patronising presumptuous adverts?

[shootthebandit]

Ive noticed a trend in adverts that use the phrase "you wouldnt do this, would you?"

A few examples I can think of was one for a dishwasher rinse aid that said "you wouldnt clean your dishes with a dirty cloth, so why clean them with a dirty dishwasher?"

one I seen today to sell e-cigs or patches or just the government trying to get people to quit (wasnt really paying attention to what it was advertising)that said "if you could see the damage smoking does on the inside you would stop immediately"

Its really starting to get on my nerves and its just unnecessary. I hate the fact that it just presumes that you do certain things. Whos to say that i dont wash my dishes with a dirty cloth (I do but thats not the point"

here is an exaggerated example from about 5 years ago...yes this was a genuine advert in the UK to warn people about piracy (youve probably seen it before and i suggest watching the IT crowd spoof in the related videos)
edit: Ironically this advert was shown in cinemas and on legal DVDs so only people who legitimately purchased a product would see it. If you downloaded a film illegally chances are its ad free and you wouldnt actually see this

you wouldnt make an advert for your product if you knew its was going to be patronising....would you?

 

[FalloutJack]

True Statement: Many advertisements, especially ones which irritate the watcher, have the reverse offect that was intended.

If the above wasn't true, then people would just buy into everything all the time. Some people DO, but not everyone. The thing is that people in advertising and marketing don't know how to relate to people or convey a message that they like on a regular basis. If most advertisements were properly enticing, there would be alot more of them given their due, like in the early days of people who believe everything you see on television. Again, a good number still do, but there's a shit-ton of cynics out there. But instead of the carrot, ad-makers chose the stick, which just goes to show they didn't take a psychology class in all their lives. Basically shooting in the dark is what they do.

Now, to address some things you've said, I have a few thoughts at random:

Dirty dishcloths get that way from the act of cleaning and it's relatively unimportant as to the state of the cloth if you're using...you know...SOAP.

E-Cigs are actually marvelous things and people will ignore stupid adverts and get hooked on them harder than actual cigarettes somehow. It will even attract non-smokers.

You've pretty much also paraphrased Dara O'Briain in regards to the anti-piracy ad.

 

[Lieju]

here is an exaggerated example from about 5 years ago...yes this was a genuine advert in the UK to warn people about piracy (youve probably seen it before and i suggest watching the IT crowd spoof in the related videos)
edit: Ironically this advert was shown in cinemas and on legal DVDs so only people who legitimately purchased a product would see it. If you downloaded a film illegally chances are its ad free and you wouldnt actually see this

you wouldnt make an advert for your product if you knew its was going to be patronising....would you?

Well, most people wouldn't steal a car or a DVD.
What that ad does is equate the two, and I'd say it's effective in it.

I'd say that ad probably reached some people.
Considering how many kids don't know what pirating is.

They view it as the same thing as opening a tv. You get free programming.

The kind of ads I find hilarious are the kind that try to convince you some everyday things are very hard and you need this new invention to deal with it.

One I can remember off the top of my head was a snuggie-commercial that tried to convince you blankets are hard to use.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xZp-GLMMJ0

 

[Thaluikhain]

I(youve probably seen it before and i suggest watching the IT crowd spoof in the related videos)

Spoiler

But yeah, that kind of thing is annoying, but people use it because it's effective.

Similar thing from WW1:

Spoiler

 

[ParanoidEngineer]

Is it bad I like that anti-piracy video? It hasn't encouraged me to stop pirating movies when I already don't pirate movies but it's a nice flashback to watching endless Simpsons boxsets.

 

[Someone Depressing]

I hate these kind of advertisements.

"You sure are tired of having to pick up your vaccum, aren't you? Then get Dyson's new ball vaccum-"

No. I'm not. Because I only vaccum once every two weeks. I only eat in the kitchen. I don't need your bullshit vaccum. Stop pretending you know me. Fuck you, Dyson.

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

Personally, in addition to what has been said - especially about the everyday tasks becoming more difficult - is I hate ads that try to tell you "you deserve it" or "you're worth it" - it's like fuck you, who gave you the right to describe your product as desirable without even knowing who you're fucking talking to? It could be any sick bastard watching the TV, and your product could be shit. Something I hate more than that, come to think of it, is ads that tell me what is or is not Australian to do, or that using their product is "Australian". Screw you. Unless you're Vegemite or selling the still gavely underappreciated kangaroo steaks, you can fuck right off with that.

As for piracy, it's trying to equate stealing things that exist from people who will miss them to stealing something nebulous that often would never have existed in the first place. Even when I was little I thought that, and unsurprisingly, I still do.

 

[Lieju]

Similar thing from WW1:

Spoiler

What does 'I believe in egg power rather than man power' refer to?

I can't be sure if I believe in that creed until I know what that means.

 

[Barbas]

Seeing this thread makes me recall a wonderful show on television called Screenwipe, hosted by the witty and acerbic Charlie Brooker. There was a lovely segment on said programme called "The Ten Biggest C*cks In Advertising", in which our host emaciated his least favourite advertisements, usually the ones with the most insufferable characters, or the ones that try to be "on your side".

Spoiler: DANGER - ABSOLUTE W*NKERS.

