Vanity: Several Disturbing Things I've Noticed About Television

N/A | N/A | Myself

[handk]

Promoting a Culture of Death

I've noticed, over the past year or two, that numerous fictional dramas, especially cop/crime shows, use one of the following words, as the last word you hear, just before going to the commercials: dead, death, killed, killer, murder, murdered; basically any word related to death. And it's not limited to crime dramas. I've seen it done in sitcoms, comedic romantic movies; the phenomenon is across the board.

It is so prevelant that there is no way it is coincidental. As the saying goes; "Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, and three times is enemy action."

Just one hour ago I was watching the opening scene of "an all new episode" of "CSI: NY", of which opening scene ended with Gary Sinese saying, as his last word; "Death"; then a commercial break.

Counter-Programming Against Christianity

I've also noticed, when I read the TV listings on Sundays, a plethora of Satanic-oriented movies. Not on Monday through Saturday, but specifically, and pointedly, on Sunday. Coincidence? I don't think so. Check it out for yourself next Sunday.

Hidden References to "666" in Commercials

There used to be a CapitalOne commercial that showed three chimps sitting at a long table, and behind the chimps were three wall clocks; each showing the time of six o'clock straight up. 666.

Then there was the McDonald's commercial about their "meal deal" for $2.22. The numbers 2.22 appear in the commercial three times; 222 times three equals 666.

Here's the deal, according to one web site writer, these advertisers are of the opinion that if they incorporate Satanic symbolism, i.e., "666", into their TV commercials, their business endeavors will prosper.

What's With All the Prescription Drug Commercials?"

When did this crap start? 1999? 2000?

What the hell is going on? It seems like four out of five TV commercials are about prescription drugs, "just ask your doctor about" [them]; with really scary and creepy side effects.

Off the top of my head, here's my cumulative memory of the side effects of the "TV Drugs": heart attack, brain tumor, ovarian tumor, explosive diarhhea, diabetes, liver failure, blindness, seizures, colon cancer, naseau, bloating, gas, nervous disorder, hair loss, hearing loss, etc., ad nasuem; and oh, my favorite, "an urgent and frequent need to have an 'explosive bowel movement', and a complete inability to control it".

Yeah, "sign me up" for that drug.

[kenth]

It's not called the culture of death for nothin'.

[BullDog108]

Kill your TV.

[papertyger]

"Long live the new flesh"

;^>

[Caesar Soze]

I do not think killing it will be enough. An exorcism is recommended. Box it up and ship it to the Vatican.

[carumba]

Blowgun soup, named for its side effects, was mentioned in a novel I read about POWs held by the Japanese in WWII.

[jordan8]

I saw an ad for "Guys Gone Wild" videos tonight. That was truly disturbing.

[pcottraux]

There used to be a CapitalOne commercial that showed three chimps sitting at a long table, and behind the chimps were three wall clocks; each showing the time of six o'clock straight up. 666.

Then there was the McDonald's commercial about their "meal deal" for $2.22. The numbers 2.22 appear in the commercial three times; 222 times three equals 666.

Here's the deal, according to one web site writer, these advertisers are of the opinion that if they incorporate Satanic symbolism, i.e., "666", into their TV commercials, their business endeavors will prosper.

Perhaps it's time to leave the house and get a little sunshine?

[Keith in Iowa]

Put all your TV's by the curb.

[TomGuy]

Prescription drug commercials have bugged me for ages, since the consumer can't go in an purchase them themselves. Their single purpose is to cause the patient to pressure the doctor into prescribing the particular drug.

[antaresequity]

One of the most disturbing things you should have noticed is that the white male is constantly cast as the incompetent or ignorant character in commercials...

Its either a women, child, black, or other minority that is cast as the 'know it all', or 'good guy'...

The white guy is the stupid schlep...

I am really sick and tired of it...

The attacks in todays commercials against white American males is relentless and egregious...

I AM SICK AND DAMN TIRED OF IT!

[bannedfromdu]

I think he's got his tin foil hat on a little too tight.

