Media Chatter

Advertising for our generation is very critical and a vital part of any business or idea being promoted to potentially succeed. We see these representations in every step we take, even walking down a dormatory. Let’s face it, advertisements are there wether we like it or not. In between our shows, before our movies, on our way down the road, on the interent, in our mailboxes, in our classrooms and plastered all over anything we buy. Ads are there to inform and compell us. But this is not always a good thing. It can cause us to be critical and have a pessimistic view toward something. Why is this?

Advertisements are ment get a response out of people, just like any opinion we give for other people to hear. An ad aired on T.V. about toys is going to get a response from children by their parents buying the product, just as an ad around campus for a bible-study will get a response by the amount of people that show up. But what about the ads that get people upset and irrated?

Ads that are seen directed towards a particular group of people is going to get a bad response from the other group that either does not understand or agree. Football fans enjoy watching games, and this primary group according to advertisers also enjoy a beer. Therefore in between aired football games one of the primary commercials shown is a beer advertisement. Although everyone watching agrees football is awesome to watch, a beer advertisement is not necessary.

We are critical because not all ads apply to everyone. A condom ad on MTV may not cater to a mature teenager that has morals, but might to a teen that has her own opinions about the matter.

Just because we are critical about advertisements mean they are bad. Before we become critical or judgemental, maybe we need to evaluate the things we watch, read, listen to and surround ourselves with, because more often than not the ads follow you, the person they want to capture the most.

Children watching television have regular advertising broad-casted to them all the time.  There are the commercials by Mattel, Toys R US, or cereal brands like Kellogg’s and Cheerios.  There are also the commercials by Budweiser and Hardee’s that happen to slip into a children program.  Advertising aimed at children should be regulated so commercials like those would not easily slip into their viewing. According to the report on Associated Content: The people’s media company, “Studies have shown that children recall ads on television whether it is a commercial for a toy or a product placement in a movie.”  Children have started to want food that is detrimental to their health and toys they do not need.  The commercials should advertise food that is going to be helpful to a child’s health.  They should  limit how many toy commercials there are because children cannot possible buy all of the ones advertised. The commercials should prevent children from immediately asking their parents for the product as soon as it ends.  They should have limits to where the child would want it but not to the point where they will beg until it is gotten.

Every year thousands of people die form the effects of tobacco and alcohol. Tobacco addicts are hooked on smoking. They go through packs among each other daily as if it was going out of style. Alcohol is a huge cause to increasing deaths all around the world.

Advertising has become one of the main routes that these types of companies use to get their products out. Users see these advertisments on comercials, billboards, newspapers, clothing and thats just to name a few. The companies are getting the image of tobacco and alcohol out any way they can.

Viewers see these advertisments from the young ages all the way up. Siting at home watching a footbal game on an afternoon or goin out to eat, it is almost as if the image follows you.

The advertising of such products should be either reduced or prohibited all together. Grown adults who are smokers, alcoholics or both bring an impact on their kids. The youth in this day are opening themselves to anything that seems appealing. Not thinking of the outcome, they take it on and most of the time suffer from the effects.

If one chooses to use tobacco or alcohol its their choice. The companies need to altleast get the point across about all the risks that are in hand. Using tobacco can cause lung cancer which can be very deadly. Using alcohol can cause you to have deadly wrecks killing yourself and others without even knowing what happened.

The risks should be thought about way more than they are. All the advertisments put out a positve image allowing one to think that the use of either tobacco or alcohol is not harmless.

The first ammendment contraversial ads issues are what these companies use to argue that they are in the right. If the image of tobacco and alcohol are going to be advertised then the companies should not make the products look so positive,.

In today’s society, there are not many limitations on what type of content can be published in ads. Gas stations and some supermarkets are selling magazines with covers featuring half naked women advertising swim suits or athletic apparel. As a parent this brings up the subject of morals. How do you explain and teach a young boy to respect a woman for who she is if he’s seeing most of her body in print? Even advertisements for alcohol or tobacco are presented in a modern and exciting way to attract the attention of younger people. If a ten year-old child see’s alcohol or cigarettes in an ad where the people look like they’re having fun, the child is going to view these things as positive.

 Parents need to train their children to be wise and decisive in the things they choose to read or look at. If I was a parent I would talk to my children about what is wrong and right morally and as a Christian. I would explain to them the good and bad things about cigarettes and alcohol as well as swim wear and other clothing apparel. Children and teenagers need to know both sides of each advertisement. Ad’s show one side of things. The good side. As a parent I would explain to my children the effects of smoking or drinking, possibly showing them pictures of internal organs of a smoker compared to pictures of a non-smoker, or pictures of an accident where alcohol was a factor. I would also teach my children the value of a human life. A men and women should not just be admired if they are good looking. I plan on teaching my children the value in intelligence and high morals.

