'Beauty' advertising

November 22, 2007, 10:20 PM

This was originally going to be about cosmetic surgery, but I decided to make it about advertising in general, because it really really annoys me.

Like, recently on the tv/radio/magazines/everywhere really, I have noticed a high amount of adverts for cosmetic surgery.
It really irritated me the way they presented it, like 'Got a slight imperfection? Nose a tad round? Boobs not big enough? One earlobe slightly bigger than the other? Well come down and we will make you look like all pretty and plastic and perfect...' You know, as if people's body images aren't negative enough what with this size zero obsession on catwalks and models with 'perfect features'. I read an article about plastic surgery a few weeks ago and apparently in places like LA most women have had it to fix minor 'problems' with the way they look.

Well anyhoo, what are people's views on this whole shebang? Like, do you think that it's alright for people to get cosmetic surgery whenever they please, or are you morally against it altogether??

Personally i think that in extreme cases where it is going to save somebody's life, or if they have a severe facial growth/disfigurement then it is okay. In other cases, I suppose it is up to the person , if it gives them more confidence, then I can't say that I agree with the morals but fine. I just hate the way it is being broadcasted now as if it is just in the same league as wearing a lot of makeup or something..

November 22, 2007, 10:23 PM

It all comes down to like the last human on that Doctor who episode. Having every single imperfection removed from you to make you look better, to make you less human.

It's pretty disgusting if you ask me.

November 22, 2007, 10:24 PM

Directed at the final paragraph, I wouldn't say that there's ever a "wrong" time to get it done, or that anyone should be against another person doing something to make themselves feel better about how they appear.

I'd never consider such procedures myself but, for debates like this, I always stand firm at the "Pro-Choice" way of thinking. I don't mind if you want to go in and straighten out your nose - if it makes you feel better then, by all means, good luck to you. The only negative thing I can see with this is the debt that can pile up as a result of vanity.

November 22, 2007, 10:31 PM

I agree with Riku on the fact that you should feel that you are able and allowed to get a plastic surgery. I mean if you want to make yourself look better so you can feel okay with yourself then by all means do it. But if you want to go in for plastic surgery just cause you want your boobs bigger just to say you have big boobs then their's something wrong with your mindset...
Anyways I think that you should be able to get surgery if you feel that you really and truly need it.

Anyways on the topic of advertisement, I think that those chairmen sitting in their offices are bitches. I can't stand the way that they feel they have to dumb everything down for us. For example their is a cholesterol commercial and the guy is on these spiral stairs explaining cholesterol and then he tells everyone that doing whatever can improve your cholesterol by 1/10, that's 10%... I hate how they think nobody knows anything...

November 22, 2007, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riku

Directed at the final paragraph, I wouldn't say that there's ever a "wrong" time to get it done, or that anyone should be against another person doing something to make themselves feel better about how they appear.

I'd never consider such procedures myself but, for debates like this, I always stand firm at the "Pro-Choice" way of thinking. I don't mind if you want to go in and straighten out your nose - if it makes you feel better then, by all means, good luck to you. The only negative thing I can see with this is the debt that can pile up as a result of vanity.

I don't believe it's a question of "wanting to look better" it's more of a question of the media influencing people at such a young age, making them think there's something wrong with the way they look, they think they're fat when they aren't. They suddenly decide they want plastic surgery to make themselves look 'right'

November 23, 2007, 12:12 AM

I would be irritated by those advertisements too. Those kind of slogans are definitely not the right way to make someone feel better about themselves. If someone wants plastic surgery, please don't push it in front of their faces that they really need one badly. They could have tried a different approach.

I'm not against those who wants plastic surgery, although I agree with Riku that usually in most cases, the result leads to vanity. But I suppose that's understandable since you'll experience an overwhelming change go through you and naturally, you'll feel better about yourself. It could be an enjoyable experience for many people (seeming that the result is to their liking).

Flaunting way too much and being overconfident, however, is another matter. Not that being overconfident is a bad thing...it can just be annoying to some people if it comes down to that person looking down upon other people's looks just because he or she thinks they're better-looking than everyone.

November 23, 2007, 12:50 AM

Yea I agree with Penguin girl XD. Just kiddin Mitsuki.

I always do seem to agree with everyone on these types of things. I guess I'm just an agreeable guy.

November 23, 2007, 7:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finnegan III

I don't believe it's a question of "wanting to look better" it's more of a question of the media influencing people at such a young age, making them think there's something wrong with the way they look, they think they're fat when they aren't. They suddenly decide they want plastic surgery to make themselves look 'right'

Yes!! My point exactly! People are brainwashed with pictures everywhere of flawless-looking people, leading them to have an ideal picture of what they 'should' look like, and constantly comparing themselves with these models. And then with all the adverts for plastic surgery it is implying that having a bit of chubb on you etc. is a bad thing, and that you should get it removed, so therefore even people who don't go through with any surgery will still feel bad about themselves. It's not so much about getting the surgery, i guess it's more to do with the way that the media is influencing people into thinking that they need it.

November 24, 2007, 5:41 AM

Eh, live and let live. If people think that they need plastic surgery, whatever, let them get it. It's their money. If getting plastic surgery will help with someone's self-esteem and make them feel better about themselves, let them get it. I don't really see the harm in it. Sure it's vain, but so what? Putting on make up is vain. Brushing your hair is vain. We have the medical technology to fix people's features with increasingly non-invasive procedures. I do think, however, that there should be an age restriction on plastic surgery. The thought of young girls getting work done is rather sickening. Plastic surgery should be reserved for people who are 18 years old or older, except in special cases (burn victims, deformities, etc...).

I personally would never have plastic surgery done. I mean, sure there are things that I don't like about my features, but they're MY features and no one else's. I don't really want to mess with that. My cousin had a nose job, and it really messed up her nose. Her nose looks pretty awful now, and they can't fix it because there's a danger it would just make it worse and she'd end up looking like Michael Jackson. Honestly, though, when I'm older and have wrinkles, I don't see the harm in getting a bit of work done so that my skin looks smoother. I can't help it...I can be vain. Meh.

I haven't really encountered plastic surgery ads that target young girls. I do agree that its unfortunate that they are bombarded with images of "perfect" looking people. A majority, if not all, of these models are airbrushed and enhanced. These images the girls see aren't even real people. It also teaches girls to care more about their appearances than about their intelligence. As a result, you get girls who care more about what they're wearing/whether some guy thinks they're pretty than about being intelligent. It's disgusting.