PDA

View Full Version : 10 Disturbing Trends in Subliminal Advertising



Hardrock69
05-23-2007, 09:00 AM
Subliminal advertising has gone mainstream - fake news, mind control scripts, propaganda and stealth voicemail are in wide use by corporations, government bodies and industry groups.

By Martin Howard
Source: HowTheyChangeYourMind.com

Some of the biggest advertisers are taking their advertising away from full page ads and television spots and spending up on hidden persuasion. You won't find these secret messages in ice-cubes or flickering film footage like they were in the sixties. Subliminal advertising has gone mainstream - fake news, mind control scripts, propaganda and stealth voicemail are in wide use by corporations, government bodies, and industry groups. Have you spotted any of these?

1. Point of Sale Mind Control Scripts
Clothing store staff and car salesmen use them to close the deal - carefully planned questions and subverbal cues to get you to sign. If you’ve ever walked out of a store, after spending twice as much as you wanted to, chances are you’ve fallen victim to one of these scripts. The GAPACT is used by Gap staff to upsell you. Other salesmen use word techniques to make you buy, even when you don’t have the money - because they make more by selling you 'easy' finance. When a car salesmen takes you on a test drive and asks you “Is this the type of vehicle you would like to own?”, he is using a subtle mental framing trick - it can create an embarrassing distraction while you drive. The technique is called disassociation - which is the ideal state for mental manipulation.

2. Doctor-Patient Drug Kick-backs
When a doctor recommends a certain heart medication or an antidepressant, chances are he has been paid a cash bonuses and perks by the manufacturer, making it difficult to give objective advice. Some pharmaceutical firms have gone so far as to invent and promote a new syndrome in order to create a market for a new drug! Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) was devised in 1998 and publicised by planting fifty press stories and quizzes such as: “Do you have social anxiety disorder?”. Soon after, Smithkline Beecham released Paxil - the 'cure' for SAD.

3. In-Store Sensory Manipulation
Scientifically tested visual displays, Muzak tapes, and even mind altering scents combine to maximize impulse spending. Specially designed music loops can keep shoppers in the supermarket for 18% longer. One study into use of airborne aromas, pumped into a Canadian mall, resulted in an increase of over $50 per customer that week. In supermarkets, scientifically generated Planograms create the ideal shelf arrangement for certain products, skewing the shopper's eyes towards high value items. Companies pay slotting allowances for favoured placement. Aisle layout are change regularly - which prevents systematic shopping - forcing extra trips past the impulse item displays.

4. Private Conversation Rental
Positive buzz can be triggered artificially for a price. Marketers now recruit secret 'buzz agents' to promote to their friends and family. One buzz agency claims to have an army of agents in every major US city. Their job is to mention or display certain products as they go about their day, using their relationships as marketing channels. Music labels, book sellers, entertainment venues, and fashion outlets are using this method to establish new brands. Today’s billion dollar 12-16 year olds are so immune to traditional advertising, mass media is no longer a reliable persuasive device - so the alternative is a 'synthetic grapevine.’

5. Neuromarketing
Corporations are going to enormous lengths to probe the minds of consumers - literally tapping into their brains. The Brighthouse Institute for Thought Sciences, in Atlanta, is one lab that is scanning people's brains with MRIs, in an effort to decode and record our subconscious thoughts and devise more seductive advertising. The process is being called neuromarketing. They are hoping to determine specific biological triggers that can be used by language engineers to stimulate purchases. This is the hi-tech fulfilment of pioneer psychologists Freud and Jung who established the connection between language and behaviour.

6. Chatbots and Stealth Voicemail
Personal phone messages from businesses or political campaigners can turn up in your morning voicemail, having been delivered late the previous night. Voicemail broadcasters like DialAmerica uses massive computer installations to deliver identical copies of spoken messages to millions of householder simultaneously. On the internet, chat room 'bots' masquerading as personal real buddies are actually distributed simultaneously by powerful computers 24 hours a day. Virtual word-of-mouth communication is replacing other promotional technologies because of its speed and price.