        One of the main reasons people tend to be so critical of advertising, is due to the common knowledge that corporations are just trying to suck them in to buying their product. Many companies try to woo their audiences with humor, special effects, or a convincing speaker in their ads. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. When they are successful, many people go and buy their product, not necessarily because of the ad, but due more to the pleasant association between the two. Countless people have flipped on the “tube”, stumbled upon some fast food commercial and instantly start to crave a cheeseburger and fries. On the other hand, a badly made or annoying commercial can do just the opposite. Instead of wanting that product, the audience grimaces and changes the channel. Therefore it is imperative for companies to make good ads due to massive amount of criticism from the audience. People want to be entertained even during commercials. If they don’t like something about the ad, they’re going to bad talk it whenever it comes on. They laugh at the thought of a bunch of bumbling idiots trying to run a company and making a terrible commercial in a desperate attempt to attract customers. People are smart for the most part. They know when their being spoon fed a load of buttered up trash and when they actually see a good product.  When companies stop trying to trick their audience to buy bad products, then people can stop being so crictical.  

Alcohol and tobacco advertisment have been around for a long time.  These two products have been a huge money maker for a lot of big businesses and events across the country and the world.  Why should they be prohibited when they make so much money? All they are trying to do is help put on events especially in baseball and football, even if they harm peoples bodies, its all about the money for the companies.  After all these companies have the right to have freedom of speech and the press, just like anyone else who wants to advertize.  They should not be prohibited because if these ads were not allowed then we would not have the big sporting events like the super bowl and world series.  These ads, billboards, beverages, and tobacco products are what the people come for as a parts of the entertainment that they are watching.  It also helps bring in money for the stadiums and events to help pay the people that perform.

Also in magazines these companies pay for the size of the ads and the colors that it should be to help promote their product.  They enter a contract with the magazine, and by making this contract it will benefit the company and the magazine to get people to purchase their products.  If the magazines were not allowed to publish these ads because of the amendments that they did not agree with, then people would have a very hard time finding out about these products and the magazines would lose a huge amount of money.

The amendments are very important to the alcohol and tobacco advertisiment companies because they help the companies make money and people have the freedoms and rights to purchase, sell, and say anything they want in this country. 

I am at odds with my own thinking in the aspect of advertising, especially when children are thrown into the mix. I believe that certain ads are very positive in the way they approach issues, no matter how controversial they may be, and I also believe there is a fine line between controversial and unnecessary. Because I am not a parent, I feel as though I cannot make a valid assessment of how advertising could or should be regulated, but I do believe some caution should be taken (from TV stations, newspapers, billboards, etc.) when children may be involved.

Children are so impressionable and mold-able, and when they view certain ads, questionable issues surface. I understand that children receive a vast amount of information simply from their school friends and the conversations they are involved in, and that is normal. When a child sees an ad that airs on television, they do not receive an explanation the majority of the time, and therefore form their own opinions of what they see. Advertising should definitely be regulated when children may view it, but I believe it should be done in the form of parental consent. Parents are the number one contacts when it comes to children, and I believe [parents] are sometimes forgotten when ads are drawn-out and aired on television. If advertising companies perhaps did surveys based on a large population of parents (a sample) that questioned their opinions on an ad that may be controversial, I believe the ads would be much more widely accepted. If parents know what his/her children are seeing and hearing, its much easier for them to prepare an answer when their child asks a question about the issues. I do understand that could possibly be a time-consuming and expensive task, but if it was regulated and accomplished ahead of time, I believe it could work.

Parents enjoy knowing what their children are hearing, especially from television and other forms of media. I think that ad agencies could perhaps save themselves many lawsuits and criticism if they think clearly about the ads they air. Children’s impressionable minds should be considered with the utmost care, and I believe this certainly begins with parental consent.

My memory is vague when it comes to remembering commercial ads when I was young, but one I remember one very well, the Budweiser commercials with the three frogs.  At the time I didn’t realize that the commercial was advertising a certain brand of beer.  Later on I figured what the commercial promoted, but I still enjoyed watching the different versions of the advertisment.  I was attracted to the commercial because of the braining washing words the three bullfrogs would speak, Bud-Weis-Er.  This plus the funny ways the commercials would end maybe it memorible to me.

Another really rememorable commercial was the Enzyte commericals with smiling Bob.  The commerical was funny at first when Bob would be playing golf and  totally screw up and look like a complete moron, but he would still be smiling due to him using Enzyte.  After awhile watching the Enzyte commercials would get very aggrivating because the annoying whistling tune that was used in the advertisment.  The worst part would the commercial appearing on T.V. when you were watching televsion with your family.  It would make things very akward between the three of us.

My earliest recollection of a television commercial would have to be the Michelin commercials, where the baby would always ride in the tire. I remember those commercials as some of the first commercials I had ever seen. Moving on to today’s society, I have seen more than enough commercials to last me a lifetime. Sometimes I feel like television has too many commercials during the shows, programs, movies, or whatever is being presented on that certain channel. As for my favorite commercial, I love the Suzuki commercial with the guy who has the chrome teeth and the notorious line, “Construction Reduction.” The reason why I like the commercial is because of the poor quality that is seen during the ad. For my most-despised ad, I cannot stand the Verizon Wireless commercial, where the husband and father of a family comes home with a new phone for each family member and explains to each one that he bought them a new phone because they’re his number one. But at the end of the commercial, the father walks out of the house and pulls out the best phone out of all the phones he had to give and says, “saving the best for numero uno,” and the whole Verizon network hears him and just looks at him with embarrassment all over there faces. The main reason why I despise this commercial is because of the way the father acts at the end of the commercial. I feel that television today has to many commercials during programs, but at the same time I understand why commercials have become such a big part of television. Without them, marketing would not be as successful as it is today!

