(no subject)

[graculus]

Watching tv last night, I was amused by the ads where suggested gifts are being touted for the impending feast of commercialisation known fondly to card manufactures, confectioners and florists everywhere as MoneyMakers Valentines Day. Obviously these are all directed at guys, because it seems that the ad makers think guys need prompting to actually purchase something culturally acceptable rather than buying something spontaneous that the woman in their life might actually like.

My personal favourite so far: ads for the 2-cd greatest hits of Mariah Carey (which seems to consist of corny cover versions, as far as I can tell)! Yes, this will do wonders for your relationship, I'm sure... ;)

Comments

[innocent-lex.livejournal.com]

It's the overwhelming pinkness of the day that gets me. I don't need lots of pink stuff - it doesn't go with my decor.

But there's also the idea being reinforced that there should be a day a year set aside for romance. Is that it, then? Tick in the box and we're all done until next year? That's just sad.

[graculus.livejournal.com]

It's very 'do your duty', isn't it? I'd rather get something spontaneous (that I actually wanted, though chocolate is always good!) on some other day than receive something prodded by this culturally-conditioned guilt response...

[innocent-lex.livejournal.com]

It really is guilt-powered drivel, IMO. If my partner wants to give me something on any day of the year, then fine. It will have been prompted by one of those 'I saw this and thought of you' moments that we all have. But when I have to start hunting for things in the supermarket because the normal locations have been moved (or removed) to make space for extwa-speshul cooey valentine nonsense? Colour me unimpressed.

[khek.livejournal.com]

Isn't it awful?

Over here, every other commercial seems to be for a jeweler, because apparently *everyone* needs to prove their love with a diamond. The worst one (imo) starts with a little girl and someone who's probably supposed to be college age but looks in her mid-30s making cards or something. The little girl says "I know a secret" and the supposedly-teenage-woman says "I do too!" and practically goes into an orgasm at the thought that her boyfriend (who is supposed to be the little girl's big brother, I think. Unless she calls her father by his first name) loves her. Then he saunters over to the table with a diamond necklace, the little girl smirks knowingly as the woman rapturizes and we get the "Every kiss begins with K" jingle, which is true but has nothing to do with diamonds. (Except that the company in question is Kay Jewelers)

And at work, I'll have to deal with an excess of hyperactive kids with sugar-shock and the mopy aftermath of kids not getting valentines from the people they wanted to.

All because card companies, jewelers and florists want that extra buck.

[graculus.livejournal.com]

I don't know if it's worse this year - I tend not to watch tv that has ads by choice, preferring to video stuff and then watch it later, fast forwarding past all that stuff... ;)

[khek.livejournal.com]

I only watch "live" TV for the news, about half of Letterman, Stargate and NCIS. And I feel inundated. But maybe those are times that diamond sellers target?

[amycooper.livejournal.com]

Don't even get me started on the diamond commerials.