i`ve been listening to the radio and looking through the newspapers, actually i`m just familiarising myself with my industry, so when i do get a job, i have some idea how things are done to some extent.
every country i`ve worked in, has different rules about advertising. in trinidad you can`t name your competitor directly and that work because the whole industry is a good old boys club and clients aren`t necessarily gleaned through skill but who you know and play golf with on a weekend.
the first time i heard an agency say `no` to a client i was in florida at a meeting. this was our biggest client and my boss told the client no, my jaw was on the ground. never in my entire career, that`s when i realised that i was in a whole new playing field.
but that`s not the point of this post.
do you ever notice that you start writing something and one of the ancillary thoughts just decides it wants to take over the whole and you`re heading down a whole different path?
that`s the not the point either, just a thought?
the point finally
i`ve noticed, everything has fine print and disclaimers. from some conditions apply to may cause internal haemorrhaging. i know advertising is pretty much the business of selling lies but this getting ridiculous.
all these disclaimers and fine print mean that it`s no longer about blurring the lines or bending the truth, we`re misleading people outright and only because these are such litigious times, that the truth has to be mention in some small way.
next time one of these ads for prescription drugs that airs on tv all the time comes on, ignore the happy go lucky people depicted in the ads, and listen to the disclaimers and read the fine print at the bottom of the screen, it`s down right frightening.
let`s take enzyte, the natural pill for male enhancement, here`s one:
\”Individuals shown are paid models, and not necessarily Enzyte customers.\”
and if that isn`t enough:
\”These statements have not been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration, and individual results may vary. Enzyte should be taken as part of a healthy lifestyle and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.\”
but this is the nail in the coffin, from the enzyte website:
\”Enzyte may help create firmer, fuller-feeling erections, but it cannot alter natural physical size.\”
doesn`t this negate the whole advertising campaign? no wonder they`re giving it away.
i could go on, but what is the point. pretty soon, i`ll be joining the masses telling you to buy this, wear that, use the other, else you wont be as cool, productive, smart as everyone else.
remember the snaffleburger corporation says: CONSUME! CONFORM! OBEY!
