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This month we take aim at all the ways we are
misled by advertising, "professional" advice, even the reporting of
research findings.
What are your favorite examples of misleading
information? Tell us when your own b*llsh*t detector goes off:
Your comments (more recent at the end):
The scene:
Beach/sunny day/white studio. Beautiful, blonde-haired woman, approx 20-30 years old with pretty d*mn good skin. Voice-over or woman herself going on about the need to use X cream to reduce wrinkles, etc.
Your reaction:
Throwing the nearest cushion at the tv and wondering why these ads just keep on coming.
What are the critical questions that need to be asked about this?
What's wrong with some signs of personality in the skin anyway?
Why the hell couldn't they use an older woman (or - hey, what about a man for once). And what is this rubbish you're trying to sell anyway - got any proof that it works....? Not likely.
Any other comments?
It bugs me no end the way cosmetic companies advertise incredibly expensive gunk that has absolutely no evidence of working - and we wouldn't actually need if it did. (I can fume about this whole topic for days!)
Further to the wrinkle-cream ads -- the one I just saw had a suntanned model.... So you sit in the sun to get a "fashionable" tan, starve yourself to look thin - collecting those non-age-related lines and vitamin
deficient skin en route - and then get told buy our "scientifically" proven anti-wrinkle, vitamin-enriched, specially formulated product. (Better than the last fifteen products we tried to sell you). And people believe this will make their lives better or something?
Grrrrr.
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The scene:
Advert for anything with white-coated actors (to look like scientists or doctors) and graphs which "prove" something is much better than something else.
Your reaction:
Meaningless rubbish!
What are the critical questions that need to be asked about this?
Why people trust things which look like "science", but which aren't, without thinking.
Any other comments?
Ignore white-coated characters at all times - that's just trying to persuade you that they're trustworthy. And next time you see a graph on an advert, check out the axes: any numbers there? Any indication of what is plotted against what? Where the data has come from? The errors on the data? Chances are you won't. Those graphs "proving" one thing is
better than another don't say anything - you might as well scribble a line yourself.
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The scene:
"My energy has gone through the roof since I lost weight." (TV commercial)
Your reaction:
I know or know of a number of heavy people whose energy is just fine probably because they don't pig out on junk food, they exercise regularly, AND they appreciate themselves despite all the weight bigotry around them.
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The scene:
A relatively recent TV ad for Tic-Tacs promoted the product as the best choice available in breath mints, not because of their taste or their effectiveness, but because each
Tic-Tac contains only 1 1/2 calories, as opposed to other mints which had three, four or even five calories each (oh, the horror!).
Your reaction:
Disgusted that our culture has become so diet-obsessed that a company actually deems it appropriate to use calorie content to hawk BREATH MINTS.
What are the critical questions that need to be asked about this?
What sizeist, fat-phobic advertising firm thought up this campaign, and on what market research was it based? Even more to the point, who at the corporate HQ of
Tic-Tac's manufacturers approved it? The individuals responsible are in serious need of attitude adjustments, at the very least.
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The scene:
Ads for weightloss products which try to tell us that fat people can't be successful parents, lovers, employees.
Your reaction:
I hate the implication that if you don't fit the cultural norm you can't be happy
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The scene:
I was reading "O Magazine"---Oprah's new magazine. Throughout the magazine, she is preaching a relatively important message to women. She tells women to spend time alone, to appreciate the "now", to listen to themselves, to remember their spirits, etc. These messages are good ones. I'm certain of that. Many women are hearing them for the first time. They are being exposed to books (i.e., The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison) that may facilitate a dialogue with themselves such that they CAN get in touch with their inner voices. So, this is all well and good. But, couched in this magazine is a "Success Story" regarding weight loss. Here, a woman conveys to readers how she lost over a hundred pounds. She tells readers what she eats for breakfast and lunch and dinner. She says she feels "better" about herself now that she has lost weight and blah, blah, blah.
Your reaction:
I was angry. In this magazine, these women are hearing some messages that are allegedly "anti culture" messages: "get in touch with yourself. listen to yourself." Then, they hear, "lose weight and you will feel better about yourself." So, basically, "listen to yourself unless yourself tells you to eat a piece of chocolate cake." That's some crap. And, I was mad about it.
What are the critical questions that need to be asked about this?
Hmmmmm. I'm not quite sure what the critical question is. Maybe, how we can incorporate the message of "body acceptance" into the new messages women are receiving about honoring themselves and loving themselves? And, why are we so behind in this area? Ok, why is Oprah so behind in this area?
Any other comments?
I'm writing Oprah a letter. : )
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The scene:
I lost 52 pounds without diet or exercise. (commercial for OTC diet pills)
Your reaction:
liar
What are the critical questions that need to be asked about this?
Is the "secret ingredient" caffeine? (most of them are) What happens when I stop taking the pills? (if you truly haven't changed a thing you will gain all the weight back) How long will I keep the weight off? (until you stop taking the pills)
Any other comments?
exercise is necessary at any size to maintain health, but diets are unnatural.
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The scene:
A teen mag, like: Seventeen,YM, etc. In it are adds for bathing suits and cosmetics and accessories and everything. Look hard at every person in those adds. Each look perfect.
