So.. commercials

[Shian]

WHY ARE THEY SO LOUD?!

Any program I'm watching, any movie-on-tv any TV show,

The two of us scramble for the mute button because the commercial breaks threaten to blow out our eardrums.

I understand the technique of making them slightly louder to get people to pay attention to them, but lately it seems like someone has turned up the volume way more than what is comfortable. I'd be fine with supporting ad campaigns if they made it tolerable.

I can't have a conversation with anyone whom I am watching TV with if the commercials are on or we've muted it because we're too busy yelling "WHAT?" at each other.

[Charys Stormchild]

Adverts make my hubby reach for the mute button regardless of the volume, lol, so few ads are actually worth watching or advertising anything we can afford or even want.

The only ones we enjoy really are the meerkat ads...simples!

[velveeta]

too bad, char - you are missing some awesomeness!!

geico crybaby

paradise by the gophone light

the free credit report band (old)

the discovery channel ads

just to name a few of my current faves!!

just like anything, you gots to wade thru the frogs to find the princes!!

[Veruliyam]

Kiss That Frog

[Frith-Rae]

haha when I saw this title I was thinking of the Geiyco add with Gunny as the therapist..lol. Awesome commercial.

But yea, what use to be a more rare occurance (commercials amping up the volume onyour tv) has now turned into 100% of the time. To the point that the most of the newer tvs (and some older, nicer, ones) have "normalization" of volume controls for that EXACT reason - that your tv will automatically normalize the volume of commercials and tv shows to keep the loudness at a steady rate (works with explosions and such in your show as well).

Brought about simply because of the exact thing you rant about here - commercials have ALL decided that they need to be at least 50% louder than the tv show you're watching (maybe cuz that's when pepole leave the room they want to be heard in the kitchen? LOL).

Its really annoying when you're trying to nap in another room and the person's tv show doesn't wake you up but those commercials...oyvey!

My father actually noticed it before I did, as he's hard of hearing when there is background noise and found himself constantlky having to readjust the volume down for every commercial break to talk to people int he room, and then back up when the show returned.

Obnoxious.

[awdz]

When I started playing Istaria, I basically stopped watching television except for a very few shows that we record for viewing later. As a result, I'm accustomed to fast forwarding through commercials.

Recently I actually sat down to watch a program as it aired. The commercial break came on and I automatically reached for the remote. No matter how hard I tried to make it go, it just would not fast forward for me (and I even tried making the sound effects the remote normally would).

My poor brain is too sensitive nowadays to deal with almost any commercials. Mute is a mercy but even then some of the visuals make me think, HUH? Why would anyone want to have that associated in the remotest way with their product?

I guess I'm just a wimp when it comes to watching television now. I do not think I'll be practicing getting into shape for it anytime soon (How would I do that, anyway? Sitting in front of the blank screen for long stretches and repeatedly clicking various buttons on the remote?).

[Dhalin]

I think the person who said about people who leave the room during commercials have partly found the reason why they are much louder than TV shows.

When we first got Satellite last year (yes yes we were WAY behind the times), we were surprised by this too. We never used to have to deal with that, I guess it is just a Cable/Sat thing, where commercial volume is ramped way up louder than it needs to be.

It is an annoying practice, but I highly doubt it will stop anyday soon. Somehow, somewhere, people have decided that commercials actually help sell their product, especially if they are presented in the most annoying way possible... heh. And some of the commercials are just utterly stupid... Let's see...

#1: My least favorite, Pharmaceutical commercials. "Take this pill! Ask your doctor now! Side effects include the most nasty, annoying conditions worse than disease... oh and it could be fatal, too." UGH. These need to die, and they need to die NOW. If someone _has_ a condition that warrants these pills, then the doctor _knows_ about it and _will_ prescribe said pills if they are necessary, right? Why are they advertising these to _people_? The whole concept is just stupid.

