Random thoughts on stuff WIP

Been watching a little bit of the Idiot Lantern and, much to my surprise, my brain keeps rejecting things that are stated as fact in commercials. We all know commercials aren't primarily a source of reliable information. The only reason they exist is so networks get income and advertisers make money and ad agency people don't end up out on the street, OK? Clear 'nuff.

At the same time, there are hordes of people out there who do seem to take commercials as being the broadcast equivalent of Veritas. It's a bit hard to get the mind around that fact, but there it is. If misleading or downright dishonest commercials keeping airing, you know somebody is buying their products. Or having their opinions altered in some way.

For instance:

"When their worlds are cleaner, their lives are healthier." (from Clorox, the White Knight of consumer disinfection products)

This particular statement is open for numerous interpretations. I venture to guess that the most obvious one to mommies is they must keep everything in their children's worlds absolutely, spotlessly clean. Not only clean, but Clorox clean. With the implication that, if they fail in this basic duty, their kids will be sick and it's mommy's fault.

Too bad science doesn't back Clorox's statements...

from Doctor's Guide comes Antibacterial Products May Worsen Problem of Resistant Bacteria
from JMP Current Question: How to Fight Germs

try doing an internet search for antibacterial and see how many hits you get. Then look through those and see how many of them deal with the harmful effects of triclosan and the range of products in general.

I'm not advocating filth, dirt, crud, garbage or anything like that, OK? I am saying that this type of advertising (and Clorox isn't alone) is aimed purposely and directly at Moms, most of whom are already under siege from outside and inside the home. Assaulted by advertisers, battered by advice columnists and parenting magazines and their own families, what is a besieged Mommy to do but everything?

Do the kids have a runny nose? "Repent, foul parent-in-name-only! You have allowed, nay, encouraged this illness and you are a bad, bad, irresponsible, heartless, uncaring lout. Repent, redeem your ways! Spray! Wipe! Boil! Soak! Firehose! Powerwash! It may already be too late to save them from the horrible fate awaiting them!" bray the advertisers. (ok, so they don't say that right out loud. Isn't the message clear, anyway?)

If measles, mumps, chicken pox, scarlet fever, influenza, trots, anything other than absolute perfect, glowing health should surface? It's Mommy's fault because "kids don't know how to keep themselves healthy." Isn't that just sorta a dumb thing to say? Really, what goofball ever thought that up? What kid ever gave more than no attention at all to the matter of germs, disinfection or anything of that sort? (Other than the ones made psycho by even more psycho parents.) Kids get sick, kids get over it. Sometimes with medical intervention, most of the time not.

Unless, and here's the rub, UNLESS Mommy falls for all this blather and keeps dousing the household and the kids in antibacterial stuff. This has two effects, at the very least.

The first is to kill the mild to moderately dangerous germs. This allows the more dangerous ones to multiply. They then develop resistance to antibacterial and antibiotic agents of various kinds. When this happens and that kid gets an ear infection there is a good chance the medications prescribed by the physician simply will not suffice to kill the bad guys. The bad guys are immune. So doc has to prescribe ever-stronger meds. The bacteria then develop immunity to those. So, now what do you do?

The second is the chemical agents used as antibacterials are dangerous, in and of themselves. Imagine the buildup of triclosan residue after months or years of spraying and wiping? (Or don't, if you're like me and visualize such things as green slime dripping from every surface in the house. Ugh.) These chemicals also escape into the environment and are causing harm to aquatic life and fauna in general.