Your reaction:
Should I vomit now or later? Please, all these people have had make up artists working on them for hours and hair stylists and have personal trainers and EVERY SINGLE MODEL IS AIRBRUSHED!!! But we are supposed to look like that just by using their product. I don't think so...
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The scene:
Teeney-bopper magazines (seventeen, ym, teen, etc) containing two pages warning you of the dangers of ED's, along with about thirty telling you of the latest diet or fanatical exercise and another 25 with models too thin to keep a menstrual period
Your reaction:
Violent urge to rip magazine to shreds, burn slightly, and send back to the editor requesting a five-fold refund
What are the critical questions that need to be asked about this?
Where is their emphasis REALLY placed???
Any other comments?
Seems to be no coincidence that most teens with eating disorders also read these magazines...
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The scene:
a spam email sent to me advertising a site which made you lose weight without pills, dieting, exercise, drinks or special foods. My b*llsh*t detector goes off right away, but I visit the site to have a laugh.
Your reaction:
It is a breathspray! yep, you spray it in your mouth a couple of times a day and watch the fat "melt away". Now, I found this really funny, because it is so absurd. But then again, what is really so absurd about breath spray as opposed to all the other products out there? ANSWER - they are all absurd. I have now turned my b*llsh*t detector up a few notches!
: )
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The scene:
Fashion/beauty article featuring skinny bag-of-bones model
Your reaction:
Why on earth would I want to look like her?
What are the critical questions that need to be asked about this?
Why do beauty and fashion writers think we want to look like that?
Any other comments?
I'd rather look like a plump, milk-skinned beauty out of an old oil painting.
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The scene:
A Finnish TV-commercial for a chain of stores that sell sporting goods: A
fat hairy sweaty man in his forties sits at a table with no shirt on,
binging on french fries and ketchup and drinking beer. Has a heart attack
and collapses with his face in the food. Next we see the name of the store
and the text "There is a better alternative".
Your reaction:
Do I REALLY have to tell you why this commercial p****s me off???
What are the critical questions that need to be asked about this?
Who approved this commercial??
Any other comments?
I�m going to contact their spokesperson or someone. This is just
unacceptable.
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The scene:
The ads for the Atkins diet - become "a fat-burning machine"!
Your reaction:
!!!!!!!!
What are the critical questions that need to be asked about this?
Why in God's name would any woman want to become a machine? And even if she
did (different strokes...) why in hell would she want to be a fat-busting
machine? Why not a machine that makes the perfect vodka- and- lemonade-
with- a- slice- of- lemon? Or a machine that gives out perfect pieces of
sage advice like a feminist Mae West? Or (my favourite) an orgasm machine?!
Is this the best prospect the entire resources of capitalism have come up
with for women? Being a fat- burning machine?!!
Any other comments?
Eat people, eat!!
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The scene:
Looking at a "womens magazine" in the rack, and seeing yet another headline
which implies that in order to be at all "normal" you need to be thin
Your reaction:
Sorrow. Both that women continue to buy the magazine, and the ideas that its
selling.
What are the critical questions that need to be asked about this?
Who defined "normal" anyway? Why aren't they listening to the men that they
interview, who say that they actually *like* larger women, or women with
curves? What precisely is the purpose of making your audience feel insecure
and unhappy? Why aren't there any magazines for things like cooking or
sewing which aren't targeted at "girly" women? Why can't I find a decent
computer magazine which isn't targeted at men?
Any other comments?
I have to admit that the day that I gave up on buying Cleo & Cosmo was
probably the best day of my life - I got myself free from the whole "perfect
woman" image. Now I buy a couple of Organic Gardening magazines, Australian
Women's Forum (which I *strongly* recommend - extremely body positive), and
a monthly computer magazine instead. Much better for the self-esteem, and
I've got something interesting to read rather than loads of celebrity crap
and "ooh, try this diet"...
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The scene:
People giving testimonials fo how they lost 50 pounds in one month and
seeing their perhaps computer generated before and after pictures.
Your reaction:
Oh please! I have learned that there is no such thing as an effective
long-term quick fix for weight loss.
What are the critical questions that need to be asked about this?
What percentage of people who have used the product actually get good
results that are long-term?
What are the side-effects, if the product is a pill?
Any other comments?
Whenever I see an infomercial for a diet product, a quickly change the
channel. I'm done wasting my time on all the crap that is out there!!
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The scene:
Grey background with beautiful, weeping young woman describing herself as a
bad person and a failure. It is not until the end of the commercial that one
discovers that she is a "bad person" because she is "overweight." The
advertisement was for a "psychological care facility" specializing in weight
loss programs.
Your reaction:
This is an absolutely beautiful woman. This advertiser should be ashamed to
call itself a mental health caregiver.
What are the critical questions that need to be asked about this?
Is this what anyone would call responsible advertising?
Any other comments?
I was shocked and sickened by this advertisement when I first saw it. As far
as I am concerned, these people are more interested in creating emotional
problems than in curing them. I also think it is very sad that such a
beautiful and talented actress (she did a very good job with her role)
should allow herself to be used this way.
