Commercial "Science"

[TigerWoods]

Link to original post: Commercial "Science"

Hello, if I could have your attention for a bit, I'd like to rant!
I ranted about this awhile ago in the "Something Bothering You?" thread, but I decided to share it with the user blog community.

Commercials fail at science...

Rant #1)
I saw this commercial about a women's skin care product that helps penetrate the SEVEN layers of skin. Er... unless the subcutaneous fat of Americans count as five layers(plausible), there are only three.
>_>"

If they chose to count the sub layers, there are eight.



Rant #2)
I saw this Waste Management commercial that stated they helped "create energy" for home use. You can't create energy... Law of the conservation of energy says so!



Rant #3)
I was looking at my Lysol container: http://content.etilize.com/Large/11967814.jpg

NO NO NO NO NO. You don't kill viruses. They weren't alive to begin with!



Rant #4)
Ok, this isn't much of a rant, nor does it have much to do with science.

Well actually...

A fine example of Social Darwinism, Psychology, and Gravity at work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h3sRoa5W2M

A fine example of Social Darwinism, Psychology, Physics, and the properties of metal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntXkuqZ2Fo4





Why are commercials so... stupid. Take a crash course in elementary science... GAH!

 

[CRASHiC]

The basic reasons are fairly obvious. For one thing, much science has grown so sophisticated that its practice is out of reach for most of us. To be a solid state physicist or nuclear biologist you need years of training; nor do you need much less for medicine or experimental psychology. Accordingly, what we hear from specialists in such fields is often hard for us to comprehend. It is as if they speak a different language. But even more to the point, for all their alleged expertise and renown there are basic questions that they are unable to answer, conspicuously on such vital subjects as diesease and emotional disorder. Ignorance on these matters can be frightening. And the response to fright is frequently to pursue whatever course offers hope of relife from it, without pausing to exaime credentials.

And so some the commercials, claiming to meet the needs that science has thus far failed to meet- offering the prospective inductee a place on the ground floor. Some may be harmless enough, but whenever false doctrine is propagates there is some cost. Many such doctrines are dressed up as sciences in their own right. For even though established science may be distrusted, "science" is still a thumbs-up word for most people. So we find many of these theories borrowing liberally from genuine science, and many more using terms that sound, to the uninitiated, like the stuff of which true science is made. Now many of the bogus doctrines are actually unintelligible, their seeming content simply vanishes when closely scrutinized. But given the incomprehensibility of so much genuine science for so many of us, that very unintelligible can be mistaken as authenticity.

 

[Teran]

Not everyone is educated, they're trying to dupe them.

Of course this causes a lot of ignorance and misinformation, but then most people are idiots and lost causes regardless.

 

[CRASHiC]

lol at Teran summing up what I said in 2 sentences.

 

[TigerWoods]

The basic reasons are fairly obvious. For one thing, much science has grown so sophisticated that its practice is out of reach for most of us. To be a solid state physicist or nuclear biologist you need years of training; nor do you need much less for medicine or experimental psychology. Accordingly, what we hear from specialists in such fields is often hard for us to comprehend. It is as if they speak a different language. But even more to the point, for all their alleged expertise and renown there are basic questions that they are unable to answer, conspicuously on such vital subjects as diesease and emotional disorder. Ignorance on these matters can be frightening. And the response to fright is frequently to pursue whatever course offers hope of relife from it, without pausing to exaime credentials.

And so some the commercials, claiming to meet the needs that science has thus far failed to meet- offering the prospective inductee a place on the ground floor. Some may be harmless enough, but whenever false doctrine is propagates there is some cost. Many such doctrines are dressed up as sciences in their own right. For even though established science may be distrusted, "science" is still a thumbs-up word for most people. So we find many of these theories borrowing liberally from genuine science, and many more using terms that sound, to the uninitiated, like the stuff of which true science is made. Now many of the bogus doctrines are actually unintelligible, their seeming content simply vanishes when closely scrutinized. But given the incomprehensibility of so much genuine science for so many of us, that very unintelligible can be mistaken as authenticity.