7. Real-time Bugging of Personal Data
Your browser is probably revealing more than you might want: your location, the software and hardware you are using, details of other links you clicked on and your browsing habits. Many third party dataminers use 'cookies' to track your path across the web. Extensive realtime information is processed to target you. Larger databases harvest your personal medical and financial records to be bought and sold by interested companies and government departments. Datamining is a fuzzy science that filters you personal information for links about your personal behaviour and finances. These details are used in turn to create elaborate marketing campaigns to sell you more stuff.

8. Sidewalk Stalkers
The public space of streets, neighborhoods and communities is being mapped and targeted by viral marketers and fake grassroots organizations. In some cases the campaigns are overt but, increasingly, street 'agents' are making unannounced social approaches. Fake tourists flash around the latest camera-phone to passing crowds. 'Product seeders' circulate at sports events to find influential young players to wear their gear. Others wander the street wearing colored corporate tattoos. Personal space is the last frontier for commerce. As citizens attempt to retreat from the deluge of media advertising they can now be stalked when they step out the door.

9. Planted News Stories
Industry front groups, public relations firms and government departments are planting news stories on TV, radio, newspapers and the web. Those 'miracle drug' stories or research reports are often Video News Release (VNRs). TV newsrooms love these prepackaged news items that are distributed across the networks. It saves them time and money but it is killing community news and genuine investigative reporting. Real news items are being replaced by slick corporate promotions and political messages. According to one Nielsen Media Research Survey, about 80 percent of U.S. news directors air VNRs several times a month, and all American television newsrooms now use VNRs in their newscasts.

10. Government Propaganda
When it's time to launch a war or promote an unpopular policy, the government needs special help to sell the idea through the media. Opinion engineers are paid to "manage" public perception of inconvenient facts, and turn them around for better. Using the universal tools fear, patriotism, and phrase repetition, these high flying spin doctors can easily sway the population. The most successful public relations campaigns aim to change public perception without our awareness of the campaign. They are typically launched by governments, institutions and countries who need to change their public image, restore their reputation or manipulate public opinion. There are PR firms today who advise dictatorships, dishonest politicians and corrupt industries to cover up environmental catastrophes and human rights violations.

Martin Howard is a media researcher and author of "We Know What You Want: How They Change Your Mind".

http://www.mindpowernews.com/SubliminalAds.htm

Douglas T.
05-23-2007, 02:15 PM
11. Spammy is good for Van Halen!
When trying to convince people Spam is better than DAVE sheep often use a sales lie to try to destract you from the truth! Don't fall for this! DAVE or the highway!

ThrillsNSpills
05-23-2007, 02:22 PM
http://killermookie.org/images/coke_blow.jpg

Douglas T.
05-23-2007, 02:37 PM
^LOL! Was that in a magazine? Side of a bus?

ThrillsNSpills
05-23-2007, 03:00 PM
Originally posted by Douglas T.
^LOL! Was that in a magazine? Side of a bus?
magazine I think.
Google subliminal ad and images there's a ton.

http://www.artistmike.com/Temp/mouse%26hand.jpg

ThrillsNSpills
05-23-2007, 03:03 PM
http://www.artistmike.com/Temp/GlassUp.jpg
This one got pulled by the phone book after they found out what was going on.

ThrillsNSpills
05-23-2007, 03:05 PM
http://www.artistmike.com/Temp/GlassDown.jpg

Hardrock69
05-23-2007, 04:23 PM
Look closely with a maginifying glass at ANY print ad for alcoholic beverages where there is a glass with ice in it. A common site is a skull, or some other horrifying face.


