Entry #2 Hands-Free Pick-pocketing

Question: Am I the only person who finds advertising commercials annoying?
Answer: I hope not!
     It seems as though no matter what form of media I am trying to enjoy, I'm constantly being interrupted by someone trying to pick my pocket.

      I understand that revenues generated from advertising is what allows some forms of media to be available at no cost to the consumer, but do they have to be so annoying? When was last time you heard, read or viewed a commercial that you found interesting and informative enough that it actually convinced you to go out and purchase that product? (Not so fast. Read on.) Usually they feel the necessity to not only point out the merely obvious, but the extremely obvious as well. Example: This grease fighting cleaner helps to dissolve grease on contact! I suspect that this cleaning product company believes that the consumer/potential purchaser might be confused about two issues here: 1. That a grease cleaner is in fact to be used to clean up grease and  2. That it actually has to come into contact with the grease to work. Annoying.
      Silly, insulting commercials bother me so much, I'm considering starting a non profit organization called Silly Commercials Upset Me (SCUM). Together maybe we could get legislation passed by all of the politicians that use advertising to help win their positions pass laws that restricts how much commercials are allowed to insult our intelligence.
      The biggest problem I would encounter with the SCUM program is this: Probably most of the members including myself, are in fact influenced by advertising to purchase goods and services whether we know it or not. It would be hard to believe that small companies all the way up to huge corporations would spend large amounts of money on something that did not generate a positive return on their investment. So you have to believe that advertising must work.
      I'm sure that advertising agencies spend a great deal of time determining which angles,triggers, approaches, etc. that best help their clients sell their goods and services. These agencies, I would assume have a variety of professionals from Psychologists to Comedians helping to decide what type/style of advertising will produce the best sales results. The average American Joe or Jane doesn't stand a chance against these expert pickpockets, let alone little Joey or Janie.
       I'm sorry that I sound so cynical about something that probably doesn't bother most people as much as it does me, but there is a little more to the point I'm trying to make here than just being a crabby old fart with nothing better to bitch about than a common occurrence in our everyday lives.
      The bottom line is this: Most Americans have probably been influenced to purchased something, whether they needed/wanted or not, because of an advertising campaign for that product.
      Food for thought: If sponsored media can effect what we purchase and how we spend our hard earned money, what other influence might they have in our daily lives? It scares me, how about you?
   
   
 
     
     

English 102 Blogs: Introduction Practice Entry " The Brains of the Walker Gang"

     Hello everyone. I am truly on the blogger polices' most wanted list, I am very much a novice at blogging. I do however intend to change that, either through hard work or dumb luck. I'm really hoping for the dumb luck thing to side in my favor. My name is Mark, AKA Cane Man. I'm thinking however, about changing my name to Cart Man Mark. Due to a recent injury I decided to join a notorious group of senior citizens known by law enforcement as "The Walker Gang". Here's a picture of our vicious enforcer "Brutal Bob".

    I hope that GCC doesn't treat me unfairly simply because I associate with outlaws like Bob. I didn't decide to enroll at GCC with the intent of anything other than furthering my education.  I had last attended college 39 years ago before perusing a career in the IBEW as an electrician for the next 35 years,

     I very much enjoyed my chosen profession for the entire time that I was able to do that type of work with no regrets in my career path. In 2011, due to medical issues I could no longer continue to work in the trade. I decided about a year and half ago to move to the Phoenix area to be near my son.
     After I became situated here in Glendale, I thought to myself "now what?" The only thing I knew for sure was that I hadn't moved 2000 miles to hide from the heat and watch Oprah reruns. I'm not sure if a requirement counts as a hobby, but I was required to go to the gym everyday and somewhere along the way it turned into a hobby, which has worked out well for me. In the mean time however my brain was beginning to slowly turn into:

   After careful consideration, I decided that the only way to keep my brain cells from gelling was to keep them exercising as well, so decided to return to school. I'm not sure if I'll ever actually obtain a degree, but in the mean time I'll keep learning and I have in fact, determined that no one is ever "Two old to learn". (get it -"two"? just kidding.)
         When I'm not exercising my body or my brain, I enjoy fishing, music, mountain climbing (audience laughs) and watching my son play sports, mostly baseball.
         At this time in my life, my small course load at GCC is fulfilling my expectations and requirements to continue on my determined path to become the "Brains" of the Walker Gang, With my brain and Bob's brawn, The Walker Gang will begin to rule Glendale (audience laughs hysterically.)
          By the way, I'm also trying to start a new fraternity for all of the male blue hairs here at GCC. It's going to be called Granpa-Likes-PI, so if your interested please get in touch with the Cane Man. That's about it for now.