People are so critical of advertising because they don’t agree with what is advertised. Different people like and dislike different things about life. If someone disagrees with smoking they will not enjoy the fact that it is advertised. If someone is not apposed to it, they wont care at all. It all is based on people’s morals, standards, and beliefs for their own personal lives. Someone that loves Coke vs. Pepsi will usually like the way Coke advertises more so than how Pepsi advertises. If you like it, you generally like the approach of the advertisement. If you don’t like it, generally you don’t agree with the advertisment. It is as simple as that.

In 2005, Paris Hilton caused worry for every parent of a young child in the United States.  The thought that her racy car commercial would be aired during a child’s program stirred controversy throughout the nation and spurred conversation.

So what will I do when my daughter comes to me saying “Mommy, what does this mean?”  I will tell her as much of the truth as she needs to know to understand.  In the Paris Hilton example, I would simply explain that the ad companies are just trying to find the best way to sell their product.   A burger.  And they are trying to use what’s popular.  Paris Hilton.  So they hired a beautiful woman to sell their product.  It doesn’t have to be a huge big deal.  The only reason it should ever be a big deal is when people blow things out of proportion.  No, I don’t want my daughter to see that on television.  However, I can’t shield her from the world forever.  When she is born, the world will be a vastly different place than when I was born.  And I have to be prepared for that.

While it is important to protect a child’s innocence, one must also consider the importance of raising an educated, well adjusted child who won’t reach middle school and be bombarded by things she doesn’t understand.

                Advertising can be used for good but a lot of the time promotes bad habits. Teenagers and children are usually the most influenced by advertisements. Carol Herman, Senior Vice President of Grey Advertising states, “It isn’t enough to advertise on television… you’ve got to reach kids throughout the day-in school, as they’re shopping in the mall…or at the movies. You’ve got to become part of the fabric of their lives.”

                I believe that advertising aimed at children should be regulated for many reasons. Companies that advertise tobacco and alcohol are targeting children at a very young age. A California anti-cigarette ad spoke of how tobacco companies are trying to influence young people to buy their product, “We have to sell cigarettes to your kids. We need half a million new smokers a year just to stay in business. So we advertise near schools, at candy counters.” The government should put a stop to letting companies that advertise products such as tobacco advertise at places that are frequently visited by children. This encourages bad habits when children see these advertisements in some of their favorite places.

                Female children are greatly influenced by the standards of beauty in our culture. According to our book, “A long-standing trend in advertising is the association of certain products with ultra-thin models.” These ads should also be regulated because they sometimes lead girls to eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. Children who try but fail to achieve the so called perfect body image tend to think of themselves as inadequate and have a poor self image. Some examples of companies that only use very thin models for advertisement are Victoria’s Secret and American Eagle.

                Complaints regarding tobacco advertising are also directed at alcohol ads. One of the most popular beer ad campaigns is Budweiser that features frogs croaking Bud-weis-errrr. The textbook speaks of accusations that say “the ads use cartoonish animal characters to appeal to young viewers.” Our book also speaks of “a national study that says young people who see more ads for alcoholic beverages tend to drink more.” This proves that ads have a strong influence on how people conduct themselves throughout their daily lives.

                Regulating these types of ads would not do away with them completely but at least lower the amount of times that young people see them daily. By doing this children would be less likely to take part in these negative activities.

According to an article posted by the American Pshycological Association, APA, “Research shows that children under the age of eight are unable to critically comprehend televised advertising messages and are prone to accept advertiser messages as truthful, accurate and unbiased.” With advertisements not only for children’s toys but for adult products as well, the moral sensor within young children is being preyed upon by different ad companies. While one cannot simply do away with all ads, it would not be completely ridiculous to take more precautions in ads directed and not directed to children.

The article posted by the APA (http://www.apa.org/releases/childrenads.html ) calls for restrictions on ads targeting children under eight. A team was put together by the APA to do more research on the effects of advertising on children. In one test, reasearch concluded that children were able to remember specific content from ads they were exposed to and a preference to a product after just one single commercial exposure. “Because younger children do not understand persuasive intent in advertising, they are easy targets for commercial persuasion,” said psychologist Brian Wilcox, Ph.D. of Psychology at the Univ. of NE.

Ads for products such as unhealthy foods including candy and snacks is one of the factors in the increasing obesity among children as well. At the same time, ads that surround children in general are also a cause for concern as well. With no ability of discernment, violent ads for video games and movies in part contribute to  more aggressive behaviors among children.

With the lack of a moral sensor among children under eight, who reportedly view about 40,000 commercials per year, the risk of certain behavior adaptions because of certain ads is very high. While government and CFC restriction is perhaps needed more strictly within the ad industry, there is a responsibility of the parent to be aware of the vulnerability within their child as well. While it may be impossible to completely shelter them from all risky ads, a positive nature and family interaction within the home is one step closer to raising a healthy and happy child than, like some, letting the TV become the babysitter.

