Are you influenced by television advertising?

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I'm not influenced by them. I find most ads quite obnoxious. I don't get why so many people allow themselves to be taken in by them. It's quite pathetic really. Like why does every other mobile phone user have an iPhone? Are there no other brand phones they can buy? They're not even that powerful and way overpriced.

I just have an iPhone because it was free when I signed up for my plan.
I would not get another one though. Too little storage, too little memory, overpriced power cords that wear out too easily, etc.

They definitely go under the radar of conscious reasoning but they go so far under that I don't know if being repulsed will even be sufficient defense. I try to be wary and on my guard but that can backfire in the precise way they want it to. You may have noticed some ads (many as side ads here at WP) that seem simultaneously irrelevant and disgusting. They'll have some really terrible photo or a dubious food and it catches your attention for a moment even if only to be dumbfounded or disgusted. You never think "I want that". Probably not even subconsciously. But the name of the product/company can stick in your brain and eventually become unmoored from your memory of repulsion at the ad and then it is in your brain free floating.

There are probably products, probably unfortunately a lot of products, that I bought because they seemed familiar and legit. For all I know, that sense was planted in my head by an ad I scoffed at or was repulsed by. It is hard to be completely objective when shopping because the mind has a way of rationalizing.


Ever since the invention of the DVR, I've only seen TV ads at top speed as I fast forwarded past them (hopefully fast enough for them to not catch in my brain). However, companies have since come up with ads embedded in movies and shows. There are limits to the feasability of that (Game of Thrones probably only functions as an ad for Game of Thrones merchandise) but movies/shows set in the present (and sometimes future) can function effectively as ads when the characters use real products. Sometimes it's laughably obvious and I laugh, but even so, the memory of the product can become unmoored from the memory of its' obvious embed, giving it subconscious legitimacy.

I´m probably being influenced more than I like to think.
The ads with beautiful people I take as an aesthetic entertainment. The funny ones I look at for the fun and mostly I have no idea what they are trying to sell. Not interested - apart from anything to do with tools.
My wishes may be nourished by ads, but they only burst into flames by an idea of something, I want to make.

I've never been influenced by ads. I love the DVR because you can fast forward. The only commercials I would pay attention to would be something I'm already interested in learning about. Even then, I don't rely solely on the information in the ad.

In years past, I noticed that television advertisements are definitely more enticing (for lack of a better term) when I am "under the influence" (in this case, it was marijuana). Everything seemed more vibrant and appealing. So, I can only guess what subliminal components I miss when I am exposed to them now (when not “under the influence”).

I don't watch TV any more but I have never seen any kind of advertising that made me think I should go out and buy that product.
Some might be amusing or silly but it seems like more of some kind of contest to see who can come up with the funniest commercial, and I don't even think of the product they're selling.
Also it kind of creeps me out to see all those smiling faces showing a lot of teeth that I see in a lot of advertising.

I try never allow myself to be taken in by clever marketing to the point of obsessing over finding reviews on everything before buying it. On a subconscious level though, I probably repeat buy the some products just because they're on TV.

Also, the only time I ever bought an ipod it kept losing charge every time it was turned off. I thought it because I was leaving it unlocked that the charge ran out. It turned out it was a common manufacture error. I'm pretty sure if it had have been a samsung player or something I would have looked online for a fault but as its an apple product with their overblown reputation I never considered it.

Nope, not really at all.

I like what I like and don't care what others like. I buy what I need. My savings and investment goals are more important than consumerism for the sake of consumption.

Also, I have a business school education and can see right through their ads and tactics. I sometimes appreciate clever ads and often analyze them for their effectiveness, or lack of. But that's about it.. TV ads don't make me want to buy stuff I don't need.

Definitely and very annoying- many don't make sense.

If the advertising is really effective you won't know you were influenced. This is intentional and creates large profits.

You are being vigilant about not being swayed to buy things you don't need. But that's not the only way ads work. Many things you do need are made by assorted companies. When you buy something you need (such as toilet paper or batteries) you must decide between many products. That's where the ads sneak in under your radar. You are vigilant not to buy things you don't need but how do you know you didn't buy X toilet paper instead of Y toilet paper because of an ad you don't even remember?

I am also repulsed by it. The ageism, the sexism, all the isms, the banality of it, the sometimes yelling voiceovers, the false promises, the puffery of claims, the materialism of it, the manipulative nature of its constuction, the "because you're worth it" crap, (you are worth increased profits for them and nothing else), and the advertising for pharmaceutical drugs is sickening...(New Zealand and the USA particularly allow this, most countries don't) the claims and presentations are too childish to have much subconscious impact on me. Mostly I just mute them on tv and read until the program continues. If I want something I will buy it; the dollars they spend is wasted on me, I am a "conscious resistor" - and I avoid the brands that are advertised on tv and purposely buy from a non-offensive competitor. Take that banal advertisors!

I sympathize with you 100%. I want to avoid the products I see in commercials that use these tactics.
Also, to answer your question, not really. I probably would be if I spent money on things or ate those foods. I usually eat whole foods, which aren't advertised. I don't spend money because I still live with my parents and steal most things I need, and I hoard money.

L'Oreal, because you're worth it.
I noticed that walmart has endcaps that start talking to you when you walk by. Next they will be reaching out and grabbing you.

I don't get advertizing. I don't even know what's being advertized half the time.