Oh, I did NOT need to see that....stretch mark close-ups in ads?!?

[Khephra]

Yes, giving birth is a wonderful thing, but do we really need commercials showing close-ups of a pregnant woman's stretch marked stomach to push an anti-stretch mark product on TV?

[jellybelly]

1. um...yes

[Khephra]

2. Why?

I think everyone knows what stretch marks are. Why do we need a close-up of them in commercials?

[jellybelly]

6. they're selling a product to prevent...

...and or eliminate stretch marks. Neosporin(?) ads show cuts and scars. Commercials for anti-cellulite creams show actual cellulite on women's behinds. Now THAT is more disgusting then stretch marks.

[Khephra]

9. Oh, I could think of several products that would be worse

For example: I don't think I'd want to see an ad made in the same style for genital warts.

[jellybelly]

13. Hilarious!

what about an ad for viagra? the before and after?

[Left Is Write]

18. As long as Dick Cheney's not in it....

[Khephra]

22. They do have those...sorta ;-)

They just don't show the errrrr....physical effects. Lots of frowns turned into smiles and all that.

Thank Elvis they don't show the physical effects.

[Not_Giving_Up]

3. What commercial showed you stretch marks? n/t

[Khephra]

5. I missed the product's name.

It was some medicine to prevent stretch marks.

[amerikat]

4. Stretch marks are sexy.

just my opinion.

[Khephra]

7. I've got male stretch marks

so they ain't from childbirth. I doubt you'd find them sexy. I sure don't.

[jellybelly]

10. so then use the cream

and don't complain:P

[amerikat]

12. I guess I meant to say stretch marks are sexy on women

maybe some women feel that stretch marks are sexy on men. I have never heard of such a thing but maybe some feel this way.

[Bouncy Ball]

8. Do you think stretch marks are ugly?

They are just stretch marks, no biggie.

[Khephra]

11. I don't think the word "ugly" was used by me in any of the above posts

I just think personal medicine/hygene ads push the boundries sometimes. Believe me, they weren't marketing the idea that stretch marks were sexy or cute...quite the opposite.

[Left Is Write]

16. Was it a before-and-after thing?

The woman with stretch marks and then without? That would make sense to me - marketing the product on the comparison.

(BTW - stretch marks are largely hereditary. You get 'em or you don't. No cream can prevent them, although some can soften the appearance. I got lucky. Three kids, no stretch marks.)

[Khephra]

20. I only caught part of it

so I'm not sure.

One thing I'm sure of is that you'll have your chance to see it. It's not like they just show commercials once.

[Khephra]

14. Ah, but you gave me an interesting thought

How would people react if the same exact ad was shown, but instead of a pregnant woman it was the belly of a 400 pound man?

Would I be asked if I found them ugly in that case? Probably not. I have a feeling that more people would be agreeing with me. There's just some medical products that we don't need graphics on for them to pitch in ads. That's it.

[Left Is Write]

17. A small quibble.

Stretch mark cream would not be a medical product. That'd be purely cosmetic.

[Khephra]

19. I'll have to see it again to be sure

If it was a preventative then I guess it would qualify. The sound was off during some of the ad.

[amerikat]

15. Ya know what I think is a really sexy mark that is a thing of the past?

A vaccination mark....I forget what it was for(polio, or TB I think)...I just loved that when I was a teenager.....just found it to be really sexy. A mark on the arm......I miss that feature on modern women.

[Khephra]

21. Polio

I think. I've got one myself.

[amerikat]

23. yuor're correct. I t was polio vac that left the soft scar.

[DemBones DemBones]

24. Smallpox vaccination?

My guess.