I think this should ring true for everyone, but my earliest memory of watching a television commercial is during Saturday morning cartoons. I can’t specifically recall particular commercials, but I would venture to say they were either about cereal or toys. If you don’t believe advertising is effective you should just pay attention to what kids want and watch Saturday morning cartoons for the commercials. It’s really a genius idea.

I generally find myself indifferent to most commercials these days. I can’t think of any that just strike me as great, but I also have a difficult time finding a most disliked commercial. So I had to think of something that could really annoy me, and it struck me: “HeadOn apply directly to the forehead.” If you’ve seen this, you should know exactly why that annoys me. I despise all the repetition of those commercials. Not only do the commercials repeat the phrase multiple times, but they seem to always come on twice in a row. Maybe I shouldn’t be as annoyed by the commercial as I should be by the people who use the product though. They are the reason it still comes on and we all have to live with it.

I, and I would assume most everyone else, am drawn to aesthetically pleasing commercials. I think that one of the smartest and best looking commercials airing right now would be the UPS Whiteboard commercials. I like that the commercial is short, but that doesn’t play as big a factor as the cleanliness of the picture does. It’s so easy to watch something that is smooth and clean.

But no matter what it is that I like or dislike, advertisers will always go with what works best. This could be something clean, or also something repetitious. I have no say, which means that I will continue living the life of a channel surfer.

When the question, “Should advertising aimed at children be regulated?” is asked, I just laugh. Television is not only watched by adults, but its also watched by innocent, little kids who unaware what, “Viagra, Trojan Condoms, Adult programming, etc” are. Parents should not have to monitor what commercials there kids are watching. In my opinon, (not trying to bash anybody), but I think that television itself is the reason why many of the older generations are calling this (and younger) generations “irresponsible and careless.”

The truth is, teen violence and drug abuse has been on an incline during this generations prime.  I’m not trying to blame my generations flaws on television commercials, but it definitely has played a big part.  For example, in 2002, under-age drinking hit the highest point its ever reached.  According to “JoinTogether” (as well as other sites), under-age drinking has been reported from the lowest age of 12.  This seriously made my heart drop because my little sister is one year away from being 12, and I can’t even imagine seeing a beer bottle in her hand.  It would crush me.

However, there is a positive side when it comes to advertising.  One company, “Truth” has realized the mistake that advertising companies have made and are producing commercials that attract younger generations and put positive messages about how to stop using tobacco.  This is one positive step made, however, with the regulation of commercials, I just feel that a big impact could be made on the negatives of my generation, as well as the younger ones to come along.

 Today tobacco and alcohol ads should be banned from being shown or t.v. or radio.  These particular ads send out harmful messages that its ok to smoke and drink to kids.  The commercials show how appealing tobacco and alcohol are.  They never tell you the harmful side efftects to them.  In the tobacco ads you never hear them say how many lives tobacco has taken due to cancer and other health related issues.  Alcohol commercials necer tell you that you can become an alcoholic if you drink too much.  I f you are gonna sell a product why not tell its pros and cons? These companies refuse to tell their cons becase they outweigh the pros.  In magazines they would show the young preety women smoking when in reality smoking destorys your body outwardly such as causing wrinkles or giving some one yellow teeth.  It can also destroy your inside by causing cancer where harmful cells muliply and defeat your bodies immune system. 

Not displaying does not go against the first amendment.  The first amendment say freedom of speech as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others.  These harmful side effects do infringe on the rights of mankind by taking away their will to live.  These two products are a short term pleasure, they may be gratifiying at first but in the end they can not only harm you but kill you!

Critism comes in many different forms, some negative and some positive. I would say that over the years, advertising has not be the most honest field of work, with false advertising and making things “greater than they really are”. I can understand why people are so negative about some advertisments that seem “too good to be true.” So what does that do to the people who have honest advertisement? I would think that it brings their consumer numbers down as well, due to those who can not trust advertisment. We find so much satisfaction in advertisments, for example, the church I attend on Sunday mornings had billboards atratigically placed across Anderson. When I was telling a friend about the church I attend, she quickly replied, “Oh yeah, I wanted to go to the church because they have awesome billboards…” We rely on things like advertisement and when we are let down by one, we tend to think they are all the same, therefore negative critism is common with advertisements in every day life.

Modern methods of advertising have come to elicit many mixed feelings from the international public. While many people enjoy ads because they may find them amusing or helpful, others ads may be perceived as annoying, dishonest, or even offensive. Although ads are indeed useful in educating the public of available products, some advertisements tend to exaggerate or even alter the truth of the featured product. This aspect of dishonesty has become the dominant source of criticism on advertisements in general. While there may be some ads that are entirely truthful, it is difficult to distinguish these from the untruthful majority. This blurred line of honesty is a direct result of advertising tactics that have adapted over the years. Although innocent ads of early television may have captured consumers with an attractive model and a catchy tune, advertisers quickly learned the art of false advertising and turned to full fledged lies, claiming or implying that their product would make you happier, richer, or more attractive. Over the course of several decades, thousands of disappointed consumers came to realize that no single product could give them all of these attributes, and the experienced public gradually turned against the world of advertising.

