Eating Disorder Advertising
So there I am, watching the Idiot Box last night and on comes the fucking adverts. First up is the ectoplasmic fireman from the Gaviscon adverts. Who is he helping get rid of that nasty burning indigestion? Why, it's a young, active, good looking female and doesn't she seem to be suffering, but not for long. Thanks Gaviscon.

Next up, Senekot, for faster digestive transit and who needs this accelerated shitsprayer? Why, it's a young, active, good looking female and doesn't she seem to be suffering, but not for long. Thanks Senekot.

Ok, first things first, the only people I know who suffer from indegestion are folk with stomach ulcers, alcoholics, lolfatties, and curry gobblers. NOT young attractive women, unless of course she has been heaving her guts up due that pesky bulimia leaving her stomach filled with nothing but stomach acid and bile, again, just like every day. Pass the Gaviscon.

My experience of laxative users is very limited, but the main users seem to be anorexics, shedding that unfortunate, 'square meal' they had last night. I know a few svelte young ladies who put their figure down to laxatives, coffee and ciggies. Popping the laxatives as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

So the combination of these two adverts is much more than co-incidence, they ALWAYS seem to appear together and in doing so offer a choice of remedies for the sufferers of eating disorders. However, the cynical will enjoy the fact that either before or after these adverts comes one for Burger King or Mc Donalds and the circle of abuse grinds on. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.
(Cancer Joy was short lived, Fri 18 Dec 2009, 9:23, 18 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Ha ha
You should write for The Guardian, they love that sort of stuff!
(The Boy Monders I have ginger bits in my beard., Fri 18 Dec 2009, 9:27, Reply)

I could be wrong, but I doubt it
That's what deluded people always say
(Bazongaloid, Fri 18 Dec 2009, 9:32, Reply)

Mate, i am proper deluded
It's the only way i can make it through my waking nightmare of a day.
(Cancer Joy was short lived, Fri 18 Dec 2009, 9:34, Reply)

No they don't
They say 'Fuck the lot of yous, i'm better than you'
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 18 Dec 2009, 9:41, Reply)

Wrong again
they whine about David Bowie and other popular artists.
(Bazongaloid, Fri 18 Dec 2009, 9:56, Reply)

THAT TOLD ME.
Magnificent retort. You're having an amazing day today. First, your question of the week gets selected, now your quickfire wit has just shot me down in flames.

I suggest you buy a lottery ticket today. You're sure to win.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 18 Dec 2009, 10:12, Reply)

Easy now Monty
This type of b3tan regards posts like that as a minor victory, don't feed it's ego. These internet wobblers can be quite dangerous when the delusions become reality.
(Cancer Joy was short lived, Fri 18 Dec 2009, 10:24, Reply)

That Gaviscon advert is so jizzy

( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Fri 18 Dec 2009, 9:34, Reply)

Well, what woman
could resist the thought of a spunky fireman spraying his 'cooling formula' down her throat?
(Cancer Joy was short lived, Fri 18 Dec 2009, 9:36, Reply)

Not I.
I might go and eat a load of raw chillis washed down with vinegar, just to move things along
( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Fri 18 Dec 2009, 9:37, Reply)

*whips out hose*

(Tugnut Ex of this parish, Fri 18 Dec 2009, 9:53, Reply)

What's this got to do with snow?

(PsychoChomp, Fri 18 Dec 2009, 9:35, Reply)

Cancer Joy - seeing the dark side since...

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 18 Dec 2009, 9:37, Reply)

Is there any other side?

(Cancer Joy was short lived, Fri 18 Dec 2009, 10:25, Reply)

If there is, I certainly don't know about it

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 18 Dec 2009, 10:39, Reply)

*burns xmas cards and starts weeping*

(Tugnut Ex of this parish, Fri 18 Dec 2009, 10:45, Reply)

Interesting assumption.
I'm an active 18 year old female, and I use gaviscon. I have a weird form of GERD, an acid reflux disease.

I'm not a fucking bulimic and gaviscon has helped me immensely.
(Holy Gabrielle is Holy, Sat 19 Dec 2009, 0:35, Reply)

My observations
from a pharmacy assistant point of view are that Gaviscon users are mainly pregnant women and middle aged, red faced, barrel shaped men.
Laxative users are usually little old ladies and codeine addicts (who can be any sex or age, but mostly middle aged, and they know what they're doing because they've been taking it for years thankyouverymuch, how dare you suggest that they might be better off without it).

People with genuine medical complaints generally get what they need on prescription (including Gaviscon and laxatives). But marketing in the world of medicine is a law unto itself and can be as funny as it is crass. I mean, really, when you're aiming your advert at someone who has a bodily function failure, and is going to be - let's face it - getting intimite with your product, you're beyond euphemism.

At work we have a number of staff mugs. I don't mind having a brew in the Anadin mug, in fact I tend to favour the Nasaleze mug with its cheery orange and yellow writing, but I cannot bring myself to drink from the Canestan cup, no matter how thirsty I am.

Reminds me of an anecdote our locum told us today - she'd received an abusive complaint from a man who was unhappy with his constipation meds. "They don't work and they taste disgusting!" he shouted for all in the pharmacy to hear. He'd been eating his suppositories.
( warmfuzzies Isn't here, Sat 19 Dec 2009, 1:10, Reply)