I have a bone to pick with an advertising agency. Tuesday morning, I glimpsed a commercial for a toothache remedy. I can't remember if it was Orajel or Anbesol. A guy talked to the camera, explaining how he was a history teacher, and when he was in pain, he needed immediate relief. Sounds good in theory, right?
The actor stood in front of a desk and blackboard. This guy was a bit chubby. Not conventionally attractive. He had an unflattering haircut, and a nondescript hair color. You know the shade. Not brown. Not gray. Kind of pencil-lead colored. How fitting, for a teacher. In addition, he was sporting a ten-o'clock shadow. His shirt was rumpled, with no tie. I couldn't see his feet, but I'm picturing some 1970s kind of chukka boots or earth shoes or Hush Puppies.
This is demeaning. If the product spokesman was a plumber, would they show his crack? I think not. As a teacher, I am insulted.
I really hope that was an actor, not an actual teacher.
8 comments:
You are so right. Insulting and unrealistic. After all, what teacher could afford cool shoes like chukka boots?
Oh I don't know. He sounds kind of the way I might look if I were a teacher. Maybe not the ten o'clock shadow, but definitely no tie. But I don't think it sounds that bad--kind of laid back and cool actually. Besides, the neat guy sporting professional dress clothes would probably keep his teeth maintained so that he didn't need the toothache remedy.
However the blackboard sounds kind of unrealistic. Don't they use those white boards with erasable markers now?
Lee
Tossing It Out
Sioux,
Well, he might still have them from the seventies. You know how teachers hate to throw out a comfortable pair of shoes.
*****************************
Lee,
Oh, there is no shortage of teachers who actually look like this. But must we show them on TV? Surely you can sell more toothache medicine with a spiffy dresser than a frump.
You're right about the blackboards. Even our oldest building has whiteboards now. And they're not used as much as the pull-down screen and projector that puts up whatever's on the computer monitor.
Now I wonder how they would represent a campground owner with no health insurance ...... missing front tooth, dirty fingernails. Dressed in shorts and t-shirt with flip-flops. Wait, except for the fact that I have all my teeth ..... I just described myself!
Kathy,
Congratulations on having all of your teeth. I am willing to wager that some of your select kampground klientele do not.
Watch out how you talk about Kathy's select kampground klientele girlie!!!! I too have all of my teeth!!!
I think you described a couple of my teachers when I was in school and more than a couple of college professors.
I do agree that it is insulting to portray a teacher as such though. Most were very professional in appearance.
labbie,
That's why I said some of the "select" klientele. Maybe some day swimmers, or those who drive through the flower bed, or the ones who want to bring their own firewood, or leave in the middle of the night without paying.
Oh okay. You were saying "select" as in some, not "select" as in the BEST or "Select" Kampers! LOL Just yanking your chain! ;-D
Post a Comment