Why are there nine million flabby stomach ads on every website?

Captain Tars Tarkas · February 02, 2009, 01:43:31 PM

I don't want to see gross stomachs oozing out all over, and every website in the known universe now has these stomach ads everywhere! Gah! It is like the blob up in here.

Ed, Ego and Superego · February 02, 2009, 02:53:02 PM

Theres a lot of flabby stomachs in the world, and some folks would like to take those stomach's money witha promise of less flabbiness in future.
-Ed

Ash · February 02, 2009, 04:16:14 PM

Those flabby stomach ads are here on this site.
Almost everytime I log into this forum, there it is, that nasty, flabby stomach ad running vertically along the right side of the page.
It's absolutely disgusting and I have to look away.

Most ads like that try to tap into our weaknesses. They prey upon people with low self esteem and I personally find it deplorable.
There's nothing wrong with bettering yourself and losing that unwanted weight, but there definitely are better ways to advertise it.

Andrew, please, please, please get rid of that ad! Replace it with something else. Anything but that awful disgusting, flabby stomach.

indianasmith · February 02, 2009, 07:06:38 PM

Could it be that way too many Americans, myself included, are pigs with no sense of self control where food is concerned??? *BELCH!!**

Mr. DS · February 02, 2009, 07:24:35 PM

I tolerate them for the "after" photos.

meQal · February 02, 2009, 07:28:14 PM

Quote from: indianasmith on February 02, 2009, 07:06:38 PM
Could it be that way too many Americans, myself included, are pigs with no sense of self control where food is concerned??? *BELCH!!**

I resemble that remark.
Seriously however it's to target obese people like myself to get off our fat butts and get into shape by buying the product advertised and to get those of you who are in shape to buy the product advertised to keep from looking like the pics in the ads.

Andrew · February 02, 2009, 09:07:06 PM

These ads are running on a lot of the ad networks, and the advertiser obviously has quite a bit of funding for the campaigns (there are multiple). Believe it or not, I have disabled an enormous number of the campaigns. Unfortunately, January is normally a bad month for online advertising, and this January appears to be the worst in the market's short history.

I am trying to limit how many of these run.

Captain Tars Tarkas · February 02, 2009, 11:05:10 PM

I just got annoyed because they seemed to be on almost every site with ads that I have visited. They were all over the statcounter site which I have been on more recently because my traffic has exploded for random reasons. They were on a few blogs I visited this week, and then they were here. It was like they were following me. They do a good job of getting noticed, but not in a way that would make me want to click on them even if was overweight. I wonder if before and after photos are more successful than just showing after photos...

Torgo · February 02, 2009, 11:19:35 PM

All those flabby stomach ads do is make me realize how fat and flabby my own stomach is.

My goal is to lose 40 pounds this year if I can.

Trevor · February 03, 2009, 01:13:06 AM

Quote from: Captain Tars Tarkas on February 02, 2009, 01:43:31 PM
I don't want to see gross stomachs oozing out all over, and every website in the known universe now has these stomach ads everywhere! Gah! It is like the blob up in here.

Damn, I knew I was asking for major trouble when I licensed those pictures of my tummy.......

Saucerman · February 03, 2009, 08:32:17 AM

They're not even realistic -- losing thirty pounds in eight weeks means a couple things: 1) You're dead, 2) If you aren't dead, you're defecating so violently and so often that you wish you were dead and 3) The ad campaign isn't even trying to be realistic, and is simply appealing to the shallow, unwashed, flabby masses who crave instant gratification, health concerns be damned!

Heck, the Wii Fit told me trying to lose more than 3 pounds every two weeks was dangerous.

Pilgermann · February 03, 2009, 12:31:10 PM

BUT IT'S AS SEEN ON RACHEL RAY!!!!11

What truly scares me are the animated ones of which I'm viewing at this moment to the right of the screen. And God, yes, they're everywhere online.

Mr. DS · February 03, 2009, 12:59:21 PM

I like a little meat on a woman. Not that much though. Looks like there is less flab today.

ghouck · February 03, 2009, 01:33:26 PM

There is just SOOOOOOO much money in weight loss in the U.S. I've seen ads for meal programs that go for ~$10.00 per meal, that's $900/month for what amounts to small TV dinners. Gym memberships are HIGLY luctative, and gyms often have memberships at a level that less than one percent of their customers are there at any time, and reports of up to 70% memberships not being used. 1% equates to each member using the gym less than an hour a week on average. Not to mention advertising time during those weight-loss oriented television. For a nation that spends so much money on it, we sure do have alot of people that still need it, myself included (the needing part, not the spending part).

Raffine · February 03, 2009, 02:11:15 PM

MOE: Whattya want for breakfast?
LARRY: Burnt toast an' a rotten egg!
MOE: Burnt toast an' a rotten egg?!?
LARRY: I gotta tapeworm an' that's good enough for 'em!

AND

MOE: Hey, Porcupine! Ya wanna go fishin'?
LARRY: Yeah!
MOE: Ya got worms?
LARRY: Yeah, but I'm goin' anyway!