Here is another site:

http://www.ciadvertising.org/student_account/spring_01/adv391k/hjy/adv382j/1st/application.html

chi-town324
05-23-2007, 04:54 PM
Originally posted by ThrillsNSpills
http://www.artistmike.com/Temp/GlassDown.jpg :D

Ally_Kat
05-23-2007, 05:46 PM
Originally posted by Hardrock69
Some pharmaceutical firms have gone so far as to invent and promote a new syndrome in order to create a market for a new drug! Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) was devised in 1998 and publicised by planting fifty press stories and quizzes such as: “Do you have social anxiety disorder?”. Soon after, Smithkline Beecham released Paxil - the 'cure' for SAD.


Martin Howard, meet Dr. Michael Liebowitz. That's his friend Richard Heimberg standing next to him. You three have a lot to discuss.

Little Texan
05-23-2007, 07:54 PM
Originally posted by Hardrock69
Some pharmaceutical firms have gone so far as to invent and promote a new syndrome in order to create a market for a new drug! Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) was devised in 1998 and publicised by planting fifty press stories and quizzes such as: “Do you have social anxiety disorder?”. Soon after, Smithkline Beecham released Paxil - the 'cure' for SAD.



I know that's the truth! The moment I seen that commercial for "Restless Legs Syndrome" I said that's bullshit, there's no such thing, they made that shit up! I seen another one a while back for some female disorder that sounded made up.

Seshmeister
05-23-2007, 08:20 PM
Originally posted by Hardrock69
Look closely with a maginifying glass at ANY print ad for alcoholic beverages where there is a glass with ice in it. A common site is a skull, or some other horrifying face.


Here is another site:

http://www.ciadvertising.org/student_account/spring_01/adv391k/hjy/adv382j/1st/application.html

Why would that make you buy it?

Also the dick on packs of Camels is a very old one. I remember a pal bringing me back 20 packs from the US back in the 80s as a thankyou for me faking a 21 ID for him.

Anyhoo even as a poor student I gave them all away because camels taste like shit!:)

Around the same time someone pointed out to me that Marlboro packs had KKK all over them. A lot of this is just dumb cuntspiracy shit.

I do like the flooring advert though...:)

FORD
05-24-2007, 04:40 AM
Interesting rumor about the marlboros. Never heard that one before. More on that at Snopes...

http://www.snopes.com/business/alliance/marlboro.asp

As for the Camels...... There really was some weird shit going on in those packs. Back in the early 90's, some of my gay friends were referring to Camels as "fag smokes" and it wasn't a reference to the British usage of the word "fag" or the cartoon character of Joe Camel with the cock & balls on his face. This was in the actual outline of the Camel seen on the package itself which appeared to be one guy bent over another.

Oddly enough, Snopes covers this one as well, but they claim the hidden guy is in the front legs of the camel, not the back.....

http://www.snopes.com/business/hidden/camel.asp

Either way, it seems a weird thing to use in marketing a product that was once considered "macho".

BigBadBrian
05-24-2007, 08:54 AM
Originally posted by Little Texan
I know that's the truth! The moment I seen that commercial for "Restless Legs Syndrome" I said that's bullshit, there's no such thing, they made that shit up!

Nope.

It is indeed a "real" condition.


Restless Leg Syndrome website (http://www.rls.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?&pid=178&srcid=-2)

http://www.rls.org/NETCOMMUNITY/view.image?Id=390

If you do have restless legs syndrome (RLS), you are not alone. Up to 10% of the U.S. population may have this neurologic condition. Many people have a mild form of the disorder, but RLS severely affects the lives of millions of individuals. In order for you to be officially diagnosed with RLS, you must meet the criteria described below:

1. You have a strong urge to move your legs which you may not be able to resist. The need to move is often accompanied by uncomfortable sensations. Some words used to describe these sensations include: "creeping", "itching", "pulling", "creepy-crawly", "tugging" or "gnawing".

2. Your RLS Symptoms start or become worse when you are resting. The longer you are resting, the greater the chance the symptoms will occur and the more severe they are likely to be.

3. Your RLS symptoms get better when you move your legs. The relief can be complete or only partial but generally starts very soon after starting an activity. Relief persists as long as the motor activity continues.

4. Your RLS symptoms are worse in the evening especially when you are lying down. Activities that bother you at night do not bother you during the day.