[ReignOfError]

Perhaps it's time to leave the house and get a little sunshine?

Taking the tinfoil off all the windows would at least be a start.

[c-b 1]

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain, just move along, there is nothing there.

I quit watching TV in 1993, when I am somewhere where there is one on, what I see, makes my jaw hit the floor, especially the drug commercials.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

Agreed.

Get some fresh air, smell the roses, go for walkies, etc.

Perhaps get a pet.

[Salman]

Taking them one at a time:

Promoting a Culture of Death
Probably not deliberate. A psychological artefact of a genuine fascination with death. Still not healthy.

Counter-Programming Against Christianity
Your point. This is clearly deliberate.

Hidden References to "666" in Commercials
Add the numbers from 1 to 36. Woowoowoo!

What's With All the Prescription Drug Commercials?"
Your point.

Conclusion: Do like me and don't have a television.

[newzjunkey]

I haven't laughed for two weeks but your comment about drug advertising brought a chuckle. They're truly incredible.

You can thank your Republican Congress and perhaps Sen. Hatch specifically for their prevalence.

I watch some Olympics coverage with the neighbors but I'm off TV for the time being. I really don't miss it. If anything, the advertising drumbeat drove me from enjoying it.

[Captainpaintball]

Here's another one: In the commercials for the new ABC comedy Sons and Daughters there is footage of them cutting a tree or something...I don't remember exactly... And the screen cuts to a graphic of marijuana leaves blowing around against a black background! Does the episode have something to do with "weed"? Or is someone trying to be subversive?

[newzjunkey]

One of the most disturbing things you should have noticed is that the white male is constantly cast as the incompetent or ignorant character

I noticed this about ten years ago. I think the 'white male' is the only group you're allowed to mock.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Then there was the McDonald's commercial about their "meal deal" for $2.22. The numbers 2.22 appear in the commercial three times; 222 times three equals 666.

I think I'll go out and order me 3 Big Macs!

3 x $2.22 = $6.66

With tax, I'm off the hook.

[brivette]

Amen.

[pcottraux]

No counter argument or position, just "off-the-shelf" rhetoric. "Tin foil hat"; ooooh, how original. Friggin' morons.

Funny. That's exactly what I see in post #20:

The two of you are simpletons. Intellectual midgets.

Arriving at an awful quick judgement of me, aren't you? Especially since I only made one quick post.

BTW, I never brought up anything about "tin foil hats." Perhaps you are confusing me with someone else?

There is a noticeable and prevalent phenomenom of death-related words being positioned in TV shows as the last word just before going to commercial break. It's a fact.

Another fact: I don't disagree with you. I was merely responding to your observations of "666" being discretely hidden throughout commercial advertisements. That just sounds a bit...over-the-top and strange.

Wow, I'm so very, very humiliated and shamed.

Now why on Earth would I actually be TRYING to humiliate and shame anyone?

[pcottraux]

Careful. Don't push handk's buttons too much, or you'll get the smack down.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

Wow.

You've really got your knickers in some twist.

Except for ONE CSI:NY episode, you have yet to give any other example or proof of your death claim (not that I really care about your theory, I'm just easily entertained by twisted knickers).

Besides, Gary Sinise is a very good man and does a LOT to support our troops. Don't dump on him.

[ferri]

i agree with some of these people handk, you should ditch the tv. that's what i have done, and i don't miss the yacking, screaming, noisy thing a bit! :)

[handk]

I'm with you man. The "stupid dumb white male" thing on commercials. And not just TV commercials, but radio commercials as well.

I too, am sick and friggin's fed up with it.

I think it could be reasonably stated that 99.99% of all the inventions and innovations of the last 150 years, were invented by men, not by women.

Yet, in practically every broadcast commercial, men (and especially caucasian north American men), are depicted as stupid, bumbling, idiotic buffons.

Here's the deal: if it weren't for men, inventing and progressing scoiety and civilzation, women would still be living in caves; because women don't invent anything!

[Junior_G]

Here's the deal: if it weren't for men, inventing and progressing scoiety and civilzation, women would still be living in caves; because women don't invent anything!

