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Reason #42,391 Why I Hate Modern Advertising

I was talking to a friend a couple of days ago, when we stumbled upon one of life’s great mysteries. And I’ll tell you what it was, just as soon as this sentence is over… which is… now.

Why is it, of all the crappy local businesses that advertise on TV and radio, that used car lots and furniture stores have the absolute worst spots of all time? Is it some kind of weird union thing? Are they somehow obligated to use themselves in their ads, rather than real actors, and to stand there like broomstick-violated marionettes delivering lines with all the subtlety of Stephen Hawking’s voicebox? What’s the explanation, dammit?

Seriously, is there some sort of conspiracy afoot here? And what’s the connection between the used lemons on an oversized parking lot and bedroom suites in a gaudy showroom? None of the other local commercials — whether for restaurants, radio stations, realtors, or whatever — none of these people in these things get all googly-eyed and shouty-throated when they want to peddle their shit in our direction. What is it about a leather sofa or a ‘barely-used’ Dodge that makes people so frigging crazy?

And how is it that the people running these businesses get away with such flimflammery, anyway? Just because they own the joint and pay for the ad, they think it’s okay to dress up like an idiot and scream at us for thirty seconds at a time? Have none of them figured out that it’s not the way to go? You don’t see the people at Schick yelling at the top of their lungs at us:

‘Four blades! Four fucking blades, people!! It’s Quattro! Buy it! Shave with it! Four blades, dammit! Foooooouuuuuuurrr!!!‘

Or that big Hi-C pitcher dude getting all up in our bidness, trying to sell his sugary shit:

‘Yo, get your ass down to the store and get your Hi-C, fool! You don’t drink Hi-C, I’ll kick your pansy ass! I swear to God, I’ll break off part of my own head and cut you, gringo! Drink Hi-C!‘

So what’s up with the divan dealers and Peugeot peddlers, then? It’s not like people get especially excited about buying their shit, compared to other cool stuff out there, like electronics and tequila and mail-order brides. But it’s not completely boring stuff that would require that kind of lubed-up insanity to sell, either. I could see selling legal pads or nasal spray or tickets to a golf match that way — hell, something’s gotta get people excited about that snoozy crap. But used cars and furniture? I just don’t fricking get it.

Anyway, that’s what’s on my mind at the moment, I suppose. Hey, it’s better than another boring post about how much poopy work I’m doing, right? I never promised you people Shakespeare every day. Looks like ‘broomstick-violated marionettes’ is as good as it’s gonna get tonight around here. Ah, well. At least it’s free, eh?