 A second reason advertising is often viewed with such criticism is because they can be somewhat inconvenient in their placement or annoying in their advertising tactics. Commercials somehow always appear at the most tense or scandalous moment in a television show, frustrating viewers, and giving “commercial breaks” a bad name. In the same way, advertisement papers within magazines or newspapers can often seem inconvenient to thumb through to get to what you actually meant to pay for—the articles. Television and radio commercials are the most infamous for their irritating characteristics. Annoying jingles and overly excitable announcers or actors create a whirl of intrusive sounds and/or images that are difficult to enjoy. The most widely known example of a genuinely annoying commercial is the renowned “Head-On” commercial. The announcer repeats, or more so yells the single line that the American public has come to dread: “Apply directly to the forehead!” I, along with many others, have developed a reflex to change the channel as soon as this commercial appears on the screen.

Along with these two primary reasons for the decline in the esteem held on advertising, countless other explanations exist, such as their offensive, uncomfortable, or inappropriate qualities. Despite the lack of appreciation for the world of advertising, the media would certainly be greatly diminished from what it currently is if it weren’t for expenses covered through advertising. So no matter how dishonest, annoying, offensive, or inappropriate advertisements can be, we must learn to tolerate them because they are unfortunately essential to the existence of the media as a whole.

I firmly believe that no company should be forced to stop advertising their product. Just because tobacco is bad for you and alcohal is abused, there is no good excuse for making them stop advertising their products. There are so many other things that are advertised that are not good for people, there is no good reason that these products should not be advertised. 

In the year 2000, studies indicated that 65% percent of Americans were obese. Obesity increases the risk of developing at least 26 diseases, for example: heart disease, colon cancer, and diabetes. I haven’t see anyone trying to ban all food that is bad for you from being advertised. Maybe we should be focusing more on that than alcohal or tobacco. Obesity is obviously a bigger problem.

It would not be right to deprive anyone of their rights. That is what America has always been based on. We would be going against everything that America is about and what it is know for if we took someone’s right away from them.

Advertisers are pushy because their only goal is to sell you their product.  Advertisers do not care about your financial situation, nor do they care if their product is the best fit for you.

The general public should know advertisers’ jobs are to sell you their product.  No matter what it takes, whether it’s bashing other companies or over-touting their own product, advertisers are going to do what it takes.  It is understood that these are fact.

In defense of advertisers, they are only doing their job.  People do not understand this.  An advertiser’s job is tough because in their goals lies a problem.  They cannot take consideration about people because their job requires a bit of ruthlessness.

In the end, advertisers have a tough job, and people have a hard time understanding that idea.

The earliest advertisment I can recall is the 7-up Christmas commercial. It was advertising 7-up along with the hand held Nintendo. The little Nintendo buttons cut out a Christmas tree that turned into the 7-up bottle. Everytime I watch old videos we recorded, I see this commercial and I remember wanting to drink 7-up just because I loved that commercial so much. I reminds me of Christmas time and my family.

 My favorite ad would have to be, definately a television ad because I can see, hear, and respond to the advertisement. I love the ad that is selling Febreeze when the boy and girl are sniffing the couch and the dad walks in. He suspects them to be acting “naughty” but they simply want to smell the freshly Febreezed couch. I love this commercial because it gets the point of the product across in a light and humorous way. It is easy to remember because it leaves you chuckling, or laughing hysterically if your sense of humor is like mine. It made me want to Febreeze my room and sniff it.

 My all time least favorite ad is the “KIA OF GREEEERRR!!!!” ad. I absolutely cringe at the sound of that advertisement on the TV or radio. I despise it so much because it is loud and so annoying. I never want to purchase a KIA because of this advertisement. I feel so pressured when I hear the commerical because they are screaming at me. There are many other options to get your point across than to scream. Although that is probably one of the most known and remembered advertisements out, which fulfills the point of advertisement.

Advertisment is meant to sell a product and grab your attention. Both of these examples do so, one is a more positive and light manner and one in a more harsh and pushing way.  

Now a days, there is always a critic around the corner- especially when it comes to television. The critisim may not always be publicly broadcasted but it is always around you. When it comes to advertising- critisim is an everyday occurence.

Today, Ads speak the truth. They are not afraid to be be outspoken or even gentle with their words and phrases. Take the new noxema commercial.. critics have BASHED it- because of the commercials content. You interpret the commercial how you will, BUT a teenage girl saying “you should see me now…” does not offend me and should not offend anyone. Some People become critics simply to fulfill their time and actually feel as though they are accomplishing something with their time, when really its all a bunch of nonsense. Critics..are neccessary in some ways, i suppose. Some lines need to be drawn, but at least make your points valid and just. Don’t just put your opinion out there and not expect others not to speak out against or with you. People need to fulfill their time with more meaningful things…

Advertising is a prominent aspect in America’s society today. Whether on a billboard or in a magazine, everywhere one looks there seems to be some sort of advertisement. Advertisement sometimes can be very explicit to get the public attention more effectively.

Because of the vulgar advertising we see in our society, it is only natural for many people to be critical of it. Billboards across America display not only messages, but also pictures that demoralize our society. Young people that are raised in Biblical homes would not normally be exposed to some of the filthiness that is conveyed through advertisement.