Hey, your wife just asked me to tell you to shut up.

[Keith in Iowa]

The fact is, I am right in my observations. There is a noticeable and prevalent phenomenom of death-related words being positioned in TV shows as the last word just before going to commercial break. It's a fact.

No, it's not a fact until you back it up with specific citations of scripts. Until then, it is just your observation and your opinion. Just because you say something does not make it a fact.

ps: What's a phenomenom?

[The Worthless Miracle]

I see your point but you can drop the whole "666" nonsense - that's been translated and re-translated and interpreted so many different ways, it's just superstition now, akin to snake handling. It's okay to see the Bible in perspective, you know.

[Larry Lucido]

With tax, I'm off the hook.

D'oh! They forgot about the tax!

Now, when I worked in fast food, there was little discussion in manager meetings about increasing profits by appealing to the dark side. Now I'm not so sure.

[beaver fever]

So the university professor decked out in a lab coat with three students nodding in agreement about the virtues of a cough medicine and pointing at a chart in front of a blackboard with vague scientific symbols strikes you as suspicious.

You are soooooooo cynical TomGuy.

[Rumple4]

Re. the TV thing, do what everybody else has already done, stop watching. Get Netflix.

[Old Sarge]

Dogpile is a remarkable tool, which allowed me to find A fascinating page on female inventors

[Howlin]

LOL!

[Larry Lucido]

Does your TV have one of these?

And before you get on my case, no, you don't need a PhD in philosophy or electrical engineering to figure how to turn the f'ing thing off. Now go to bed, it's 3:16 am.

[Hexenhammer]

Speaking of drug commercials, do they remind anyone else of that old Saturday Night Live sketch for a toy called the "Super Happy Fun Ball"? It was an ad that included a rather lengthy and dubious series of warnings.

Discontinue use of Happy Fun Ball if any of the following occurs: Itching, Vertigo, Dizziness, Tingling in extremities, Loss of balance or coordination, Slurred speech,Temporary Blindness, Profuse sweating, Heart Palpitations.

[Junior_G]

LOL-----that was a stellar rant.

[Dallas59]

Even more disturbing was the "Girls Gone Wild" commercial. It came on at 3:00am on Channel 31...I was asleep.

[hosepipe]

THERE YA GO.. TV WILL MAKE YOU IGNERT..

[BluesDuke]

Off the top of my head, here's my cumulative memory of the side effects of the "TV Drugs": heart attack, brain tumor, ovarian tumor, explosive diarhhea, diabetes, liver failure, blindness, seizures, colon cancer, naseau, bloating, gas, nervous disorder, hair loss, hearing loss, etc., ad nasuem; and oh, my favorite, "an urgent and frequent need to have an 'explosive bowel movement', and a complete inability to control it".

So you are one of the writers for Gray's Anatomy.

;)

[beaver fever]

You got it started Junior_G and good on you for that.

[Bender2]

Hey, nothing personal... Just drumming up a little business...

The times change, but The New York Slimes just stays the same...

[Minutemen]

What's With All the Prescription Drug Commercials?
Don't worry about all those side-effects, they got a pill to care of them too!

[durasell]

You watch waaay too much tv.

[TChad]

The white guy is the stupid schlep...

I recently saw a TV commercial (sorry, can't recall the product) in which a black female was actually cast as the idiot. I couldn't believe my eyes. This must have been done for its shock value.

[Bubbatuck]

I think you're reading far too much into things.

Yes, it's logical that a scene would end at the point at which somebody points out that someone has died or was murdered - that's just the way drama is presented.

The 666? You saw one example and you think it's something. You're looking for the example and you found one. Not representative.

Finally, your whole premise is wrong. The "culture of death" is not about a concerted, directed effort. It's about decline.

[beaver fever]

As Elvis used to say. "Thank ya verah much. You're a beautiful audience. Thank ya verah much. And my pappy in Graceland thanks ya verah much."

Ladies and Gentlemen Elvis has left the building!!!!!!!!!

[martin_fierro]

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