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Life
Why Do We Torture Ourselves With Unrealistic Depictions of Americans?
Normalize portrayals of real life
I’ve been married to my husband for 16 years, and he has never once failed to comment about any drug company commercial he sees. That’s because he is from the Netherlands, where such an ad is unthinkable.
Usually he laughs.
He cracks up at how the people in the commercial are shown smiling and having a wonderful time while the voiceover says the drug may cause stroke, heart attack, diarrhea, acne, birth defects, cancer, paper cuts, psychosis, split ends, rectal swelling, excessive ear wax, fatigue, bone loss, stretch marks, uncontrollable laughter at funerals and toenail fungus.
But he had a new observation last night, and it’s the same bitch I’ve had for years in regards to TV shows and movies: Everybody in these damned ads is rich.
It’s not bad enough you have some disorder dreadful enough that you’re willing to risk toenail fungus and whatnot — you also see that apparently everybody else with your health issue is living the good life.
There they are, in an immaculate and perfect kitchen, preparing wonderful food with multiple family members and friends, all of whom are well-groomed, good-looking…