#2: JJ Wentworth and similar. "Its my money and I need it now!" BS. Okay, so you have a structured settlement. These guys offer to get you your money in one lump-sum. Why do they do this? They are obviously NOT a non-profit organization, and if you look at the guy who claims to be Mr. Wentworth himself, you'll notice that he is wearing some very pricey duds. He gets money somehow. Wanna know how? I'll tell you how. Oh sure, he gives you a lump-sum of your settlement... after he takes a huge cut for himself. What is it, 25%? More? So you win a million bucks in a settlement. You have to give him $250,000 of it just so you can get all 750k now, instead of being patient and getting all $1mil to yourself... heh. I wonder how many people actually fall for this?

#3: Progressive Insurance / Nationwide Insurance. I am undecided on who I personally want to kill the most: That brunette bimbo from the Progressive company, or that slick-haired so-called 'agent man' with the huge, ancient blue phone. Both of these are equally annoying.

#4: Cialis. I wonder how many people actually get "into the mood" while painting their walls... and how many 50+ year olds really get that ... ahem... desiring of a tussle in the hay at the drop of a hat like that. I mean, look at the couple in those commercials... both of them have grey hair. And "go seek medical attention for an erection lasting more than four hours?" ... so, okay. This 50+ year old guy takes Cialis, and gets this... condition... what, he's going to walk into the hospital with a very noticable... ahem... condition? Okaaaay. That would be awkward.... lol.

#5: Mac vs PC: Thank God these have been around a lot less lately, but I think this needs to be said:

Macs are basically PCs now. Many of them feature the very same Intel-based technology that PCs do, and they can run Windows OS. So, what exactly does an Intel-based Mac have, that a PC does not? I'll tell you what: Intel-based Macs are at least 30% if not 50% more expensive for the same comparable PC equipment. If you want to run Unix/Linux, just do yourself a favor and build a PC and get one of the many free distros.

Chances are, if you know how to properly operate Linux, you already know how to do this. Even if you get a non-Intel based mac, you're still just running a glorified Unix distro (that's basically what Mac OS is now). Not only that, but you've also managed to buy a computer that cannot run 75% of all the software out there. I hope you didn't intend to game with that machine, TBH.

Let's face it, macs are nothing but overpriced factory-makes that are usually not compatible with much cheaper-and-easier to find PC-based parts. You'd do yourself better to find a friend and have him build you a PC.

[velveeta]

Kiss That Frog

heehee usta sing that song to my goddaughter.....

#1: My least favorite, Pharmaceutical commercials. "Take this pill! Ask your doctor now! Side effects include the most nasty, annoying conditions worse than disease... oh and it could be fatal, too." UGH. These need to die, and they need to die NOW. If someone _has_ a condition that warrants these pills, then the doctor _knows_ about it and _will_ prescribe said pills if they are necessary, right? Why are they advertising these to _people_? The whole concept is just stupid.
heehee as a person who is supposed to take some of these, i can't but agree - i would rather have bipolar and deal than take a pill that gives me worse things.....

#2: JJ Wentworth and similar. "Its my money and I need it now!" BS. Okay, so you have a structured settlement. These guys offer to get you your money in one lump-sum. Why do they do this? They are obviously NOT a non-profit organization, and if you look at the guy who claims to be Mr. Wentworth himself, you'll notice that he is wearing some very pricey duds. He gets money somehow. Wanna know how? I'll tell you how. Oh sure, he gives you a lump-sum of your settlement... after he takes a huge cut for himself. What is it, 25%? More? So you win a million bucks in a settlement. You have to give him $250,000 of it just so you can get all 750k now, instead of being patient and getting all $1mil to yourself... heh. I wonder how many people actually fall for this?
o yeah - those guys have to be the first against the wall when the revolution comes....

#3: Progressive Insurance / Nationwide Insurance. I am undecided on who I personally want to kill the most: That brunette bimbo from the Progressive company, or that slick-haired so-called 'agent man' with the huge, ancient blue phone. Both of these are equally annoying.
gah i hate that beeatch flo and want her dead, but i kinda like the blue phone guy - i'm gagging!