FAQ

1. How can I find a healthcare provider who treats RLS?

Several options are available to you when attempting to find a healthcare provider to treat your RLS.

First, you may use the Healthcare Provider Directory provided by the RLS Foundation. This directory includes a listing of providers who have expressed interest in treating patients with RLS. However, it should be noted that the Foundation does not endorse these providers.

Second, support group leaders are often familiar with the names and addresses of healthcare providers in their area who treat RLS. For a support group in your area, please visit our Support Group Directory to find the one closest to you.

Third, you can contact your local medical society or ask your own healthcare provider to give you a referral to someone who specializes in treating RLS. Though primary care physicians are capable of diagnosing and treating RLS, some patients may need to consult with a sleep specialist or neurologist.

If none of these options works for you, you could also contact the American Medical Association or utilize their Online Doctor Finder. You can search this database by your location or the physician's specialty.

2. Do I have restless legs syndrome (RLS)?

Chances are, if you are reading this answer, it is because you are concerned that you or someone you love may have restless legs syndrome (RLS). How many of the questions below are true for you?

• When you sit or lie down, do you have a strong desire to move your legs?

• Does your desire to move your legs feel impossible to resist?

• Have you ever used the wordsunpleasant, creepycrawly, creeping, itching, pulling, ortugging to describe your symptoms to others?

• Does your desire to move often occur when you are resting or sitting still?

• Does moving your legs make you feel better?

• Do you complain of these symptoms more at night?

• Do you keep your bed partner awake with the jerking movements of your legs?

• Do your ever have involuntary leg movements while you are awake?

• Are you tired or unable to concentrate during the day?

• Do any of your family members have similar complaints?

• Does a trip to the doctor only reveal that nothing is wrong and there is no physical cause for your discomfort?

If you answered "yes" to a majority of these questions, you may have RLS. If you do have RLS, you are not alone! Up to 8% of the U.S. population may have RLS. Many people have a mild form of the disorder, but RLS severely affects the lives of millions of individuals.

3. What are the treatment options for RLS?

On May 5, 2005, the FDA approved the first ever drug for treatment of restless legs syndrome: ropinirole (Requip). In 2006, the FDA also approved pramipexole (Mirapex). However, several drugs approved for other conditions have undergone clinical studies in RLS and have been found to be helpful. These medications fall into four major classes: dopaminergic agents, sedatives, anticonvulsants, and pain relievers. You should never adjust your medications without speaking to your doctor first. In addition to medications, there are other things you and your doctor can consider when trying to help you deal with RLS.

Our patient publication, Restless Legs Syndrome: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment, is a great starting point for more information. If you would like to receive a copy of the brochure, call our toll-free number at 1-877-463-6757.

4. How do I become a member of the RLS Foundation?

You can become a member by calling the Foundation at 507-287-6465 with your credit card information. You can also sign up online .

5. What non-drug treatments are recommended for RLS?

In addition to medications, there are other things you and your doctor can consider when trying to help you deal with RLS. These options may include:

• Checking to see if there is an underlying iron or vitamin deficiency and then possibly supplementing your diet with iron, vitamin B12 or folate.

• Looking at medications you may be taking which make RLS worse. These may include drugs used to treat high blood pressure, heart conditions, nausea, colds, allergies and depression.

• Looking at any herbal and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking to see if they could be worsening your RLS.

• Identifying habits and activities that worsen RLS symptoms.

• Looking at your diet to assure it is healthy and balanced.

• Discussing whether or not antihistamines could be contributing to your RLS.

• Eliminating your alcohol intake.

• Looking at various activities that may help you personally deal with RLS. These could include walking, stretching, taking a hot or cold bath, massaging, acupressure, or relaxation techniques.

• Attempting to keep your mind engaged with activities like discussions, needlework or video games when you have to stay seated.

• Implementing a program of good sleep habits.

• Possibly eliminating caffeine from your diet to aid in general sleep hygiene.