I know right? A lot of people like to take the first thing they hear and turn it into fact... to the point where it becomes a mainstream belief. I understand commercials need to appeal to a not-so-bright audience, but still...

Ads can also affect people in large ways. All the ads I see today spell "tonight" as "tonite", to the point that many of my friends will spell tonight as "tonite" in a research paper. Now this may be "harmless", but as you said, it shows the possibility of the misunderstanding of crucial subjects.

Not everyone is educated, they're trying to dupe them.

Of course this causes a lot of ignorance and misinformation, but then most people are idiots and lost causes regardless.

Agreed. People need to stop relying on others for their information...or at least, find some proof for their assumptions.

 

[SuperBowser]

But there are 7 layers in the skin.

Stratum corneum, lucidum, granulosum, spinosum and basale make up the epidermis. And the dermis is made of the papillary region and reticular region.

 

[LoganW]

commericials know that the majority of people are idiots and they cater to them w/ usually false info. I hate how they use the fine print and fast talking. They take short-cuts and put big details like:this has NOT been evaluated by the FDA in the fine print. It angers me that people are dumb enough to fall for these things, especially things like the sham-wow

 

[TigerWoods]

But there are 7 layers in the skin.

Stratum corneum, lucidum, granulosum, spinosum and basale make up the epidermis. And the dermis is made of the papillary region and reticular region.

There is also the hypodermis, that houses the subcutaneous fat... Which is 8 if you count the sub layers.



As for sham wows... I commend that spokesman for selling that ratty towel.

 

[LoganW]

There is also the hypodermis, that houses the subcutaneous fat... Which is 8 if you count the sub layers.



As for sham wows... I commend that spokesman for selling that ratty towel.

Who vince? He also sells the slap-chop xD

 

[mountain_tiger]

Not everyone is educated, they're trying to dupe them.

Of course this causes a lot of ignorance and misinformation, but then most people are idiots and lost causes regardless.

I find your view of the world depressing, even though it's true.

 

[Virgilio]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimivirus#Implications_for_defining_.22life.22

I know its not conclusive but anyways.

I did a poll with easy questions in one forum, and the virus question was there.. and one guy came up with this mimivirus thing I didnt know

 

[Teran]

I find your view of the world depressing, even though it's true.

That's a shame, I find myself to be very happy in spite of my views about the world.

 

[SuSa]

I find your view of the world depressing, even though it's true.

It's the sad truth of reality.

The world is ****.

 

[TigerWoods]

You'd think after tens of thousands of years, we'd stop killing each other. =D

Hey, life wouldn't be interesting if we had nothing to complain about.

 

[Jim Morrison]

I disagree, the world is a good place.

 

[SuSa]

I disagree, the world is a good place.

I disagree, the world was a good place.

Until humans came along and ****ed everything up.

 

[mountain_tiger]

That's a shame, I find myself to be very happy in spite of my views about the world.

Oh, I'm fine with how the world is. It's some of the people in it I can't stand e.g. people who call a toilet a loo.

Though flaws in humans does have its funny moments:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJgxRaWia6w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBXxmISAMA8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTaTvwl4-28

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMlyqZszCyU

 

[ndayday]

I disagree, the world was a good place.

Until humans came along and ****ed everything up.

Until commercials came along and told us incorrect things, IMO.

 

[TigerWoods]

I believe people truly do -want- the "best" for humanity, however, people tend to disagree on what is best. This often causes strife and throws it into more chaos.

When people stop feeding their egos and start seeing the world through the eyes of their enemies, is the day when peace will happen and pigs will fly.

On the science note... people don't read!

 

[Cherry64]

It's the sad truth of reality.

The world is ****.

