Volume control
IS IT just me or are the commercial breaks that interrupt the television programmes louder than the programmes themselves?
I’m going out on a limb here as I have no decibel metre of my own to conduct an official scientific testing of the difference in volume between actual programme and ad break. I do know that when I’m parked on the couch clutching my remote control, my finger jabs the volume button as soon as I hear an ad break is coming up.
A snap poll in the newsroom confirmed my suspicions so if I am correct in this bit of volume shenanigans, what does it mean? Is there some sort of advertising psychology being employed here? Do the advertising people reckon we’ll get their message if it’s pumped out of the box at full volume?
As silly as it is, I am a little affronted by the whole matter. Firstly, because if the above reasoning is the case then the advertising people must think I, and the rest of South African consumers, are stupid.
Secondly, the control of volume reminds me of a supposed subliminal advertising campaign I heard of years ago that was so sneaky I often wonder if it exists. The legend goes that a group of movie-goers, who were unaware of the experiment, were subjected to split-second-long images of a well-known soft drink interspersed in the movie. True’s Bob, by the time they walked out of the hour-long film without exception every single patron absolutely craved that particular brand of soft drink.
Coincidence? I think not. Call me paranoid but all this leads me to believe that
perhaps control of the volume is the first step towards total consumer domination.
Keep your fingers on the volume control.
Comments
Only TVSA members can reply to this thread. Click here to login or register.