By arming yourself with information, you have taken the first step toward defeating RLS. However, your optimum plan requires that you work together with your healthcare provider. Some things that you can do to help eliminate or reduce the need for drugs include:

• Living a healthy lifestyle.

• Eliminating symptom-producing substances.

• Taking vitamin and mineral supplements as necessary.

• Engaging in activities which help take your mind off of RLS.

• Avoiding or eliminating foods or medicines that aggravate your symptoms.

If you do need medication, careful trials may be necessary to find the medication and dosage that works best for you, and sometimes a medication that worked well in the past may become ineffective. Because no single treatment for RLS is entirely effective for everyone, continued research is of vital importance. Until we find the cause of RLS and a cure for it, your best approach is to work closely with your healthcare provider, join a local RLS support group, and explore both non-drug and drug treatments. These strategies offer the most reliable approach to living a happy and productive life in spite of having RLS.

6. Can you give me a list of support groups in my area?

A list of our support groups can be viewed on our Web site.

7. Is it possible to have RLS in other areas of the body?

Yes, RLS can affect the arms or even the trunk.

8. Can taking vitamin or mineral supplements help my RLS?

If an underlying iron or vitamin deficiency is found to be the cause of your restless legs, supplementing with iron, vitamin B or folate (as indicated) may reduce or even alleviate your symptoms. Because the use of even moderate amounts of some minerals (such as iron, magnesium, potassium, and calcium) can impair your body's ability to use other minerals or can cause toxicity, you should use mineral supplements only on the advice of your healthcare provider.

9. Are there any medications that can make RLS worse?

Yes. These drugs include calcium-channel blockers (used to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions), Reglan (metoclopramide), most antinausea medications, some cold and allergy medications, major tranquilizers (including haloperidol and phenothiazines), and the antiseizure medication, phenytoin. One report indicates that medications used to treat depression increase the symptoms of RLS. Always be sure that your healthcare provider is aware of all the medicines you are taking, including herbal and over-the-counter medications.

10. Are there any substances that should be avoided?

The use of caffeine often intensifies RLS symptoms. Caffeine-containing products, including chocolate and caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks should be avoided. The consumption of alcohol also increases the span or intensity of symptoms for most individuals.

11. I suspect that my child may have RLS. Is this possible?

While RLS is most often diagnosed in middle-aged individuals, RLS affects people of all ages. however, people can usually trace their symptoms back to their childhood. They often remember hearing things like, "Those are growing pains" or "Quit wiggling so much."

We now know that RLS affects people of all ages. Evidence connecting RLS and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is growing. Our newest publication: Children & RLS is a great place to start looking for more information.

12. How do doctors diagnose RLS?

Your doctor should:

• Listen to a description of your symptoms.

• Complete a diagnostic interview checking for symptoms highlighted on the previous page.

• Review your medical history.

• Complete a thorough physical exam.

• Rule out conditions that may be confused with RLS.

Your doctor might:

• Check your iron (ferritin) levels.

• Ask you to stay overnight in a sleep study lab to determine other causes of your sleep disturbance.

Your doctor cannot:

• Use lab tests to confirm or deny the presence of RLS.

13. Is RLS hereditary?

RLS often runs in families. Researchers are currently looking for the gene or genes that may be responsible for RLS.

14. Is there a known cause for RLS?

Extensive research into the cause of RLS is occurring worldwide. A single unifying cause has not been identified, but we are getting closer. Here is what we do know:

• RLS often runs in families. This is called primary or familial RLS. Researchers are currently looking for the gene or genes that causes RLS.

• RLS sometimes appears to be a result of another condition, which, when present, worsens the underlying RLS. This is called secondary RLS.

• Up to 25% of women develop RLS during pregnancy but symptoms often disappear after giving birth.

• Anemia and low iron levels frequently contribute to a worsening of RLS.

• RLS is very common in patients requiring dialysis for end-stage renal disease.

