Wow! Well that was interesting, though I don't think the commercial makes me want to go buy an Accord. So does this replace the South African beer commercial as the best commercial?
MMM? The SA beer commercial is still the best because it makes me laugh, and it's nostalgic, and I relate. You are right about this commercial though - it's very clever, but does NOT want to make me buy an Accord! This is a good discussion - what makes a commercial "good?"
A good commercial has to make you feel like you will be a better person if you have that product, that you're smarter because you chose that product. There is not enough product differentiation to lead you to a decision anymore. It's all about deception and vanity.
Look at the latest round of McDonalds commercials. If you don't eat a McD's, you're not a part of the urban, hip young adults. If you are hip(notice how in shape the people are), you'll eat at McDonalds.
But yet, if I go to a McD's (rarely), I don't see those cool young adults. I see fat people and families with small kids out on the playground.
Another example is the very well done Apple commercials. [sarcasm]You see, PC people are just irrational, dumb and not well dressed. Apple people are hip, cool and smart.[/sarcasm] At least that's what the commerical says.
But yet, despite the best arguments, the differences between the OS and hardware are becoming increasing smaller. The lines are bluring between the systems.
WARNING: I'M CHASING A FAT RABIT BEYOND THIS POINT
Is a BMW really that much better than a Kia? I mean, thousands of dollars better? Or is there a certain amount of vanity that goes into that buying decision?
So, what is the christian to do? What's our reaction to these appeals?
To me, it all comes down to good stewardship. Many times, it is worth it to pay a little more for a product if you know it will last longer. But, at some point you are paying for vanity, not quality.
i agree with your point, mark. i have noticed exactly what you are talking about for quite some time. i believe in spending more on things that need to last and not so much on things you don't or won't need in several years. example, you should pay more for jeans, white button up shirts, things that are never going to go out of style. and at the same time i have no shame in paying alot less for more faddish things. things that i know i probably won't be wearing next season, so why should i pay for quality for something i don't even care if it lasts to next season. you will notice that i transulated your topic from cars to clothes because that's what i can relate to, i have no shame in saying i know nothing about cars. all i know is that my kia gets me from a to b just fine. sure maybe it isn't as fancy as your car but i still get there.
I just got a flashback to an old Seinfeld episode where Jerry breaks up with a girl because she like the Dockers pants commercial and he thinks it's stupid!
I think the clothes example translates well. I've heard people say that they can tell the difference between a $210.00 pair of "7" brand jeans and a $110.00 pair of "Lucky" brand jeans and a $40.00 pair of "Gap" brand jeans. I say "Whatever!" I'll admit, there's a difference in the quality and fit of a pair of Wranglers you pick up at Target and the jeans listed above. (Don't get me wrong, I love Target!) But, at some point it gets way rediculous. These people are just trying to say "look how rich I am, I can afford $200 jeans!"
All car commercials are not the same. Some sell PRICE and some sell the CAR - there's a huge difference!
One more thing. If you see a car as a utilitarian device to get you from point A to point B, while using as little gas as possible, then all cars are "the same." But, if driving 110 mph down a winding road causes you to come alive with the sensation of having blood reach your extremities because every sense in your body is heightened, then having a BMW absolutely does matter!
To take the point even further - a BMW is still a reasonably inexpensive car when compared to a $200 000 Ferrari or Aston Martin. Would you spend that kind of money on a car? I would!!! But I still buy $15 jeans though.
Charles, I think that's where the question is... is it OK for a christian to buy for prestige? Is that being a good stewart of what God has given to you?
That is a good question. Let me recommend a book: Ronald Sider, "Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger." It will indict ALL of us!
So, a better question might be, "Is it okay for a Christian to . . . (insert about 1000 questions relating to our cozy, kid-friendly, suburban, American lifestyle that is antithetical to the values of scripture)? You see, we're all living in a very big glass house!
i don't think there is anything wrong with spending crazy amounts of money on a car or anything else for that matter. just because you are blessed with monitary gain doesn't mean you have to give it all away. but i do think that God does require that you be willing to. as to say, don't get so caught up it what you can and do buy. because after all is said and done it's all just stuff.
I love Italian, English and German. They are well made and delightful to drive. I own a Mercedes Benz. We purchased it used a few years ago. What I can't understand is how a used MB is poor stewardship but a new Chevy costing $20,000 more is good stewardship. This is irrational. I guess I struggle with people turning their own hang ups into into spiritual issues.
OK... I warned y'all this would steer off course from the original topic! - Sorry Charles!
As always, I really enjoy these lively posts and the various points of view we get around here.
By the way, Ryan, I LOVE MBs. I think they are one of the classiest looking cars out there. They have an enduring beauty. If it wasn't for needing room for the kids and their friends, I would have tried to convince my wife that a MB was the car she wanted.
Ryan, I think you are right that some people try to use the "What Would Jesus Do" card to deal with their own hangups. At the same time, the desire to understand what exactly a Christian ideal should be and look like, I think is very pertinent. I am reminded of John Howard Yoder's book, "The Politics of Jesus." Some criticize it because it seems more to be a politics of Luke more so than a politics of Christ, but seeing how Luke's writing encompass more of the NT than even Paul's and that Luke argues so vehemently against possessions (Luke 14:33) that we have to take his position seriously. On the flip side, I also agree with the preaching of the early church fathers (mostly Clement of Alexandria and John Chrysostom) that giving up everything is more Jesus preaching against avarice and the unwillingness to give rather than asking all Christians to be poor and homeless.
18 comments:
Wow! Well that was interesting, though I don't think the commercial makes me want to go buy an Accord. So does this replace the South African beer commercial as the best commercial?
