Bonfire of the Brands

sourdough

Generally, I am against brands. I don't wear anything with a visible logo on it because I don't like to advertise for free and I generally feel contempt to most large brands anyways. However, that said, I do subscribe to certain brands simply because A) It is a local or responsible company (Ie. MEC), or because I simply cannot afford to experiment with quality issues for more expensive purchases.

surferdude

My way to try to beat the advertising trap is to leave my two current biggest wants unfulfilled even though I can afford them. Because I know as soon as I give into those two wants two more will just spring up in their place.

It also helps me focus on just how firtunate I am, and to enjoy what I have and appreciate it. I know I'm not getting that new guitar or mountain bike, so I have no choice but to focus on what I have.

It also helps in teaching my son about the big picture. He tells me based on the amount of riding I do and how much I love it that I should have a new and better bike. Then I get to tell him "No, people should not be going to bed hungry or dieing from a lack of potable water. Millions of kids in Africa should not be orphans due to Aids. I want a bike and it's going to stay a want until my current bike breaks and it becomes a need."

Even though it's hard not to dream of having all my wants, I also know I'm happier leaving them as wants. It's just not a path that leads to personal fulfillment for me.

VictoryGin

RainDog wrote:

Oh, and I'd also like to add:

TO HELL WITH ALL THE CAPER HATE! CAPERS RULE OVER ALL Y'ALL AND YOU KNOW IT!!

Now I'm hungry. Perhaps a little lox and cream cheese topped with some capers will hit the spot.

Capers also make a fine addition to some pastas.

I can understand how they could make someone hate them if not used in moderation, though.

VictoryGin

surferdude wrote:

My way to try to beat the advertising trap is to leave my two current biggest wants unfulfilled even though I can afford them. Because I know as soon as I give into those two wants two more will just spring up in their place.

Do you want them because of the advertising or because you can really use them? Can one determine that?

The branding issue is difficult to deal with because it's just everywhere! I try not to advertise on myself (though I do for bands), but other than that I try to avoid visible labels. I get a lot of clothing locally, and am going to learn how to make my own. But I can't avoid branding in other things I buy, like Apple products or certain beverages (hello, Stoli!) or food. But I choose what I think is quality. I fricken love Apple, not because of their ads (though they're sometimes funny), but because I've had my puter for years and never had a problem. Never had a problem with any Apple product I've purchased, actually. I don't know, I guess I try not to align myself with too much, but there are some that I'm kind of loyal to.

I think the one thing I'd actually whore myself for in a commercial is jetBlue. I want to fly nothing but jetBlue (please open in Chicago, a-holes!).

Cosmo

Ever see those old Hockey Stanley Cup games they show as repeats on ESPN2? Notice the boards whose only markings are the scuff from skate boots and sticks and pucks... and blood from players? The Ice had blue and red lines and circles and a small picture of the Stanley Cup at center ice... maybe the name of the arena or the team logo... but, that was it.
Look at the ice now... what do you see? Have your tickets gotten cheaper? They were supposed to. That was the trade off... advertisements in exchange for cheaper tickets. (The same thing was supposed to happen with concerts, once corporate sponsorship of them stepped in). We were supposed to get cheaper tickets... how are the tickect prices in your hometown Hockey Rink?

sourdough

Cosmo wrote:

Ever see those old Hockey Stanley Cup games they show as repeats on ESPN2? Notice the boards whose only markings are the scuff from skate boots and sticks and pucks... and blood from players? The Ice had blue and red lines and circles and a small picture of the Stanley Cup at center ice... maybe the name of the arena or the team logo... but, that was it.
Look at the ice now... what do you see? Have your tickets gotten cheaper? They were supposed to. That was the trade off... advertisements in exchange for cheaper tickets. (The same thing was supposed to happen with concerts, once corporate sponsorship of them stepped in). We were supposed to get cheaper tickets... how are the tickect prices in your hometown Hockey Rink?

