Relative Something

For all the lambasting I do about commercials and advertisements, I remember way too many of them. I guess it is logical. Instead of simply ignoring them, I allow myself to notice them and become annoyed. Then I end up finding the tag lines stuck in my head for the rest of my life.

I suppose the fact that I also am all-too-willing to brag up the few specific ads that I find clever or funny, may contribute to my affliction of “commercial memory” syndrome.

I am afraid that this is a classic case of me not practicing what I preach. I proclaim that the majority of advertising doesn’t deserve our attention. But, then I end up allowing the ads to catch my attention and take me prisoner. It is not something I am proud to admit.

Some of the memorable lines are understandable, for the almost universal attention they garnered:

“Only YOU can prevent forest fires.”

“Where’s the BEEF?”

“A little dab ‘ll do ya!”

“Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is!”

“Mikey will eat it!”

Why do I also still remember the following lines?:

“Think about it, won’t you?”

“There’s no whipped cream on mine!”

“Haveyougotthe microwave workin’ yet?”

I don’t remember what products these lines were meant to sell, but I still find myself reciting them at various odd times, in informal social settings. It is like having an odd ‘tick’. Only my peers seem to recognize the true origin. Anyone too young to have heard the original commercials must wonder what the heck I mean, as they try to interpret a literal meaning from the phrases.

I guess that could explain the looks I frequently get from them in response to my ramblings.