Do you think subliminal advertising works? Does it have to be namebrand for you?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

To me, I always thought subliminal advertising or hidden messages embedded in ads, are considered to be a deceptive business practice by the Federal Trade Commission. The way I read into it, I thought the article was referring to the legal kind of "subliminal" persuasion that happens every day.

No. Subliminal means "existing or operating below the threshold of consciousness" or "Inadequate to produce conscious awareness but able to evoke a response." (Thanks, dictionary.com.) All the things you described are clearly things that are consciously perceived, even if they are not completely understood.

And it's not considered a deceptive trade practice by the FTC, at least not in any blanket sense.

Like PM_Mama00 said, what you described is just plain ol' marketing.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

No. Subliminal means "existing or operating below the threshold of consciousness" or "Inadequate to produce conscious awareness but able to evoke a response." (Thanks, dictionary.com.) All the things you described are clearly things that are consciously perceived, even if they are not completely understood.

And it's not considered a deceptive trade practice by the FTC, at least not in any blanket sense.

Like PM_Mama00 said, what you described is just plain ol' marketing.

I agree with PM_Mama00 too, but the title of the article was "Subliminal Advertising". A lot of the information I posted from what I read in the article can be associated as subliminal too. A lot of it is based on assumptions, like I posted earlier. I think the perfume labels are marketing, but the feel of certain products are based on some consumers assumptions.

[SydneyK]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

A lot of the information I posted from what I read in the article can be associated as subliminal too. A lot of it is based on assumptions, like I posted earlier.

I still don't get how prefering a heavier remote control to a lighter one is in any way a form of subliminal advertising. Having preferences based on assumptions =/= anything subliminal.

Sounds to me like the person who authored the article you referenced wasn't quite up to speed on what subliminal advertising is.