I just read a fascinating article on aol.com -- I think AP generated it. The article explains that parent groups and some members of Congress object to all the erectile dysfunction ads during football games -- I should say ads for products that cure or alleviate, I'm not quite sure of the verb, erectile dysfunction.
Some parents believe these ads are not appropriate for all the kids watching the games. When I was a young man I would have said these folks who are anti ED ads are all wet. I live in Northern California and there is, or used to be, an anything goes mentality.
Now I am a mostly grown up man with children and I don't feel anything goes anymore. I must admit, as prudish as it sounds, parents have every reason and right to feel uncomfortable with these ads -- which also abound on baseball tv broadcasts.
I mean, you're sitting there with your kid and all of a sudden this older couple gets the urge and runs into the condo and closes the curtain for whoopie time and a voice comes on and says if you have an erection for more than four hours seek a doctor's help.
Good grief. Soon I'm going to be a grandfather and I can just imagine explaining to the little guy -- it will be a little guy, I've been told -- what's the problem with a four hour erection.
I also think parents are allowed to protest what they don't think is good for kids and this extends to what networks put on TV. One Congressman introduced a bill that these ads could run only between 10 pm and 6 am. It will never pass but it's a good idea.
I'm not so wild about beer ads either. They show drinking beer is cool and gets guys lots of chicks, although I remember back in college puking my guts out after one all nighter. That wasn't much fun.
I know I sound like an old fuddy duddy. I am and I'm proud of it. When I was younger I would not have argued for standards and restraint. Now I argue for them. I shout out loud.
Hi Lowell
I agree with you but what took you so long? These adds have been out for years.
Agreed, it is about the kids. They grow up to fast as it is.
Going after a target audience makes good business sense
I guess. There have been some interesting "ED" spokesman-----bob dole, raphael palmeiro---I always
wondered, how much do these guys get paid to endorse
that product?
This is one of the most profitable lines of business
for big drug companies, since the large majority of
prescriptions are paid for in cash, not insurance discounted rates. I do not see them going away anytime
soon.
gary
Mr. Cohn,
Thanks a lot. My 13 year old sports loving grandson reads your blogs daily, and now he wants to know what a 4-hour erection is.
Just kiddin. ;-) I'm not a grandfather, yet. But my point is I'm sure kids (young teens) read your blog from time to time, and even if they haven't seen the commercials, there are so many different forms of media out there that it is really difficult to keep everything from them. Please don't think I'm preaching...just making a point.
My kids (22 & 17) just roll our eyes at the commercials. I'm lucky they are older. My wife and I are amazed at how many phallus symbols they can put into a 30-second ad. Just be glad that many youngsters don't understand those. (aw heck, they probably do).
I'm with you and I, too, never thought I would be. I've got two boys, ages 9 and 5, who love to watch baseball. I talk to them about the ads and about how advertisers try to manipulate you, but I know that it still has an effect on them. My older son was asked to give an example of a proper noun in his third grade class last year and correctly proclaimed, "Coors Light." I was so proud.
I'm more offended by the profits the drug companies make than the commercials. Since they've been on for years, it's nothing new. Remember the guy throwing the football through the tire swing in the backyard?
Is the Just For Men commercial with the daughter telling her dad to die his hair so he can get a job more or less offensive than Emmitt Smith catching a cheerleader in his arms because he dyed his beard?
And how much beer can you stand?
But if you want to be offended, listen to the commercials on sports talk shows on radio. The same voices that were offering balloon mortgages eighteen months ago are now pitching bankruptcy and debt-payment services. Plus all the sex pills, although these are "herbal" remedies, which means that they don't even work.
I dunno. Hearing Rush Limbaugh call for segregated buses just used up my outrage for the week.
So I completely agree with the comments. I am left wondering from a business perspective what the alternative is? Obviously when the little blue pill hit the market it was shocking (to say the least), to see the commercials on TV. I remember thinking when Bob Dole hit the airwaves that no amount of money would have me sign up for that commericial if I was Bob Dole.
Now I'm kind of used to it, but when my kids were younger I hated when those commericals came on. I am happy to say they were not damaged by them and if fact laugh at them now. I guess I am more offended by commericals talking about "male enhancement". I just love watching TV with my daughter when "those" commericals come on. I don't think I will ever get used to it. It's just awkward.