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The scene:
Impossibly thin, airbrushed, computer-modified fashion model in magazine
Your reaction:
Not even she looks like that in real life
What are the critical questions that need to be asked about this?
Do fashion designers really think we're going to buy their clothes, when
they're not shown on a normal-looking person
Any other comments?
This imagery makes slim women (BMI 20-25) feel fat, dumpy, misshapen and
ugly. God alone knows how it makes larger women feel. And it's starting to
happen to men, too. When will it ever end?
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The scene:
The Britney Spears Pepsi commercial
Your reaction:
AAAGGGGG! I've never liked that way Britney Spears has been marketed--it's
creepy from the first album cover with her skirt hem folded up high enough
it should have shown panties, to the Catholic Girl Slut look, to the current
Pepsi commercial rife with laughably unsubtle sexual imagery: the fire
behind the short-order doof who will never get a fine babe like BS (perfect
intials), the dazed "fat" woman bowler doing Britney's moves, and Bob Dole
holding a pen at his crotch and his dog barking while he says "easy, boy".
It's hard to separate Dole from his Viagra commercials, and I'm sure that's
part of the reason he was chosen: "horny old man well-known for hawking
Viagra".
And here's the subtext, laid out: geeks love her, fat ladies love her, old
men on drugs to give them erection love her, DOGS love her.
Look, I like sex. I like sexy images. I don't like parading an 18-year old
like she was a Thai hooker to sell bottles full of sugar water.
What are the critical questions that need to be asked about this?
Why do we keep getting these commercials? Even though exploiting women and
depicting them as childish and yet sexy is not new (not by a long shot!),
why aren't we past this yet?
Will we deal death as a culture to this crap by doing the thing that kills
it dead: by buying Pepsi (or anything else) because we like the
taste/quality/usability, instead of because in the back of our minds, in
that walnut-sized brain we think we'll either get Britney (or whatever star
of the instant) or look just like her?
Any other comments?
If you had an idiot in your house that never shut up, belched out mostly
babble about how you aren't good enough or need more things, and distracted
your family and friends from engaging with you and each other--how welcome
would they be?
That idiot is your TV without an iron hand on the remote's MUTE button. Kick
the idiot out or silence it when it begins to kill the party instead of
being a fun guest.
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The scene:
Article by an MD in a professional (tho not medical) journal stating that a
risk factor of obesity is that fat people are more likely to be hit by cars
because they're slower crossing the street.
Your reaction:
What?!?!?!!? Where is the data that 1) fat people are physically slower, 2)
such slowness would make drivers run them over, 3) they are more often hit
as pedestrians, 4) they are more often killed if so hit?
What are the critical questions that need to be asked about this?
Doesn't this ludicrous statement throw the whole rest of the article into
doubt? What kind of anti-fat axe does this guy have to grind anyway, doctor
or no doctor? Does he own stock in Jenny Craig? Why else would he be trying
to scare fat people with such ridiculous assertions?
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The scene:
It happens every month, when my new issue of Shape magazine arrives in the
mail. The magazine contains excellent content and information on nutrition,
creative food/menu ideas, exercise, well-being, SELF-ACCEPTANCE, etc. Yet
EVERY MONTH, there's a stick-thin model posing on the cover.
Your reaction:
If Shape is such a supporter of strong, healthy women, why do they persist
in putting perfect, very, very thin women on the cover (and in magazine's
photo shoots)? Granted, it would not be any more fair of me to criticize a
woman for being naturally thin (which some women truly are - including a
very good friend of mine) that it would be for someone to criticize me for
being fat (which I am).
For over a year now, Shape has published a monthly feature on Courtney
Rubin, a 20-something writer who has been trying to lose weight. She's been
so gutsy to have her struggles and highs and lows out there for the whole
world to read. Why doesn't Shape put HER photo on the cover?!? Or what about
the "success stories" they publish every month? Why? Probably because these
women are not stick-thin and devoid of any body fat, some are older and
(heaven forbid!) have a few wrinkles, and none are perfect.
What are the critical questions that need to be asked about this?
I don't know...just think that Shape and other publications like it need to
get a little more consistent with their messaging. Their covers just don't
jive with their content.
Any other comments?
Yes. Clearly I'm angry and resentful right now. I read the section on "diet
detox," which I think I've been going through for the past 8 months or so. I
dropped out of Weight Watchers earlier this year, and feel like I've been
eating like a madwoman ever since. My clothes are tight...even my size 12's
and 14's. I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't rather be a size 6 - can you
believe that even a size 6 is considered "big" by Hollywood standards these
days?!?! I'm waffling between feelings of shame and of defiance. I want to
be at peace with my body and treat it well, whatever that means.
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Here's another great link on Deconstructing
the Media |
- Newest Forum:
- Here's the complete listing of forums
and related pages:
- Forum #4:
Body Appreciation
Meditation
- Forum #3:
If a chemical
got in the water . . .
- Forum #2:
Name the HUNGER
to MOVE
- Forum #2:
Getting in
Touch with HUNGER
to MOVE
- Forum #2:
Hunger to Move Haiku
- Forum #1:
Dealing with
Stereotypes
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