Stef/Forum Members

Here's the next song for discussion. Took me a long time to decide on the song and the topic question. Its from the album "Let It Rain". The question was inspired by comments Tracy made regarding her song "Hard Wired". She said that sometimes companies try to sell us things "things" that we don't need, try to convince us that we can't live without their products. She remembers when we BOUGHT and they SOLD ONLY, what was useful, what we NEEDED, like toothbrushes, hammers, etc. You get the idea.

So having said all that, here's the question:

Have you ever purchased anything after seeing commercial or ad for it. even though you did not need it? Do those ads make you buy things you really don't need or want? Don't haveto say what it was you purchased unless you want to.

It is obvious from lyrics of song Tracy dislikes this kind of mass marketing and advertising to consumers.

Actually, no, I've never done this. Fortunately, I don't follow the crowd, and I detest consumerism and materialism, so I've never bought anything that was useless just because I saw it on television. A lot of people try to keep up with the Joneses, and the companies tap into that by getting celebrities to endorse their products.

Ah I have been studying this in University as I study Design. It's a really interesting song and topic.

There is a brilliant book, "Decoding Advertisements" by Judith Williamson which breaks down advertisements into the way it trys to sell something to you.

I was much more suseptable to it all as a child than I am now.

@stef, I will try and find the book you mentioned at my local library. It should make for interesting reading. And btw the things, I was influenced to buy, designer sunglasses, which I hardly ever wear and a large screen tv. I can be so guillible sometimes. I admit it.