The issue not only lies with immoral suggestive advertisement, but also with advertisements broadcasting the use of alcohol and cigarettes. By putting these advertisements in any open area it suggests that these habits are normal habits and that they are accepted as right. Although these companies have every right to advertise their product, they should advertise more discretely with advertisements put in places aimed directly at of age consumers.

With all of this said, it is easy to realize why most people are so critical of advertising. I believe that if people stay critical when viewing advertisements, then advertising might stay where it is and not advance into more explicit ways. Although advertising is a good thing in today’s culture, it can get out of hand which is when the people in America must step in and criticize.

First, let me say that I am not a parent, although I do hope to be one someday. With that said, let’s get going.

We are surrounded by advertising wherever we go. Watch a few minutes of television, listen to the radio a bit, go to your favorite search engine on the internet, or even drive a few miles on the interstate – it’s everywhere.

A large problem that parents face today involves the advertising companies trying to appeal to their children. I mean, what child isn’t excited by the latest toy they saw on television or doesn’t beg Mom for the sugary cereals that line the bottom shelves (at their eye level, no less) of their local grocer?

When a controversial ad is placed in front of a child (whether it is found on the internet, on television, or a billboard) the parents are the ones that must step in and claim the God-given role as caretaker and provider of a household to adequately explain to them its meaning. Personally, I can see ads that focus on drug or sexual themes to be the most difficult to explain to a child. Yet, I believe that it is the responsibility of a parent to see that their child is not left in the dark on issues that will no doubt affect them in later years. I would much rather my child hear the full truth of God’s gift to married couples (sex) from me rather than from the corrupt worldview that today’s society promotes so wildly via MTV and the cinema.

If my (future) child sees something that is sexually provocative or titillating through any medium of advertising and I know about it, I will fulfill my duty to God as a parent to educate them on the full issue of sex (and God’s perfect design for marriage) and not leave any question unanswered for my son or daughter regarding the issue.

If parents delay in explaining the real issues to their children, then their own will seek out answers elsewhere.  MTV, Hollywood and the Internet then become the surrogate parents of our children by providing them with the worldly answers to questions that parents  should answer themselves.

I know that I can’t afford to gamble with the mental and physical purity of my children by allowing Hollywood to provide them with the “answers” to their life questions that I should answer myself.

Questionable ad?  Sit Johnny down and speak truth to him.  No rabbit trails.  No beating around the bush.  No misunderstandings.

For years now The Public Broadcasting System has provided commercial free television.  They rely on the donations of viewers, sponsors, and government funding.  If you were to watch about an hour of programming on PBS chances are the only ad you see would be a still image promoting a sponsor.  Usually the station goes through the promotion of sponsors in less time than it takes for one commercial on a regular television station.  Visiting the station’s website provides similar results:  a single, small promotional flyer for a sponsor.

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I personally wouldn’t mind if radio and television stations like PBS used regular advertising as a means of financial support, as long as that means they stop the bi-weekly telethons.  I’m tired of trying to watch a program on PBS only for it to be interrupted by two cheesy television hosts begging for financial support.

If ads were added into the mix, most people would Tivo the programs they wanted and skip right through the commercials.  Not good for their advertisers, but nice for PBS and their viewers.

Listening to the radio, I hear an advertisement for Bud Light starring “the real men of genius.” The commercial sets up a scene of a man downing two dozen hot dogs, not knowing where they came from or why he’s there, but he downs all of those hot dogs because he can for a contest. Then, he is saluted by cracking open a “cold one” and stating him as a real man of genius. I can just hear my child asking me if he can down a hundred hot dogs and be called a genius or ask me if I can crack open a cold one and salute him.

This is a Bud Light commercial for the radio, in which there are many other commercials like it. These ads are sending children, teenagers, and college students the message that they will be “geniuses” for drinking Bud Light. One day I’ll have to address my five year old son, who has a mind like a sponge, and I’ll say, “Johnny, mommy knows best and beer does not make you cool or a genius.” To be honest, I wouldn’t want to make this conversation a really serious one though. I’d want to make it funny and comfortable because that’s what children remember. My husband and I could make our own commercial, like a small sketch, in our living room and have all five of our children watch.

Our commercial would show a man drinking a beer; this hot chick (me) walks by and notices him. He will give her a cool look and offer her a beer. She’ll say, “no way! do you think I’m dumb or something?! I’ll take a soda. (sarcastically) Man, I thought you were a genius?” And then, the girl walks off and the guy is left with just a beer; he puts it down and grabs a soda.

The commercial is something the children could remember for later, plus it carries a lesson. After the commercial, I’ll ask my kids what the lesson was and what they learned.

It’s important, even with small radio ads, to address children about these issues. I work at a school with three year olds. There’s a little girl in my class, and she goes around singing songs she heard off the radio, sometimes the songs are a little sketchy. It’s the same thing with jingles off the radio or on television. Children will get them in their heads, sing them, and then, at some point apply them to their lives. That’s why I think using a visual act or maybe a song would be good to explain the truth about the objectionable ad, cause we never know what kids are thinking.

