Sex sells.

[Sizzle Montyjing]

Sex sells.
We all know this, but i'm not just stating the obvious for no reason.
My question is... should sex sell?
Is it right to sell something using basic human urges, but then again, isn't that essentailly why we buy anything anyway?

Should products base themselves sex?
(like a certain brand of deodrant)

So Escapists, what's your take?

I'm mainly talking about perfume adverts.
Seriously, what is up with them?

 

[NickCaligo42]

Yeah, they should. It's hilarious.


This post brought to you by Pleary S&P, a Captcha corporation.

 

[A Weakgeek]

If you are so easily manipulated to buy something because you saw nekkid women on a comercial then you really are doomed, people will take advantage of you through your whole life.

 

[Hitokiri_Gensai]

Eh it seems to me, that the male mind will always fall victim to sex, and i dont say that saying they're stupid, just that, they're sort of programmed like that. As a lesbian woman, a sexy ad always catches my eyes, but it doesnt mean i buy into anything. Like, that ad for cherry dr pepper with Fergie. SO HOT, but i dont drink dr pepper. at all. ever.

 

[Clipper]

Guh.


I have no word in this one, because most of them make no sense.

 

[Sizzle Montyjing]

If you are so easily manipulated to buy something because you saw nekkid women on a comercial then you really are doomed, people will take advantage of you through your whole life.

I'm not taken in by adverts... anymore.

They worked on me as a kid, but now i look at them and make sarcastic comments which question their very exsistence.
Because i'm awsome.

I have also vowed never to buy something that advertises it's self on youtube.

 

[Gigano]

It's no better or worse than any other incentive that isn't a strictly neutral description of the product and its uses.

It simply appeals to irrational elements of human nature, which is the case with pretty much all other advertising; If it shouldn't be used, then that pretty much means advertising shouldn't exist (unless one's opposition to it is founded in some sort of prudish puritanism).

 

[Khada]

IN general, all marketing is evil. So few adverts actually inform you about a product and it's price etc. I see it as wrong to sell anything as more than it is or based on some half witted prima facie association.

Also: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDW_Hj2K0wo

 

[Griffolion]

I believe it was parodied in family guy with that beer advert. Kinda went along the lines of "*random generic beer name here* beer, if you buy it, hot women will have sex with you."

Which is basically how sex is used to sell products.

"Our products will make you look like this man/woman, who is clearly good looking and socially successful."

By the way, even if you're aware of this type of advertising and are against it, research shows you're just as likely to still buy the product as anyone else. Strange.

 

[A Weakgeek]

Sex sells.
We all know this, but i'm not just stating the obvious for no reason.
My question is... should sex sell?
Is it right to sell something using basic human urges, but then again, isn't that essentailly why we buy anything anyway?

Should products base themselves sex?
(like a certain brand of deodrant)

So Escapists, what's your take?

Should sex sell? If you're asking if sex should be used to sell things, of course it shouldn't. But that's hardly relevant, since it's impossible to regulate and companies are ALWAYS going to use sex to sell things.

If you are so easily manipulated to buy something because you saw nekkid women on a comercial then you really are doomed, people will take advantage of you through your whole life.

If you think you're not manipulated by commercials at all, you're fooling yourself.

Well... You may be right, but I dont see commercials that often. I don't watch TV, radio VERY rarely, and when on my PC I have PATIENCE. When I actually have the bad luck to see a commercial, its 90% of the time not targeted at me so it leads to nothing. I feel that the food ads are the worst, since many times I actually do think " That must be tasty" but since its some foodbrand in USA I will never be tasting that either.

Yeah to finish my post, mayby my first post was kind of harsh. Everybody is affected by marketing but as long as you are smart enough not to purchase those products just because they are being marketed to you it isint anything serious.

 

[Shirastro]

I'm mainly talking about perfume adverts.
Seriously, what is up with them?

People use deodorants if they don't want to smell bad.
They use perfumes if they want to smell good, and in most cases increase their chances of attracting the opposite (or same) gender, so they are at least indirectly related to sex, so i don't see what's wrong with using sex to advertise them.

 

[Bobbity]

It's natural for sex to be an incredible marketing tool, but it's also kind of a pity, because it means that every single music video that comes out these days basically contains softcore porn of some sort...

 

[Folksoul]

Does it sell? Yes.
Should it? Well...

I usually try to boycott the product if the ad irritates me. That includes adding sex appeal to something that is not actually selling me sex.

On the topic of deodorant/body-washes/shampoo/soap,
Hygiene should not have to be marketed through sex to be bought. It "should" be a basic necessity for day to day life. If you smell like shit no one will want to be near you and if you smell bad enough most businesses will refuse you service.

If you want your product to sell you can create a new scent, appeal to niche markets like people with easily irritated skin, create a formula that actually last as long as the label claims, or just have the lowest price amongst your competitors. Wall*mart proved that if you have anywhere near brand name quality at fraction of the price IT WILL SELL. Most grown men don't care as long as it works and will buy the cheaper product.

To be a bit more ranty:
AXE commercials. Whoever writes those misandrist, horrifying excuses for advertising needs to be shot. If you are not in middle school and buy AXE after those "get girl approved X" ads came out, I hope you realize they actually told you that you are too stupid to clean yourself with or without their products and still expect you to buy their shit. There was no sex appeal there. The mob of girls pounce on a guy, style his hair, and LEAVE. The product doesn't get you girls. Not using the product is what gets the girls to notice you, even if it's only about how disgusting your hair is.

 

[Smooth Operator]

In marketing any cheap trick that can sell more will be used, simple as that.

It's up to the consumer to read through the bullshit, men in particular are easily distracted, when reminded of sex we tend to ignore everything around it.

 

[Sizzle Montyjing]

I'm mainly talking about perfume adverts.
Seriously, what is up with them?

People use deodorants if they don't want to smell bad.
They use perfumes if they want to smell good, and in most cases increase their chances of attracting the opposite (or same) gender, so they are at least indirectly related to sex, so i don't see what's wrong with using sex to advertise them.

Yeah... but they use sex in the weirdest ways!!!
I might change this thread actually...

 

[Auroch]

Only if it's reflective of the content.

If the game deals with sexuality in an interesting way (i.e. CATHERINE), you should absolutely use sex to sell it.

If you're selling a puzzle game, putting falling blocks between a woman's breasts is both deceptive and inane.