krakkerz: I think the response that you see is something that wells up in a lot of us when we see something that gives the American Public another excuse to blow off their health. A lot of people on this site respond as strongly to Jared and Subway sandwiches as the way to health, Blussant Herbs to increase your bust size, and 8 minutes with some 50 cent piece of plastic as the key to a fabulous six pack. Agree…maybe we’re a little TOO sensitive; and I’m sure that the commercial maybe had an admirable message…but those subliminal “unspoken” messages (that Coke, by the way, spends MILLIONS on) is what gets the old testosterone boiling…(DEEEEppp breath…it IS just a commercial…deep breath…deep breath…)
the man in the commercial is clearly a pedofile. he only looked good in the past in order to attract a mate that would bore him some quarry.
Everybody take a deep breath and chill - its just TV. You see crap like this everyday on TV that seems completely idiotic to us who devote a great part of our lives to the pursuit of a better build. Just laugh at it. We’re not some majority poulation so don’t assume these things are meant to target us. Who knows, maybe that commercial will boost sales in the middle-aged Dad demographic. In summary, who cares? Laugh at it, life is about being happy.
I agree with the premise of the commercial, but not the ultimate message. I feel it’s more important to my kid’s well being to be fit. That’s why I drag my ass out of bed at 4:30 am 5 days a week. 99% of my free time is spent with my kids. Plus when i look at the paunchy fathers at the playground wheezing around after their kids wishing they were on the links instead, I stop, rub my hard abs a little and relish the thought that I am a DILF and they are not.
fun idea for a commercial, and it worked - it got you to notice it, and remember it. As a comment on society it suggests that we re-think our priorities (with the funny bit being drinking diet coke is just as important as family!) The whole eating poorly and not exercising can be viewed as something that was said to get a reaction from the viewer - i would say that eating right and exercising are universally accepted ideals for a healthy and sexy lifestyle, … and so is spending time with family, and the funny advertising link is that diet coke is part of a sexy & healthy & ideal lifestyle … but that’s my opinion.
I haven’t seen the ad, but I understood at least one of its purposes immediately. I run a small, non-profit website aimed at the “middle-aged” and people of any age who think they’re having a “midlife crisis”. My traffic is growing, as is my correspondence. One type of letter (thankfully, not all of them!) is from women who feel their husbands are being unfaithful and straying. One common thing they say is, “He’s started working out in a gym” as evidence that he is obviously out to find some hottie.
Maybe he is, maybe he isn't, but the reaction is common. That ad wasn't just aimed at guys who don't want to exercise (they'll find an excuse, don't worry), it was aimed at women and spoke directly to one of their fears. That's why it was a female commentator and I'm not surprised you thought she was his wife.
Yes, the message could be “take time for your family”, but that’s unlikely to be the reason for it. Ads take advantage of your dreams, your fears, and other major emotions. As described, this ad was not intended to convince men to care about their families. If so, at the very least, it would have been narrated by a man. It was to cater to wives’ fears that “the gym” is or would be associated with infidelity and was better replaced with Diet Coke.
Believe me. There are a lot of women out there, especially 40 and over, who fear gyms. I'm not surprised that I also get letters from men that say, "I gave up the gym because it made my wife nervous...". The younger women in their 30's I hear from often adopt a more positive attitude as more were in sports when younger and understand the value of working out. In fact, most of them say they joined the gym when their husbands did.
May their numbers grow!
I saw the comercial again, she says that he doen’t have as much time to spend in the gym anymore… NOT that he doesn’t, but that he can not AS MUCH. can ANYONE please TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG W/THAT. and I’m sorry but if anyone doesn’t think that when you have a family you should NOT have less time for yourself they are crazy, I saw a guy come in the gym I went to in H.S. in his tux from HIS wedding, change and then workout. that is sick, why would that guy ever get married? did he realy think missing one workout would make any diff. in his life? sorry off topic, just think family should be the MOST important thing to people and to often it is not.
I’m glad someone else thought that comercial was lame. I was pissed for two days after seeing it and immediatly went out and bought diet pepsi.
Wow, I actually find myself agreeing with heytey225! For the rest of you, there are much more productive uses for your time than vegging in front of the ion bombardment device. Like posting to the T-mag forum! ;^)
I saw that ad and I thought the wife looked pretty hot (the husband wasn’t bad looking either). Then again this is TV and the couple in the commercial wasn’t even real. If the guy in the commercial waistline did really grow, he must have had a Steve Reeves 29" waist before he got married. If I was in charge of this commercial, I would have used a real life couple who got fat from marriage and taking care of the kids. That way people would think twice before they got married, or at least got their ass back in shape. Oh yeah and drink diet coke also. Oh, and another thing is, I’ll even admit it, I’m hella jelous of this guy (even if he’s real).