Walking into a high school now is like walking into house of ill repute. So many girls are wearing less and less it is almost like they want to die from the elements. Where do teenagers learn to dress like they were trying to win a contest for showing the most skin? Ads, ads and more ads. I was flipping through a magazine that is addressed to young girls, and almost all the ads had stick thin girls dressed in barely there outfits and they were always posing in a risqué position. What is this teaching our impressionable girl population? It teaches them to dress scantly, wearing shirts that exposed to much chest and wearing skirts that show too much leg. Girl who are influenced by the ads do not realize what impressions they are giving to young men as easy and sleazy.  Not to mention what negative attention they are getting from respectable citizens like teachers, parents and future bosses. Another negative influence these promiscuous ads are having on young girls, is the fight to be thin, these ads exploit the idea that being   a size two is the only way a woman can feel attractive. So many young girls get caught up in this glorified persona that many of them develop eating disorders because they strive to be so thin. These types of ads also develop materialism among young girls; they think they need this designer bag or this pair of shoes. Girls began to believe that these items make them popular in their social environment, and it begins to take over their lives. So what can society do to help these young ladies? Stop selling ads that exploit sex, appearances and material possessions. Ads should show young girls how to look good without being overtly sexual, and learn that being above a size two is perfectly normal. The last one is a little bit harder, since the purpose of ads is to sell to consumers. However, while these things can add to being attractive they could have campaigns to influence girls that inner beauty is also important. Young girls are very impressionable they need to be influenced in a positive way rather than a negative one.

Advertising has grown to be one of the cornerstones of business in this day and age. Technology is expanding in new light every year and continues to be more accessible to all. I am a big fan of television so if I have a need for a specific service my first instinct is to refer back to the advertisment that I saw on television. I can sit and recite different company slogans and songs from thier commercials all day long. In Consumer Behavior it’s known as Retention.

Advertising has become so diverse that your able to reach out to all consumers no matter their demographic background. One reason that advertising is so critical is because the media is a major part of everybody’s life in some way, shape or form. Examples like, flyers, posters, direct mail, television, radio and internet are the reasons that people are always exposed to advertising. Companies see this and captalize on the opportunity to get thier company’s name out to the people in methods other than word of mouth.

Advertising is a booming  multi-billion dollar business thats all about increasing demand. In 2005 TNS Media Intelligence reported that the United States alone spent upwards of about $144.32 billion dollars on advertising. Global accounting firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers projects worldwide advertising spending to surpass half-a-trillion dollars by 2010. Numbers like that is exactly why advertising is majorly critical in business.

As the world has progressed and values have taken on many different forms, advertising has increasingly become the center of criticism. Advertising is very persuasive and does have the ability to mold ideas and attitudes. For this reason people are so critical of advertising.

On websites like www.commercialalert.org you can find issues with advertising from alcohol and the fact they, “don’t think the beer and liquor industry should encourage teenagers to drink alcohol.” And still ranging to mobile phones where the website goes on to say that children and teens already have enough problems with distractions and adding advertising for mobile phones is just providing another outlet for distraction. This website is an extreme anti commercialism site but there are others who while not so extreme do provide criticism of advertising. One such site is www.badvertising.org. This site “counters the seduction of dishonest tobacco advertising…”

Sites like these two show the intensity of the critical issues with advertising. Both try and counter or “protect” people from the persuasions of advertising. Still even with sites no one will ever be able to pull advertising out of the market it is in. Like many other criticized parts of media you can’t let anyone effect what you are doing as long as you feel you are morally and ethically correct.

As a parent raising a child who would be exposed to “objectionable” advertising, I would simply explain the art of selling products. It could possibly be a challenging task to explain the multiple ads that could potentially taint a young mind, but I feel its best to be upfront with your child rather than shelter them to these things. Of course there are some exceptions to this; I wouldn’t let my young child watch an ad for “Girls Gone Wild” or “Playboy” but I wouldn’t cover there eyes nor turn the channel every time a questionable commercial or ad came on.

For example, P.Diddy has created a new perfume called “Unforgivable” and his ads for television commercials have created a stir. Some feel that his commercials are way too sensual. P.Diddy is lying in bed partially clothed with two young ladies who are also partially clothed. Many television stations refused to run these ads due to the sexuality and raunchiness of the commercial.

Personally, I don’t find a problem with the ad. People are sensual and sexual characters by nature and rather they want to admit it or not, they can relate to the commercial. Most likely a child wouldn’t realize what they are seeing any way. They are just watching TV. Not allowing your children to experience these things and keeping them from everything that seems to be a hindrance to there development is a hindrance in its self. I’d much so rather allow my children to ask me questions and be exposed to things in my presence rather than receive the wrong perceptions from peers or even conjure up there own. Sure media plays up the temptations of life and can be quite influential on a young mind however as a parent I am to ask questions and steer my child in the right direction and explain to them that everything you see on TV or hear on the radio may not necessarily be the correct thing to do.

There are several techniques that parents use to protect their children from harm. The most commonly used practice is to completely shield your children from anything that you consider bad. This is a good idea, but let’s face it, your children are going to be exposed to these things at some point in their lives. If you keep telling your children that drinking is very bad and they shouldn’t be a part of it while their friends are drinking and having fun, they are most likely going to try it. I am living proof that this is exactly what kids do. I had my hay day in highschool and the beginning of college, but until my parents decided to start using my next method that I started to understand that drinking wasn’t all that bad.