• Damage to the nerves of the hands or feet (i.e., peripheral neuropathy) from any number of causes including diabetes contributes to RLS.

• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD) is common in children and adults with RLS.

15. How common is RLS?

Rigorous epidemiologic studies into the true prevalence of RLS are underway. However, several studies have been conducted that look at the rate of response to questions such as Do you have a creepy, crawly sensation in your legs at night when you attempt to sleep? Positive rates have ranged from 3% to 15%.

16. What are the primary features of RLS?

In order for you to be officially diagnosed with RLS, you must meet the criteria described in the four bullets below:

• You have a strong urge to move your legs which you may not be able to resist. The need to move is often accompanied by uncomfortable sensations. Some words used to describe these sensations include: creeping, itching, pulling, creepy-crawly, tugging or gnawing.

• Your RLS symptoms start or become worse when you are resting. The longer you are resting, the greater the chance the symptoms will occur and the more severe they are likely to be.

• Your RLS symptoms get better when you move your legs. The relief can be complete or only partial but generally starts very soon after starting an activity. Relief persists as long as the motor activity continues.

• Your RLS symptoms are worse in the evening especially when you are lying down. Activities that bother you at night do not bother you during the day.

RLS can also cause difficulty in falling or staying asleep which can be one of the chief complaints of the syndrome. A substantial number of people who have RLS also have periodic limb movements of sleep(PLMS). These are jerks that occur every 20 to 30 seconds on and off throughout the night. This can cause partial awakenings that disrupt sleep. Sleep deprivation can seriously impact your work, relationships, and health.

17. How do I receive additional information about RLS?

Our most popular patient publication, Restless Legs Syndrome: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment, is our gift to you! If you would like to receive a copy of the brochure, call our toll-free number 1-877-463-6757.

To receive the most up-to-date and comprehensive information, you can become a member of the Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation. As a member, you will receive our quarterly newsletter NightWalkers featuring the latest information on treatment and research while also allowing readers to ask questions and get answers from top RLS specialists.

We also have many other healthcare provider publications that you can share with your personal physician.

18. What is augmentation?

If augmentation occurs, your usual dose of a dopaminergic agent will relieve your symptoms so that you are able to sleep at night, but eventually, the unpleasant sensations will develop earlier in the day. Augmentation of RLS symptoms may occur after an initial period of relief with dopaminergic agents, and unfortunately, increasing your dosage will probably worsen your symptoms. If augmentation occurs, you and your doctor can work together to find a new drug regimen that will work for you. No one should ever stop taking a medication abruptly.

Hardrock69
05-24-2007, 10:04 AM
Derail the thread will ya?

Ally_Kat
05-24-2007, 02:38 PM
Originally posted by Hardrock69
Derail the thread will ya?

No, he's pointing out that some of these are conspiracy bullshit. RLS is real. I can attest to that. Just like SAD is. My aunt has that and has been diagnosed since the early 90s. This guy is running way too far with the whole Pharm sales rep thing. Just like he's running way too far with the PR news stories. It's no secret that public relation spots are run in newscasts. These are the first to be thrown into a newscast and first to be pulled out of a newscast depending how much there is to report that day. They're called throw-away stories for that reason.

Chatroom bots that advertise are easy to spot out. If you're fooled by them, then you're a moron. Same with the cell phone voicemails. They don't get there by chance. It's by you giving your number out to something/one that collects it for that reason. Don't use it on those forms you fill out on the interweb. Put in random digits.

Antman
05-24-2007, 08:16 PM
I had a book on subliminal advertising that had a bunch of ads. But there was also a Playboy centerfold from the early 70's. The centerfold itself was standard, non graphic Playboy fare. As most guys my age will remember, on the other side of the centerfold was the Playmate's stat sheet and opposite was some pics and some text. One of those pics was an inconspicuous picture of the Playmate sitting in a grass field with her leg bent at the knee. No big deal. When you held the centerfold up to the light, transparent was the leg from the picture on the other side that looked like a dick going straight up her ass. Coincidence? I don't know.