[Solitaire]

All beer and booze commercials. Especially the ones that portray people as simpleton morons. "Look at my case of beer! Its got WINDOWS! And the label turns blue so I know its cold!"

Wal-mart with their supersaturated overload of commercials. It almost seems like there is an ad for Wal-mart in every single commercial break.

Radio Shack. I dunno why they bother me so much but starting around Christmas, every Radio Shack commercial I see pisses me off.

[Thicklesip]

Best solution to obnoxious TV adds: replace TV with games. Any sort! MMOs, console, board games... actually that makes me miss Settlers of Catan. Man. I want to go play that now.

[Dhalin]

All beer and booze commercials. Especially the ones that portray people as simpleton morons. "Look at my case of beer! Its got WINDOWS! And the label turns blue so I know its cold!"

I actually found some of the Hornitos commercials humorous, and their slogan is pure win -- "Purer than your intentions" .... I dunno why, I just get a laugh out of them, esp the guy who has some granny (why was there a granny at the bar, anyways?) phone in to his work to call him off... haha. Funny.

But I will admit that some of the others, like the house made out of 24-pack beer cubes is kinda stupid, as are some of the other Bud Light and such.

Wal-mart with their supersaturated overload of commercials. It almost seems like there is an ad for Wal-mart in every single commercial break.

Must be a regional thing. We see Wal*Mart commercials, but not THAT many of them. It all depends on what station you watch, it seems like 5-6 commercials are chosen per hour-long program and that's what you see in random order.

Radio Shack. I dunno why they bother me so much but starting around Christmas, every Radio Shack commercial I see pisses me off.

I honestly can't remember any Radio Shack commercials..... hmmm.....

[Charys Stormchild]

Actually watched a few ads today and there was no difference in volume so thinking that maybe it doesn't happen over here...yet

[Frith-Rae]

Count your blessings...and mark down the days because THEY WILL!

Somehow, somewhere, people have decided that commercials actually help sell their product

Um, because they do? Commercials works. Sorry, that's just reality. Though not necessarily because they are louder . Same reason nasty campaign ads continue; because the fact is they work - no matter how much we may gripe about them. Its pretty conclusive on the studies - both WORK.

As for the medication commercials; sorry being someone in this field I'm actually glad they are advertising this stuff on tv. Because prior to that the only one with the "medication" power was the doctor. Now people are becoming informed on their own (for good or bad - have to have both!) and are asking about medications and making their own inquiries into their treatments! Sure maybe its only 10% of the information they need, but at least they're aware that there is more medication out there then what they've tried. As for the side effect list - go look up aspirin sometime. The commercials just have to list it due to FDA stuff; but you'll get the same list with almost anything you take (Herbals/natural remedies included).

And yea we DVR most shows to fast forward through commercials (Yea that doesn't work if you watch something as it aires lol - though I've forgotten and tried and gone DOH! NOT RECORDED!).

But there are those rare awesomeo commercials that actually make me laugh, or tear up (yes it happens), and I actually look forward to them coming on!

[Nambroth]

Hah! This sort of thing always makes me glad I don't have any sort of Television service out here!

[Dhalin]

Um, because they do? Commercials works. Sorry, that's just reality. Though not necessarily because they are louder . Same reason nasty campaign ads continue; because the fact is they work - no matter how much we may gripe about them. Its pretty conclusive on the studies - both WORK.

I'd still have to wonder just how many sales they get just because of a commercial... I can't say that I ever, not once in my life, actually bought something just because I saw it advertised on TV, or websites, etc. I buy stuff when I need it, and I choose brands I like, not because I saw it in a commercial.

The exception to this, is Video Games and Movies... but ordinary stuff like paper towels, butter, etc... can't say I ever bought stuff like that just because I saw an ad on TV... *shrugs*

As for the medication commercials; sorry being someone in this field I'm actually glad they are advertising this stuff on tv. Because prior to that the only one with the "medication" power was the doctor. Now people are becoming informed on their own (for good or bad - have to have both!) and are asking about medications and making their own inquiries into their treatments!

