Yeah, I think it is un-nice of companies to bombard children with advertising, but companies weren't set up to be nice, they were created in order to make money... so I really can't fault them. As a few have mentioned, kids wouldn't be watching thirteen cubic hours (yes, it's an invented measurement) of commercials a day if their parents weren't letting them watch tv. I think that it is really important for parents to discuss advertising with kids, because as they grow older there is just as much advertising focused on them but the things they want are more expensive. It is ridiculous to blame TV for rising obesity rates, but I DO wish that more food companies would make more products that are deelish but lack the high fructose corn syrup content and etc. *sigh*
If parents have the willpower to tell their kids "no, you cannot have that.", then commercials should have no effect on their kids whatsoever.
However, if the parent is weak willed, allowing the kid to make buying decisions for them, then there is cause for alarm.
But it isn't the commercial's fault.
It's the parents fault for letting them get away with it.
If people are so irresponsible with their own child that they cannot keep control of them, then they should not have spawned at all in the first place. Children are a responsibility, & if they cannot own up to that fact, they shouldn't be allowed to breed whatsoever.
My question to the parents: why don't you put the fork down, step away from the computer, & attemp to stay a little more involved in your kid's life, instead of just telling them "here, watch this".
Damned lazy ass parents we have these days. Always wanting someone else to raise their child. It's...unnnerving ._.;;
"I agree that ulitmately the buck stops with the parents, but it's probably easier if they aren't being scremed at by their kids for some product they saw advertised"
very true... however if parents were parents and said no on a much more regular basis, there wouldn't be screaming and yelling in the first place. the only reason (usually, there's always exceptions) that kids throw tantrums to get what they want is becuase it has worked in the past. and kids are smart. they know what works with who. my step-aunt's(?) kids were holy terrors. spoiled rotten, tantrums every five minutes if their parents tried to say no. and they got what the wanted. yet somehow, after a time or two they NEVER did that with my mom. cause they knew she wouldn't give them what they were whining for. So any time i see a kid whining and screaming for something i KNOW (90%) that it's bad/inconsistant parenting. and i want to yell at those parents. grrr.
Oh, that's right, because then you'd have to deal with your children yourself.
Not going to lie - we got sugary sweet cereals when we were kids because that's what we wanted to eat. In fact, my husband and I went food shopping today, and bought Frosted Flakes, Captain Crunch, and Lucky Charms.
Also, more parents need to practice this little thing known as portion control. It's not that you can't eat stuff that you like, just because it's BAD for you, but neither should you eat an entire bag of tortilla chips and guacamole in one setting either. If they don't develop eating habits and restraint now, when are they going to?
DV (this, of course, being the person who once ate half a brown paper grocery bag's worth of apricots on a car trip)
But yeah, that is also a very good point - though lord knows if anyone actually makes meals anymore, it seems... Or parents could try cute little tricks to get their kiddos to eat healthier. I am so glad my parents were such wheat bread snobs when I was growing up - we'd confuse the fuck out of babysitters when little me and littlier siblings would turn our noses up at white bread offerings (telling us that white bread and glue were made of the same ingredients did wonders, it seems :D)
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No means no.
If parents have the willpower to tell their kids "no, you cannot have that.", then commercials should have no effect on their kids whatsoever.
However, if the parent is weak willed, allowing the kid to make buying decisions for them, then there is cause for alarm.
But it isn't the commercial's fault.
It's the parents fault for letting them get away with it.
If people are so irresponsible with their own child that they cannot keep control of them, then they should not have spawned at all in the first place. Children are a responsibility, & if they cannot own up to that fact, they shouldn't be allowed to breed whatsoever.
My question to the parents: why don't you put the fork down, step away from the computer, & attemp to stay a little more involved in your kid's life, instead of just telling them "here, watch this".
Damned lazy ass parents we have these days. Always wanting someone else to raise their child. It's...unnnerving ._.;;
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"I agree that ulitmately the buck stops with the parents, but it's probably easier if they aren't being scremed at by their kids for some product they saw advertised"
very true... however if parents were parents and said no on a much more regular basis, there wouldn't be screaming and yelling in the first place. the only reason (usually, there's always exceptions) that kids throw tantrums to get what they want is becuase it has worked in the past. and kids are smart. they know what works with who. my step-aunt's(?) kids were holy terrors. spoiled rotten, tantrums every five minutes if their parents tried to say no. and they got what the wanted. yet somehow, after a time or two they NEVER did that with my mom. cause they knew she wouldn't give them what they were whining for. So any time i see a kid whining and screaming for something i KNOW (90%) that it's bad/inconsistant parenting. and i want to yell at those parents. grrr.
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So why not just turn the TV off?
Oh, that's right, because then you'd have to deal with your children yourself.
Not going to lie - we got sugary sweet cereals when we were kids because that's what we wanted to eat. In fact, my husband and I went food shopping today, and bought Frosted Flakes, Captain Crunch, and Lucky Charms.
Also, more parents need to practice this little thing known as portion control. It's not that you can't eat stuff that you like, just because it's BAD for you, but neither should you eat an entire bag of tortilla chips and guacamole in one setting either. If they don't develop eating habits and restraint now, when are they going to?
DV (this, of course, being the person who once ate half a brown paper grocery bag's worth of apricots on a car trip)
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But yeah, that is also a very good point - though lord knows if anyone actually makes meals anymore, it seems... Or parents could try cute little tricks to get their kiddos to eat healthier. I am so glad my parents were such wheat bread snobs when I was growing up - we'd confuse the fuck out of babysitters when little me and littlier siblings would turn our noses up at white bread offerings (telling us that white bread and glue were made of the same ingredients did wonders, it seems :D)
Meh, half-asleep ranty.. :)
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I don't eat white bread either.
Of course, I'll manage to get the kids to be bell pepper fiends.
DV
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