Needless to say, in today's grim world of advertising, our hero was never left short of ammunition.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

here is an exaggerated example from about 5 years ago...yes this was a genuine advert in the UK to warn people about piracy (youve probably seen it before and i suggest watching the IT crowd spoof in the related videos)
edit: Ironically this advert was shown in cinemas and on legal DVDs so only people who legitimately purchased a product would see it. If you downloaded a film illegally chances are its ad free and you wouldnt actually see this

you wouldnt make an advert for your product if you knew its was going to be patronising....would you?

Fun fact: The anti piracy people that commissioned that advert only paid the musician for a single use of the song. Because they have plastered it everywhere they now owe him something like £20 million for compensation, but because they are basically their own court when it comes to piracy the top guys refused to pay out.

The anti piracy legislators have managed to make themselves the biggest pirates out there, but it's ok, apparently the law doesn't apply to them.

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

I recall reading a study in sociology about attack ads. They're referring to any time an add specifically mentions their direct competition in a disparaging way. Think of the Verizon Wireless "We have a bigger coc-er?.map than AT&T" ads, or the Mac vs PC with Justin Long and John Hodgman, or whatnot. The study found that a significant number of people feel like the company doing the advertising are a bunch of mean spirited jerks and it makes them less likely to purchase from them. I have remembered that in my years since, as I've worked in cable or beverage sales for some time now. Never outright attack the opposition's product in a mean way, as it just makes you look like a bully.

 

[Auron225]

The kind of ads I find hilarious are the kind that try to convince you some everyday things are very hard and you need this new invention to deal with it.

One I can remember off the top of my head was a snuggie-commercial that tried to convince you blankets are hard to use.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xZp-GLMMJ0

Are you trying to tell me you are NOT an incompetent baboon? ...But, I don't understand

I know exactly what you mean. This little gem I found a while ago sums it up well.

Spoiler: I forgot how to human

 

[Lieju]

The kind of ads I find hilarious are the kind that try to convince you some everyday things are very hard and you need this new invention to deal with it.

One I can remember off the top of my head was a snuggie-commercial that tried to convince you blankets are hard to use.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xZp-GLMMJ0

Are you trying to tell me you are NOT an incompetent baboon? ...But, I don't understand

I was once trapped inside a blanket for days. What's worse, it ALSO kept slipping off.
And forget snuggies, this was before we invented sweaters, so we just had to endure it.

Kids these days are so spoiled.

 

[zelda2fanboy]

Ever see the commercials for truecar? They're disgusting. The basic premise of the ad is that women can't buy cars on their own, so they need a website to tell them a car's value because car salesmen will take advantage of them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTcOrqYTM4Y

 

[Ulquiorra4sama]

We watched one in one of my college classes not too long ago. Honestly i'm not sure how to feel about it since their target demographic seems to consist of colossal morons.

 

[lacktheknack]

I was SO sure this was going to be about the Spray Tan Parties ad, but that would require people to finish it.

Oh well.

The ads don't bother me, really. I just mentally note "not for me" and continue.

 

[Auron225]

I was once trapped inside a blanket for days. What's worse, it ALSO kept slipping off.
And forget snuggies, this was before we invented sweaters, so we just had to endure it.

Kids these days are so spoiled.

Tell me about it. I hate being trapped inside stupid blankets that conform to the laws of gravity.

I used to spend hours sitting in a pitch-black room trying to read before I got my super convenient book light. Who would've thought that light was necessary for sight!? I have a rhyme that helps me remember that now so I only sometimes forget.

EDIT:

snip

What the hell are they doing at 1:11!?

And I love how they thought to include that guy attempting to poke his brain with the bud not once but TWICE to emphasize how such a goal is in fact not a good idea. I don't think I've ever met anyone who thinks 'cleaning your ears of wax' = 'pushing it further into your head'. Although I guess it would take someone like that to dream up this crap.

 

[Auron225]

Ever see the commercials for truecar? They're disgusting. The basic premise of the ad is that women can't buy cars on their own, so they need a website to tell them a car's value because car salesmen will take advantage of them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTcOrqYTM4Y

I'm becoming a regular on a still-only-one-page thread but I'm having a whale of a time here

From 0:00-0:24 - "Okay, yeah I can see why you'd think it's implying that women don't know what they're doing since they only have women in this ad but it hasn't specified that it targets only women or anything like tha-"

0:25 ~ I don't need to bring a dude with me ~

...Wow! I take it all back! That actually made me laugh out loud which I'm pretty sure wasn't the intended effect.

 

[shootthebandit]

Ever see the commercials for truecar? They're disgusting. The basic premise of the ad is that women can't buy cars on their own, so they need a website to tell them a car's value because car salesmen will take advantage of them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTcOrqYTM4Y

I seen the ad below the other day and I thought "hey wait a minute this advert is just implying that women dont know what they are doing". Then I seen the ad you posted blatantly said "I dont need to bring a dude with me". Implication is one thing but saying outright that women don't know what they are doing is another thing. Also the fact that she mentions said "dude" yet we dont see him, as if he is some sort of tool that women keep locked away and only bring out for the sole purpose of helping them with cars

 

[shootthebandit]

I seen this monstrosity the other day. I know im breaking the rules of my own thread as its not really presumptuous but it is kind of patronising and pointless. The only thing more stupid than the song about completely absurd scenarios is the fact that british gas want me to pay them 200 of her royal majesty's finest british pounds to fit a digital unit that means I can control my heating from anywhere when my heating already has timer and thermostat that basically does the same thing. You are basically paying £200 to be an iWanker so you can show all your "mates" down the pub