’m at. Some channels are so fuzzy that you can’t watch them, there’s a ton of channels I don’t want (several of them are televangelism), and they don’t even offer Comedy Central.
Twits.
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### Author:  [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2002, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-progesso-soup-and-comcast-cable-have-in-common/142041/8 "2002-12-11T19:09:50Z")
I like Campbell’s condensed soups. Sorry. ☹
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### Author:  [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2002, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-progesso-soup-and-comcast-cable-have-in-common/142041/9 "2002-12-11T19:28:29Z")
Me too, **Lib** –and I’m not ashamed. 🙂
I know nothing about Comcast, but what I think is most disingenuous about the Progresso v. Condensed Cambells commercials is that they mention nothing about the price difference. Considering that you’re paying $2.50 a can for the Progresso vs. $0.79 for the Cambells, are you really that surprised it’s got a bit more to it? Sheesh.
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2002, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-progesso-soup-and-comcast-cable-have-in-common/142041/10 "2002-12-11T19:50:29Z")
I like Campbells’ better too. Even the condensed soup.
And Chunky is the best. The Soup that eats like a meal.
😃
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### Author:  [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2002, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-progesso-soup-and-comcast-cable-have-in-common/142041/11 "2002-12-11T20:30:19Z")
Don’t even get me started on Digital Cable. They’re always trying to get me to get this crap, and I continually refuse. I had it once, for about 3 weeks. That 2 second delay between switching channels is crap, especially when you realize that at least part of the delay is so they can load up the advertising that they put on the channel bar at the bottom of the screen. And the on-screen interactive TV Guide thing? Useless, because the damn thing only shows an hour or two of programming at a time. And WHY does it only show an hour or two of programming at a time? Because they fill up 1/3-1/2 the #!@# screen with MORE FUCKING ADVERTISING.
Oh yeah, I’m PAYING for this service. I get to pay a PREMIUM PRICE so the can PUMP MORE ADVERTISING at me. Yeah, sign me up!
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### Author:  [@apotheosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/apotheosis)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2002, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-progesso-soup-and-comcast-cable-have-in-common/142041/12 "2002-12-11T20:40:35Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by wireless \*
> \*\ ***AMEN!**
>
> (I think they _can_. I think they just _don’t_ because they use it as a way to discourage (high traffic) businesses using the cheaper “home” service.) \*\*
Oh, I’m sure they know how, too. It just annoys me that it’s not an option. When I was on Roadrunner I had their business-class setup with 5 static IPs…not a cheap option, but it was worthwhile (came with a Cisco router, too…ooo, more pretty green LEDs!). I’d be happy to pay for it on Comcast, but they’re apparently not interested in the money.
(Or their subnet is too small, or they’re worried about bandwidth, or any of a dozen other explanations that aren’t as offensive but which don’t satisfy my righteous indignation.)
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2002, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-progesso-soup-and-comcast-cable-have-in-common/142041/13 "2002-12-11T21:49:11Z")
It’s the lentils.
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### Author:  [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2002, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-progesso-soup-and-comcast-cable-have-in-common/142041/14 "2002-12-11T22:47:36Z")
Hey! Comcast is one of my biggest clients. They’re the reason I can eat. I think they’re a fine organization.
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### Author:  [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2002, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-progesso-soup-and-comcast-cable-have-in-common/142041/15 "2002-12-11T23:07:28Z")
I’ve been meaning to start a thread for a while about the stupid soup war TV ads.
It’s soup! Who gives a crap?!
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### Author:  [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2002, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-progesso-soup-and-comcast-cable-have-in-common/142041/16 "2002-12-11T23:18:35Z")
Soupy Sales?
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### Author:  [@apotheosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/apotheosis)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2002, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-progesso-soup-and-comcast-cable-have-in-common/142041/17 "2002-12-11T23:20:24Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Jackmannii \*
> \*\*It’s the lentils. \*\*
Comcast didn’t give **ME** any lentils.
Lentil bigots.
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### Author:  [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2002, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-progesso-soup-and-comcast-cable-have-in-common/142041/18 "2002-12-11T23:54:23Z")
I want my lentils.
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### Author:  [@Thylacine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacine)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2002, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-progesso-soup-and-comcast-cable-have-in-common/142041/19 "2002-12-12T00:07:27Z")
Do not know either of those companies but the practice is all too familiar.
_hazelnut spread, less fat than most peanut butters and less sugar than many jams_
(oooh, so it is health food then? Gimme a spoon!)
_alkaline batteries outlast the other brand’s heavy duty batteries_
(oooh, better buy those, they last so much longer than the other alkaline brand)
It is only a matter of time until they point out that dentists recommend eating chocolate… (if you are starving and given the choice between chocolate and rat poison).
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### Author:  [@Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skeezix)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2002, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-progesso-soup-and-comcast-cable-have-in-common/142041/20 "2002-12-12T05:59:41Z")
The soup commercials: Effectively, they’re comparing a Corvette with a Chevette, and hoping most folks won’t notice the disparity.
Comcast Digital Cable: The 2 second channel delay, 'round here, is more like 0.5 seconds. It’s not that big a deal, really. And for me, channel surfing is a thing of the past, anyway. That advertisement-free onscreen guide that displays a week in advance and is sortable by air-time, title and genre (hereabouts, anyway, YMMV) is the cat’s ass. For as little television as I do watch, I’d go buggy without it. I’m seriously spoiled. I’d sooner cancel our cable altogether (which we’re considering, due to the price lately) than go back to an analogue box.
[petty rant]
We do also get that TV Guide channel, which is about as effective as the one **Athena** ’s all steamed up about. An uninteractive channel guide that looks a whole hour and a half ahead makes the baby Skeezix cry. I wanna know what’s on at 11PM Saturday night, on the movie channels (with **out** getting eyestrain trying to read that guide that comes with the Sunday paper) so I can plan ahead and tape some movie we want to watch.
Barring, of course, the possiblity that the flick in question is on late enough that one of us doesn’t miss the first half hour of it putting the Skeezling to bed, but early enough that we can both actually stay awake through the whole bloody thing. Yeah, **that** happens real frequently.
[/petty rant]
And yeah, the picture quality isn’t always perfect. It’s highly annoying sometimes, but we’ve got a DVD player for the flicks we really love to watch, anyway.
[sub]Four commentary tracks? Hell cancel the cable now, it’s gonna take us three months just to watch all the goodies for this movie as it is.[/sub]
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