I think that the appropriate way to explain objectionable ads to your kids is to, instead of telling them to close their eyes or telling them its bad, sit down and explain it to them. You have to let your kids know that God has provided things for us, like sex, alcohol, and tobacco, for us to ENJOY. With this in mind, we must first realize that, as Christians, our enjoyment does not come drinking to get drunk, making our bodies slaves to a smoking addiction, or having sex outside marriage, but our enjoyment comes from God and He has given us these things as tools to celebrate what He has done for us.

I am a part of a Men’s group in my church and once a week we meet at a bar and have a couple beers. We do this not because we want to get drunk, but we do it in celebration of everything that God has blessed us with and because He has given us the ability to drink beer in moderation. When my children are old enough, I will read them a book written by Rev. Jim West called Drinking With Calvin and Luther. This book goes through the history of alcohol and the church and shows how some of the most well-known men of God have enjoyed these gifts with respect for Him and ultimately, moderation. I plan on teaching my children this as soon as they are old enough to realize the difference between a beer and a coke.

When a tobacco ad comes on TV, I will use the same method and tell them that tobacco is not bad, but it is when we abuse it and make our bodies a slave to it that we sin. God also gave us sex and I know that one day my kids are gonna as me about sex and me or their mother will explain it to them, but the only way we will promote it is that you can only have sex when you are married.

Everything boils down to, not what your kids have been seeing, but what they have been experiencing. The only thing I will be able to do, as a parent, is raise my kids and make them familiar with these things, while teaching them not to abuse them. Of course, kids are gonna do what they want, just like I did, but when an objectionable ad comes on TV, instead of telling my kids not to ever get involved with it, I will explain to them, with the Bible, that these things are not bad if they are enjoyed correctly.

Children today have the mentality to do just what they want to do. Even if you instruct them not to try or do something they find it hard to believe until they test it for themselves. I would rather my kids try something hazardous when I am around than for them to experience elsewhere and not have a reliable help in there presence. It’s as simple as this, outward appearances aren’t always reliable and therefore you can’t want to utilize all things that are in advertisement. I would sit down and view the pros and the cons of the item being marketed to them.

Advertisements that are geared towards children usually obtain a marketer that is well liked or known among the age groups. Most children tend to think that just because someone advertises for the advertisement they utilize it, which isn’t always true.

Parents sometimes tend to always tell children not to use everything they see or if it doesn’t seem reliable they don’t fully explain the product to the kids. As a child I remember wanting to try everything I saw and if my parents thought otherwise they would just explain the produce fully so that I could understand both sides of it. That method saved me a lot of hurt and disappointment. With them teaching me that, I learn to analyze things fully and not just for the fact that they look good on the advertisement.  I would most definitely use this method on my children because it is very effective.

My best friend’s mother always told her not to use tobacco and never fully explained why. When she was 13 she had her first experience with tobacco, now she smokes all the time and doesn’t know how she’s going to stop. She believes that if she was approached with another method that it would have helped her to understand the product and consider other alternatives.

In conclusion, the best method I think there is to use to approach children is to explain the pros and cons and then help them to make a sound decision. This would be very helpful in all aspects of life and they will learn how important it is to review all options when considering anything. It is the advertisers job to make anything seem very appealing so that you’ll want to buy there products. I don’t fully fault them they have to make sales so that there product will be effective.  Melissa Dittman explains it best in her article Selling to Children, advertisement affects children but we can make a difference.

I believe tobacco and alcohol advertising should not be prohibited. Prohibiting the tobacco or alcohol company’s ability to advertise would be a violation of the first amendment in the free speech department. If a private organization such as a college decides that they will not allow alcohol or tobacco advertising on their campus, that is perfectly legal; however, denying the airwaves or the pages of magazines to alcohol or tobacco companies is not. Alcohol and tobacco, though restricted, are legal substances in this country. Until government outlaws alcohol and tobacco, the companies should be allowed to advertise. It is true that both substances damage your health, but so do Big Macs and tanning beds. So, where do you draw the line? Is government going to eventually prohibit advertising on all unhealthy products?

Government has continually increased cigarette taxes for years. The advertising rights of cigarette companies have increasingly been restricted. There is no shortage of information about the harmful effects of smoking. Despite these facts, people still smoke. Cigarette companies are forced to put messages on their products describing how dangerous they are. Still, in 2006 four tobacco related companies made the Fortune 500 list. People are going to smoke and the government has yet to stop them.

I do believe in stricter DUI laws and longer jail sentences for repeat offenders. I also believe smoking should be banned in and around public places because second hand smoke is intrusive on one’s right to breathe clean air. I don’t believe a company’s right to advertise their product, especially one that is so obviously in demand, should be prohibited. It sets a bad precedent. In today’s world, where information is endless, it is unrealistic to believe that the dangers of alcohol and tobacco are not widely known.

If Joe Francis can advertise his debauchery on television with Girls Gone Wild, which I believe is worse for society than a cigarette ad, then Joe Camel should be allowed to advertise his cancer sticks.