Do all commercials say the truth?

Question

I've seen many commercials on television, the radio, in the newspaper, and others, but do they really say the truth?

Answer 1

Of course not. There's no law that states that there has to be truth in advertising. It's an unwritten code and a ethics thing that governs this. There's no law that can send someone to jail for lying in an advertisement.

Answer 2

All commercials have pretty much the same goals: to sell products, and to inform people. There is a pretty fair number of commercials that speak (at least) some degree of truth, and there are also a number of others that over-exaggerate the 'results' or the effects of that certain product. For instance, you don't actually believe that using a certain toothpaste gives you frosty breath, do you? But that's understandable, because like I said, they're trying to sell you a product. Now why would they over-exaggerate? Let's put it this way, if you saw a commercial that depicted 'plain' effects, something that doesn't show you getting white teeth (or worse, show someone with 'unhealthy' teeth), would you be interested in that product? I'm not exactly the authority on these things, but I guess that's how commercials work. They have to tell you white lies so you'd buy the product. It's decietful, yes. But I guess you'd probably do the same thing if you were trying to sell something too. I know I would! And besides, commercials are fun to watch anyway. :)

Answer 3

Actually, most of them are not the truth. Car dealership rate right up there with leading the public on. It's a way to get potential customers into the showroom.

These days all you see are advertizements on TV about another new medicine. The medinces they advertize aren't even FDA approved. Recently heard either a state senetor or person in congress wants these adds banned. This time I have to agree. People see these adds and run to the doctor and want to take them. They think they are the miracal pill they have been waiting for.

Do you think a cream you put on your face will actually make you look 20 years younger? No I don't think so.

You shouldn't even click on commercials on your computer. You most likely will get a virus.

Look at all the home forclosures. That was due in part because of advertizements.

I wish I had all the money that Ford, Chevey, etc. put out just for the designing that goes into creating the advertizements to sell there cars and trucks.

Don't believe everything you see. Good Question.

Answer 4

Well, let's see.

It actually depends on how you view a certain commercial. I saw this commercial once of a beauty product and as far as the commercial goes, it features beautiful women in white, silk-like skin with glowing faces and showing no hints of aging. In that case, I don't believe the product could be capable of producing such results. Models make a product believable and effective yet we shouldn't be fooled by the idea that they are photoshopped images.
However,if I would base on a product,I would certainly believe it if and only if it stated facts or testaments that could earn our approval.

Commercials on newspaper and other forms of printed materials of that ilk should be scrutinized.Why?You could never know the validity of the credibility of the newspaper it advertised in.Some newspapers advertise for the sake of generating income.

In these times,commercials no longer worry about saying the truth or not.They care about attracting the public through wise and witty captions--even if that means they have to stretch the truth.

Answer 5

For the most part, they are a heap of twisted information made to look good.

Automobile commercials are loud and irritating, especailly knowing that most automobiles do not protect people from injury or death.

However, in some rare situtaions, the truth on various products does get revealed in a commercial.

Sometimes they show how comparison tests proved that a company's product was better than a competitor's.

Sometimes, but not always.

Answer 6

If there is a responsible ad board that ascertains facts before broadcast, yes, commercials tell the truth. One truth. There are, after all, many ways of seeing things, many truths, and theirs is just a particularly rosy view that tells some facts, ignores others, and paints situations in he best possible light. As is the case with opinion columns, editorials and other commentary, commercials are based on facts, but the reader determines the veracity of the perspective. As the public is aware commercials are made for, well, commercial purposes, there's a natural check and balance.

Answer 7

Remember the commercials are there to make money. I believe the cos emetics industry is exaggerating its products. Commercials are really changing what we think and believe. Cosmetic surgery is the going thing, and people want youth and beauty at the cost of deformity, scarring, thousands of dollars, extreme pain, or at times death. Some commercials are now addressing the obesity dilemma, don't be fat, eat this, take this, and etc, the results are nil because the fact is eat less, eat right, and exercises. But, that's too hard, so people will spend money to take the easy route.

Answer 8

I think some commercials bend the truth, but, to some degree, advertisements need to be legitimate.

Answer 9

no, they give you a version of the truth, an exaggerated positive truth, which usually doesn't include all the cons or anything negative about their products.

Answer 10

Someone I know who works at an Ad Agency told me that all advertising is based on a lie. At times they decide which words they have to use to get you to buy the product.