Agree'd, I swear we are only alive to be misrable lol, only reason I'm a happy dude is because I take life as a game, life challenges me to be happy, so I am happy essentialyl saying a big F you to life.

topic @ hand, you could sue them for false advertising :D

and sham-wow guy got arested for getting into a game of fisty cuffs with a prostitute, look it up, that ****'s real

 

[SuSa]

I believe people truly do -want- the "best" for humanity, however, people tend to disagree on what is best. This often causes strife and throws it into more chaos.

When people stop feeding their egos and start seeing the world through the eyes of their enemies, is the day when peace will happen and pigs will fly.

On the science note... people don't read!

The problem on your second statement is "then who's right?"

Just because I see their point of view doesn't mean I feel it'd be right.

Also first statement is correct. I think it'd be best for humanity if we wiped out 90-95% of our population. Would people agree with me?

****ing doubt it.

Why?

Because 90-95% of the people who don't agree with me are part of the population to be wiped out.

 

[TigerWoods]

The problem on your second statement is "then who's right?"

Just because I see their point of view doesn't mean I feel it'd be right.

Also first statement is correct. I think it'd be best for humanity if we wiped out 90-95% of our population. Would people agree with me?

****ing doubt it.

Why?

Because 90-95% of the people who don't agree with me are part of the population to be wiped out.

I worded that incorrectly... but I mean on the lines of that people tend to skip over the fact that terrorists for example... were probably raised that way from childhood, or were conscripted by force(I have a friend who escaped).

Oh and

Also first statement is correct. I think it'd be best for humanity if we wiped out 90-95% of our population. Would people agree with me?

****ing doubt it.

Why?

Because 90-95% of the people who don't agree with me are part of the population to be wiped out.

That has got to be the bestest thing I've heard all I day. SuSa is my hero.

 

[CRASHiC]

Go watch Waking Life. Every single one of you
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7583894250854515095#

Go watch Persepolis, every single one of you.

None of you have the right to complain. If a man without an arm and 2 legs can go on to cherish live, love the world we live in, and become a senator, then none of you have the right to complain.

 

[SkylerOcon]

None of you have the right to complain. If a man without an arm and 2 legs can go on to cherish live, love the world we live in, and become a senator, then none of you have the right to complain.

You know, I don't even care if I haven't read a single post in here except for this, but I really gotta say - I hate it when people do this.

I do have the right to complain. Good for the senator who's lost three quarters of his limbs. Really, I'm glad that he's enjoying life! But when I've got personal **** going down, and somebody says I don't have the right to complain because children in Africa are dying of AIDS, or starving children in China would kill for the half-eaten burger I just threw away, it just makes me mad. People have personal issues, and you can't say that just because they're not missing a good portion of their body, they can't be upset about it.

(nothing is going on with me, btw. Just hate it when people do that, is all )

 

[n88]

@SuSa

I would disagree with you because I would in no way want to be responsible for killing 90-95% of the world's population. I would rather be in the 90 than the 10.

@Actual Topic

Whatever misinformation is in comercials/advertising, it will never be as bad as the ol' "Humans only use 10% of their brains" bull****. The concept is ridiculous, but it seems like everyone thinks it's true.

 

[CRASHiC]

No, you have the right to complain about your own personal issues, but they are complaining about the grand scheme of things, when those truly ****ed by the world differ with their opinion. Its like rich white people listening to the blues.

 

[SkylerOcon]

People are also allowed to complain about whats going on with the grand scheme of things. I dunno, I think it's called an opinion or something? I think that's the word for it

 

[john!]

Inspiring, Crash, but we do have the right to complain, however unwarranted it may be.

Also, human nature isn't good or bad. It's primarily selfish. That can be good or bad depending on the situation and how you look at it.

 

[CRASHiC]

Are you aware of how selfish it is to call another person selfish? To assume that your needs have more precedent over theirs, and to be so shallow as to assume that there own prosperity effects only themselves. Perhaps unknown to you, they have a loved one with cancer, so, they have to make a decision, lay you off, or help to one loved with cancer. To them, their loved one will always be more important, and the same is for you, as you need your job to support those you love.

