This is why I'm not going into PR

[trenchkamen]

I ended up at Wal-Mart late this evening, as the Target closest to ASU was totally out of printer paper (seriously, sanji_cat, this is your fault). I like the fact that Wal-Mart is open at odd hours, which is when I like to be awake if I can get away with it.

I find the stupid little Wal-Mart TV snippets they play on every TV monitor annoying as hell. While I was walking across the store I had half-focused on one of the televisions and caught the tail end of a "Wal-Mart REALLY Cares" type segment (fuck you; I am not a part of the 'Wal-Mart family', there is no such thing, and only idiots take you seriously; you don't give a rat's ass about my health so long as I give you money), where, in correlation with Cleveland Health or something (Cleveland? What's in Cleveland?), that you should eat more fruits and vegetables. Thanks. This isn't second grade health class. If you don't know fruits and vegetables are better for you than chips at this point, you should do us all a favor and castrate yourself right now before you breed.

Same goes for if you need a strategy guide to get through Pokemon Battle Coliseum. The one in the electronics section (hush; that's where paper is) was hefty. What the fuck. That's even worse than needing a guide for Kingdom Hearts (not counting sidequests and the like where you're too lazy to go clue hunting; I mean, like, a step-by-step walkthrough).

I guess seeing hospital advertisements on television where they talk about how much they care about your health rankles my chains a little bit, but then again, growing up in a physician family makes you cynical about the medical field. I find it painfully difficult to believe the CEO of a hospital gives a rat's ass about how you feel, but the websites and billboards and TV adds are all smiling, happy people ready to give you inane tips like eat more vegetables, because they just care so much. The presentation makes it come off as so pretentious it's disgusting. There IS a way to convey a kindly, doctorly concern without seeming like a used car salesman. It kind of makes me want to stab something. And it seems so patronizing that such inane bullshit is considered "sekret health tips". Then again, time and again I'm reminded never to underestimate the stupidity of the average American.

I guess my mom is right; I get my chains rankled too easily. But it's fun. I'm not being sarcastic. Some sick part of me is drawn to debate and getting to be an ass.

Comments

[sumomonkeyninja.livejournal.com]

What's in Cleveland? It's the home of Harvey Pekar and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

[trenchkamen.livejournal.com]

There we go, then.

[gogglebeast.livejournal.com]

Haha, I enjoyed reading this. You're right, though.

Sadly, I think there are quite a lot of people who don't know these things; education isn't the greatest in our country, and with the corporate profits leading the way (instead of say, knowledge) it's no wonder if it stays that way. Hell, I see commercials advertising McDonald's and 'healthy choice' in the same breath. What?

PS: Learning about High Fructose Corn Syrup in bio class is fun. Not that I didn't already know that stuff was bad for you, but it's almost shocking how much stuff it's in- to cut down price, so unhealthy food is the most readily available for low-income families, and we wonder why America is so fat.

[trenchkamen.livejournal.com]

SciAm had an entire issue about that this month.

[white-manjushri.livejournal.com]

I always found the tv's in walmarts kinda creepy, because all they do is advertise for walmart when you're already there.

I enjoyed reading this rant because it's totally true so don't worry about getting worked up to easily, it just means you're passionate.

[trenchkamen.livejournal.com]

That is the GOOD way of looking at it.