This is a double-edged sword, though.

Sure, sometimes it could be good for the patient to know of potential options, but then you also have people begging doctors for treatments/medications that they don't really need (or better ones exist). I'm still going to go with my original viewpoint that if a patient has a medical condition, the doctors know of the medications and treatment options available, and would advise the patient on whatever one the doctor believes to be the best.

That and patients should take responsibility into their own hands -- if you have a medication condition, you should wiki/webmd/etc it, and learn more about it, instead of relying on the pharmaceutical companies to tell you to buy their product (which is vastly overpriced compared to generics that do the exact same thing).

Sure maybe its only 10% of the information they need, but at least they're aware that there is more medication out there then what they've tried.

Again, I'm just not sure about this...

If they have a condition, and their doctor isn't advising them on all the options (this is assuming they have a condition and previous treatment attempts (be they surgical/medicinal/etc) failed), then...

A). They need a better doctor.
B). They weren't doing research on their own condition.

I just don't like this whole "spoon-feed" everything to everyone. It isn't _just_ medicine, either... people expect information to be just handed to them, especially about important stuff like health-related conditions. Very first thing I do when I think I have a condition, is I pull up wikipedia if I know the name of my suspected condition, or something like webmd when I'm not sure what it is called, or what is wrong with me.

I do _research_ and most of the commonly accepted treatment options are all listed right there, for me to consider myself, long before I pick up the phone to call a doctor. I'm a big fan of doing one's own research about anything, whether it is car trouble, health problems, computer troubles, etc. It can save lots of money.

[Frith-Rae]

Yes you do, but being in the field I can tell you that many people do NOT. Yes its getting better with the influx of the internet into homes but commercials have something to do with it.

Yes you will get those people "begging" to be put on so and so medication and that's where the physician comes in. But physicians are people too and the responsibility lands with noone 100%. I know physicians who give older medications simply because they don't educate themselves; and do their patients a disservice. Who when begged to try other medications refuse - not because the medications aren't better - but because the physician isn't as familiar with them (for whatever reason, not necessarily good ones) or because the medication hasnt' been around for 50 years.

I know psychiatrists who diagnose everyone with the exact same disorders. Physicians, just like anyone else, are fallible.

There are *very* few medications that haven't been improved upon in the last 20 years so that the latest and greatest versions really ARE the best ones with less side effects. (esp. in the mental health field).

If someone has a condition and they're *starting* to look into it and the commercials give them other things to look into - then that's good.

I mean its commercial like any other; you can ignore it the same as everything else . I don't see it any worse than the paper towel commercials and only "slightly" better in that yes it actually can do a service.

I guess I've just had as many bad experiences with people in the medical field as good - and have seen what a HUGE difference changing medications can mean; but that yea many times a patient DOES have to start DEMANDING to try other options because if the patient doesn't indicate something is unsatisfactory the doctor isn't just going to change meds for "no reason" even if they know XYZ has less side effects or might work better - they aren't going ot change them unless the patient complains. And I've dealt with just as many doctors who ignore the requests of their patients to try other things .

As for commercials overall - i'd be highly surprised none of those commercials EVER influenced your buying decisions - even if its subconscious. I mean I know I have things in my house I bought because I saw how they worked on a commercial and liked the product (I.e. the sensor scent dispensors lol love those things in my bathroom lol; swiffer sweepers and wetjets; etc.) Stuff that no isn't "necessary" but that do in fact work to make certain things easier. If I had never seen such commercials I woudln't have gone "oh that is kinda cool I wanna try that out" because I don't just go browsing shop shelves without a purpose .

I'm not saying its like "ZOMG MUST HAVE NEWEST THING" but brand name (or politician name) recognition and repetition influence you; wether its conscious or not. It just is what it is.