Step Right Up
Why is it that so many ads for medication appear on television? In a half hour, while attempting to watch the international news, I heard three or four advertisements for —cholesterol reducing pills, a drug to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis, a pill for those who suffered from an overactive bladder, and a little pill that guaranteed men the ability to be "ready" any time.
After lauding the benefits of a particular drug —a voice, full of concern and not to unduly alarm anyone, lists all the possible , albeit rare side effects. The litany of side effects usually includes this statement, "even death—although rare". The list always includes liver failure, rash, swelling of the tongue, throat or lips and anything lasting more than four hours.
Then the voice reminds you to call your doctor if you experience any of these "rare" side effects. And since you can't go into your local pharmacy and prescribe for yourself the voice asks you to ask your doctor if "...." is right for you.
Often a film clip accompanies the voice. We see someone who barely lifts themselves out of a chair— now gardening, ferociously turning over the soil, after taking the aforementioned drug.
A man looks lovingly at his wife and then they retire into the house—sometimes they are seated on a dock, or having a romantic dinner—always by candlelight.
A woman walks down the street. She's wearing high heels and looks so happy because she is freed from the necessity of staying close to home.
And on and on it goes—happy people trilling their way through another advertisement.
I admit I did order something I "first saw" on television. When you walk on the treadmill early in the morning the pickings are slim. I bought furniture cleaner because the voice said it restored wood back to —its primal state. No warnings issued forth and the shipping was free.
After lauding the benefits of a particular drug —a voice, full of concern and not to unduly alarm anyone, lists all the possible , albeit rare side effects. The litany of side effects usually includes this statement, "even death—although rare". The list always includes liver failure, rash, swelling of the tongue, throat or lips and anything lasting more than four hours.
Then the voice reminds you to call your doctor if you experience any of these "rare" side effects. And since you can't go into your local pharmacy and prescribe for yourself the voice asks you to ask your doctor if "...." is right for you.
Often a film clip accompanies the voice. We see someone who barely lifts themselves out of a chair— now gardening, ferociously turning over the soil, after taking the aforementioned drug.
A man looks lovingly at his wife and then they retire into the house—sometimes they are seated on a dock, or having a romantic dinner—always by candlelight.
A woman walks down the street. She's wearing high heels and looks so happy because she is freed from the necessity of staying close to home.
And on and on it goes—happy people trilling their way through another advertisement.
I admit I did order something I "first saw" on television. When you walk on the treadmill early in the morning the pickings are slim. I bought furniture cleaner because the voice said it restored wood back to —its primal state. No warnings issued forth and the shipping was free.
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