The Power of Advertising

Have you ever noticed how powerful advertising is on you?  When I stop to think about it, I kind of get depressed.  There is such a strong part of my psyche that responds to advertising and people make money on it all the time.  For example, I don't know if you've seen the new IHOP NFL commercials, but they worked on me.  I don't really even like IHOP that much.  I think they are overpriced and you don't get very large portions.  But here's the deal, I was driving home from a high school reunion last week with my wife.  It was about midnight and I was hungry.  Before I know it, I'm sitting in an IHOP chomping down on the NFL French Toast.  It was delicious too!  But I was overwhelmed by how the advertising got to me.  I mine as well just be IHOP's roping dummy because I felt like their bitch.  They just lassoed me in, kind of like Larry Fitzgerald's hands.

This happens all the time.  You drive down the street and see McDonald's channel letter sign and before you know it, you've got your hands wrapped around a Big Mac.  They have spent millions and millions on advertising, and they are locked in your mind.  The biggest victims in this are parents.  Advertisers play on kids minds like nobody's business.  If a kid sees this on a commercial, trust me, you are getting it for them for Halloween.  I'm just baffled by how powerful marketing is.  It never ceases to amaze me.