MMM? The SA beer commercial is still the best because it makes me laugh, and it's nostalgic, and I relate. You are right about this commercial though - it's very clever, but does NOT want to make me buy an Accord! This is a good discussion - what makes a commercial "good?"
I think a good commercial makes you remember the product.
Charles said it best, "...and I relate."
A good commercial has to make you feel like you will be a better person if you have that product, that you're smarter because you chose that product. There is not enough product differentiation to lead you to a decision anymore. It's all about deception and vanity.
Look at the latest round of McDonalds commercials. If you don't eat a McD's, you're not a part of the urban, hip young adults. If you are hip(notice how in shape the people are), you'll eat at McDonalds.
But yet, if I go to a McD's (rarely), I don't see those cool young adults. I see fat people and families with small kids out on the playground.
Another example is the very well done Apple commercials. [sarcasm]You see, PC people are just irrational, dumb and not well dressed. Apple people are hip, cool and smart.[/sarcasm] At least that's what the commerical says.
But yet, despite the best arguments, the differences between the OS and hardware are becoming increasing smaller. The lines are bluring between the systems.
WARNING: I'M CHASING A FAT RABIT BEYOND THIS POINT
Is a BMW really that much better than a Kia? I mean, thousands of dollars better? Or is there a certain amount of vanity that goes into that buying decision?
So, what is the christian to do? What's our reaction to these appeals?
To me, it all comes down to good stewardship. Many times, it is worth it to pay a little more for a product if you know it will last longer. But, at some point you are paying for vanity, not quality.
i agree with your point, mark. i have noticed exactly what you are talking about for quite some time. i believe in spending more on things that need to last and not so much on things you don't or won't need in several years. example, you should pay more for jeans, white button up shirts, things that are never going to go out of style. and at the same time i have no shame in paying alot less for more faddish things. things that i know i probably won't be wearing next season, so why should i pay for quality for something i don't even care if it lasts to next season. you will notice that i transulated your topic from cars to clothes because that's what i can relate to, i have no shame in saying i know nothing about cars. all i know is that my kia gets me from a to b just fine. sure maybe it isn't as fancy as your car but i still get there.
I just got a flashback to an old Seinfeld episode where Jerry breaks up with a girl because she like the Dockers pants commercial and he thinks it's stupid!
Mark - The Mac ads are 100% right. We just are cooler!!!
casey,
I think the clothes example translates well. I've heard people say that they can tell the difference between a $210.00 pair of "7" brand jeans and a $110.00 pair of "Lucky" brand jeans and a $40.00 pair of "Gap" brand jeans. I say "Whatever!" I'll admit, there's a difference in the quality and fit of a pair of Wranglers you pick up at Target and the jeans listed above. (Don't get me wrong, I love Target!) But, at some point it gets way rediculous. These people are just trying to say "look how rich I am, I can afford $200 jeans!"
I just don't get it!
All car commercials are not the same. Some sell PRICE and some sell the CAR - there's a huge difference!
One more thing. If you see a car as a utilitarian device to get you from point A to point B, while using as little gas as possible, then all cars are "the same." But, if driving 110 mph down a winding road causes you to come alive with the sensation of having blood reach your extremities because every sense in your body is heightened, then having a BMW absolutely does matter!
To take the point even further - a BMW is still a reasonably inexpensive car when compared to a $200 000 Ferrari or Aston Martin. Would you spend that kind of money on a car? I would!!! But I still buy $15 jeans though.
Charles, I think that's where the question is... is it OK for a christian to buy for prestige? Is that being a good stewart of what God has given to you?
That is a good question. Let me recommend a book: Ronald Sider, "Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger." It will indict ALL of us!
So, a better question might be, "Is it okay for a Christian to . . . (insert about 1000 questions relating to our cozy, kid-friendly, suburban, American lifestyle that is antithetical to the values of scripture)? You see, we're all living in a very big glass house!
i don't think there is anything wrong with spending crazy amounts of money on a car or anything else for that matter. just because you are blessed with monitary gain doesn't mean you have to give it all away. but i do think that God does require that you be willing to. as to say, don't get so caught up it what you can and do buy. because after all is said and done it's all just stuff.
That's good Casey. What matters is what's in the heart. All the rest is just "stuff."
It's all about balance!
I love Italian, English and German. They are well made and delightful to drive. I own a Mercedes Benz. We purchased it used a few years ago. What I can't understand is how a used MB is poor stewardship but a new Chevy costing $20,000 more is good stewardship. This is irrational. I guess I struggle with people turning their own hang ups into into spiritual issues.
OK... I warned y'all this would steer off course from the original topic! - Sorry Charles!
As always, I really enjoy these lively posts and the various points of view we get around here.
By the way, Ryan, I LOVE MBs. I think they are one of the classiest looking cars out there. They have an enduring beauty. If it wasn't for needing room for the kids and their friends, I would have tried to convince my wife that a MB was the car she wanted.
Ryan, I think you are right that some people try to use the "What Would Jesus Do" card to deal with their own hangups. At the same time, the desire to understand what exactly a Christian ideal should be and look like, I think is very pertinent. I am reminded of John Howard Yoder's book, "The Politics of Jesus." Some criticize it because it seems more to be a politics of Luke more so than a politics of Christ, but seeing how Luke's writing encompass more of the NT than even Paul's and that Luke argues so vehemently against possessions (Luke 14:33) that we have to take his position seriously. On the flip side, I also agree with the preaching of the early church fathers (mostly Clement of Alexandria and John Chrysostom) that giving up everything is more Jesus preaching against avarice and the unwillingness to give rather than asking all Christians to be poor and homeless.
We're not off topic at all - I love how everything I bring up always comes around to asking, "Now what should Christians/the church do?"
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