What I don't understand is now it seems impossible to build a building such as an arena etc without having a big name sponsor which the building will be named after. How did they do this 20 years ago before adverts went crazy? Boards were free of adverts, buildings had names that had to do with the city-not a corp, and every replay wasn't sponsored by X brand. I miss those days and I'm sure its not going to be long before there is adverts on jerseys and uniforms ala European teams.

surferdude

VictoryGin wrote:

Do you want them because of the advertising or because you can really use them? Can one determine that?

The branding issue is difficult to deal with because it's just everywhere! I try not to advertise on myself (though I do for bands), but other than that I try to avoid visible labels. I get a lot of clothing locally, and am going to learn how to make my own. But I can't avoid branding in other things I buy, like Apple products or certain beverages (hello, Stoli!) or food. But I choose what I think is quality. I fricken love Apple, not because of their ads (though they're sometimes funny), but because I've had my puter for years and never had a problem. Never had a problem with any Apple product I've purchased, actually. I don't know, I guess I try not to align myself with too much, but there are some that I'm kind of loyal to.

I think the one thing I'd actually whore myself for in a commercial is jetBlue. I want to fly nothing but jetBlue (please open in Chicago, a-holes!).

I would use both everyday but I also currently have a bike and a couple guitars that are used everyday. Conspicuous consumption I think is tied hand in hand with branding. I hate conspicuous consumption. I admit I am a brand pig if I think the brand delivers good quality.

Then there are those things I have no brand loyalty to. Food I'm picky about because I care what goes into me. Booze I'm picky about, I drink for quality now not quantity, so I really want to enjoy each sip. Clothes I don't really care at all, 95% I get at work for free. Car, don't care just give me good gas mileage. I am a sucker for travelling and 2/3 of my carbon imprint is due to travel by plane. I pretty much only fly one airline in order to make point accumulation quicker and easier.

Spunkie

Maybe you could donate your brand items to Big Brother's or The Salvation Army.

Purple Hawk

hippiemom wrote:

If it's true that most people are able to disregard advertising messages, please explain Budweiser. It's not the cheapest, it's certainly not the best, but they sell more of the stuff than any other beer. How does that make any sense?

It's not a question of intelligence, it's a matter of being bombarded with labels and logos and jingles and other advertising messages all day long. If it didn't work, it wouldn't be a multi-billion dollar industry.

Budweiser's advertisement is more about market share. Their main competitors are Coor's light and Miller. They are of about the same quality. But like someone else said, everyone has different tastes. But the thing is, people are drinking beer. It just so happens that people like to get drunk, so they drink cheap beer that is relatively tolerable (i.e. Budweiser). But if they don't advertise, people don't know about them compared to Coor's and Miller.

To me, it IS a matter of intelligence and personal responsibility. Personally, I think it's degrading to think that people sit at home, and are forced to buy certain brands because they are "bombarded" by ads and jingles. Actually, if you ARE motivated to react in such a way, you aren't smart, or have absolutely no self-control, or a little of column A or a little of column B.

As far as them being a multi-billion dollar industry - they offer a product that a lot of people want in mass quantities at a reasonable price and at a somewhat reasonable quality. Why shouldn't they make billions of dollars?

keeponrockin

Well, I'm 15, and here's what I see.

I used to be really into brands, everything had to have a brand name on it. Now, the only brand I really swear by is Levi 501 Jeans. They're just more comfy. There are definitley the name brand sluts at my school. Most of the time, I wear band shirts. I think, as sad as it is, most groups have their certain brand or image type thing, that everyone confirms too. I'll have to see this year, but all the skater kids are wearing the same thing, the wiggers, etc.....

orgirl

Well this advertising is just driving me nuts. There is one thing in particular. At Albertsons, now there are big televisions above the produce section and tvs at each checkstand. I mean it's not enough to have music they have a tv blaring too. This makes me so mad and I refuse to shop there now.