Saturday, November 19, 2005

Not Quite A Rhodent Rant



This is not quite a rant. I am not angry, just rather annoyed... perhaps a bit perplexed. The newer versions of the drug commercials on TV have really been getting on my nerves.

It used to be that they would advertise some new drug and claim that it cures everything but housemaid's knee. If you want to cure housemaid's knee, you will need to try their non-drowsy formula with the stomach-protecting coating. Then there was the routine of "don't forget to ask your doctor about..." where the purpose of the drug is not revealed. The viewer is left wondering what on earth the drug is supposed to fix because they never say for what purpose it is to be prescribed! Sure, you are going to go to your doctor and tell him/her that you need this drug even though you have no idea what it does! I guess you are supposed to go to your doctor and ask him what it does. He probably doesn't know yet either! More recently a drug would be mentioned with all of the usual claims, and then at the end of the commercial some man would report the negative side effects at a speed so fast that no one could understand him... well maybe an auctioneer could figure some of it out.

Now we have the newest form of the drug commercials... The drug is introduced to the viewer by a pleasing voice with wonderful scenery and very good looking people. Then at the end of the commercial a very friendly female voice recites the entire list of bad side effects in such a way that if you are only half listening, you would think that these were good things to experience... Like, isn't it wonderful that you could experience shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, heart attack, or even (if you are lucky) death! And if you are listening closely, you have to ask yourself why these are considered good things, because clearly, the female voice seems to indicate they are desirable! What idiocy!

Ok. I'm done.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...
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Rachel said...

I hate commercials anyway and usually hit the mute button immediately!

I have noticed those commercials lately though like you ranted about! They do one for Cialis and it irks me to no end that they tell all the side effects including one that says, "if you experience an erection for more than-- I forget how long -- to see your doctor immediately." Good grief. I can just hear some little kid asking their Mommy what that means!

Happy and Blue 2 said...

Darn those good looking women and their pleasing voices..

Ron Southern said...

You are quite right. It is demonic that those commercials are allowed.

Cliff said...

Discontinue use if you may become pregnant, are going bald, or grow and extra appendage.

Alisa said...

you beat me to it! I was going to do a rant about this junk on tv. I wonder if there has been a significant increase in hypochondria witnessed by Dr's nationwide? I can self-diagnose myself all night thanks to the commercials.