The "Persuaders" Was Quite Persuading

What I learned from, "The Persuaders."

1. Almost all products are alike now. Many of them do a good job. Advertisers don't sell product based on the qualities of the product, but how we feel about it. This seems to pull at our emotions. I love the comment that successful ads don't persuade you to buy something, but get you to persuade yourself to buy it.

2. Brands that are good at marketing are ingrained in us. We attach certain feelings to them. When we buy the product we expect that feeling. I have felt it, but then I am usually disappointed after using the product. How long will people buy products and be continually disappointed? Will advertisers have to keep pushing us with new products and stronger emotions?

3. Acxion, the Big Brother of Advertising. I didn't realize people tracked my purchases. I use my debit card for almost all purchases. I think I will start using cash.

4. The use of words in political campaigns was interesting and a little scary. Luntz claimed that he was just changing the words that are used, but different words have different meanings and carry different emotions. By changing the words politicians use, they are attempting to make an apathetic public. This is dangerous. The public should be the ultimate checks and balances of our government. If we allow politicians to continually pull the wool over our eyes with their engineered wording, we may allow (or have allowed) them to do what is not in our or the country's best interest. They may also find issues to distract us from the real issues, such as knowing the debate around the Georgia state flag would create controversy and motivate voters.

5. We have become an advertising culture. Our culture is full of advertising, "clutter." Where are they going to go now? I thought the comment about how in a society that is full of advertising, people don't see the common good, only what is good for themselves (or their demographic). This is scary. My children will grow up in an age when advertisers are bombarding them with messages that focus on their wants by using their emotions. Scary.