My point is, don't take such a shallow look at the world one dimensional look at the world, its as dangerous as any religious extremist, and don't always assume that you know what someone's intentions are, because you never will know, you can only believe what someone's intentions are.

 

[TigerWoods]

Are you aware of how selfish it is to call another person selfish? To assume that your needs have more precedent over theirs, and to be so shallow as to assume that there own prosperity effects only themselves. Perhaps unknown to you, they have a loved one with cancer, so, they have to make a decision, lay you off, or help to one loved with cancer. To them, their loved one will always be more important, and the same is for you, as you need your job to support those you love.

My point is, don't take such a shallow look at the world one dimensional look at the world, its as dangerous as any religious extremist, and don't always assume that you know what someone's intentions are, because you never will know, you can only believe what someone's intentions are.

On the subject of intentions, I had intended this blog to poke fun at the advertising industry's use of science, but I'm all for debating on the principle of perspective.

 

[SuSa]

@n88
Who said that the 5-10% that survive would be in charge of killing the other 90-95%?

 

[SuperBowser]

There is also the hypodermis, that houses the subcutaneous fat... Which is 8 if you count the sub layers.

Well it really depends on which textbook you are reading. Like the one I currently own would have you believe there are 4 layers of skin, not 3 or 8! I don't think that advertisement would have been neccessarily ''wrong''.

Anyways, I normally find ''science'' in ads very funny. Occasionally the pictures they use are really good imo (though sometimes really bad). The only time it bothers me is when they use terrible psuedoscience to mislead the viewer, but that rarely happens.

 

[n88]

@SuSa

Uh.... Who else?

Granted, not all survivors would be directly responsible, but survivors would probably not be selected randomly. Survivors would be important people, young people, people who understand modern-day technology to the point of being able to reproduce it, etc.

The only really viable way to kill off that many people selectively would be through some kind of super-disease that survivors had been vaccinated against. Sending out squads of people with guns would probably not be effective. It might be, but it would be incredibly sloppy, and there would be a high chance of unintended survivors.

So basically, survivors would have to be pre-determined in any kind of remotely intelligent plan. Meaning that they would probably have advance knowledge of what was going on, making them indirectly responsible at the very least.

 

[GunmasterLombardi]

Uh.... Who else?

The Bible says hi.

Edit: I am aware of the people here who may not believe in any particular religion, but there is no proof of anyone surviving some apocalypse. Nor is there proof of the Apocalypse happening.

 

[SuSa]

They don't need to know anything about it.

 

[john!]

Are you aware of how selfish it is to call another person selfish?

That's my point! jk

To assume that your needs have more precedent over theirs, and to be so shallow as to assume that there own prosperity effects only themselves. Perhaps unknown to you, they have a loved one with cancer, so, they have to make a decision, lay you off, or help to one loved with cancer. To them, their loved one will always be more important, and the same is for you, as you need your job to support those you love.

My point is, don't take such a shallow look at the world one dimensional look at the world, its as dangerous as any religious extremist, and don't always assume that you know what someone's intentions are, because you never will know, you can only believe what someone's intentions are.

You missed a word: "primarily".

I don't blame you for thinking this way about me, because many people are like that. Maybe human nature was the wrong term. I should have said "animal nature" because humans are animals. In fact (this is getting deep and it's something you have to discover for yourself) my belief is that, as you progress from acting for your own good to acting for the good of all, you become higher than an animal (I would say "more human" but that implies the bad part about humans as well). One could say that it's the product/function of the human soul, if one believes in such a thing.

This is getting off topic...

Advertisements will do anything legal to get you to buy their product. It's the responsibility of the consumer to become educated. You have Internet access so no johns.

 

[CRASHiC]

I'm
not
even
sure
what
SuSa
is
talking
about
now
Genocide?​

 

[LoganW]

yeah pretty much

 

[GunmasterLombardi]

They don't need to know anything about it.

What is this about wiping out 90-95% of the world's population to improve humanity?

That's nonsense. If that was really a solution, then it wouldn't be OUR job to do that.

 

[LoganW]

it would be 's job