Random Rumblings from the Mind of Macster
I'm going to do a bit of stream of consciousness here. Lots of random stuff floating in my head recently. Most of them are completely mundane and none too deep. However, I figured why not clear the data banks so that I can write something more meaningful later? So that's what I'm going to do...
First of all, has anyone else noticed that apparently all the insurance companies got together and decided to shoot new marketing campaigns designed for a younger demographic? From State Farm's "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there" schtick where State Farm clients sing the jingle and a State Farm agent appears ready to grant wishes like a genie (Video #1), to All State's spokesman pretending to be different events that could occur if you don't have All State coverage (Video #2), to Farmer's "Professor Nathaniel Burke" (aka JK Simmons) teaching and testing his agents about common (and very uncommon) insurance claim scenarios (Video #3) that are always followed by the "We are Farmer's, bum da bum bum bum bum" thing that is ridiculous, they all seem to be preying on younger crowds. This follows the trend of Esurance and their animation heroine Erin Esurance, the sassy purple haired comic book looking gal (although even Esurance is trying to be witty nowadays and going live action (Video #4). And of course there's still the Geiko gecko still doing his thing and Flo, the annoyingly upbeat Progressive lady. And you know what? It works. I obviously have started paying attention to their commercials. I can't even tell you what their campaigns were like before. And others are paying attention as well. My friends and I were in a discussion one day hardly watching TV when all of a sudden we all stopped talking to watch a State Farm commercial. A random observation but tell me the marketing hasn't worked!
I've noticed a marked difference about males and females. If you get two guys in a car there will be little conversation. You may shoot the shit a bit, but most guys are content to drive and just listen to music or the ballgame together in silence as they drive from Point A to Point B. A guy and a gal? There's conversation pretty much the entire drive, like they're uncomfortable if there's a lull in the dialogue. It doesn't feel like a natural exchange, it's almost tedious. And if you put two girls in a car? It's non-stop chatter at a much more furious pace. Just an interesting dynamic picked up on over the years. Something to think about next time you're in the car.
Another observation I've noticed is the use of nicknames by dudes and the subtle use of nicknames used by dudettes. Guys have really really basic nicknames for women. They use names like "Crazy Susan" because her name is Susan and she's crazy. Or "Becca Big Tits" because her name is Becca and she has a large chest. Or "SoCal Jenny" because her name is Jenny and she's from Southern California. Or "Bitch Cindy" because her name is Cindy and she's a bitch. You get the point. Guys take a fact (or stereotype or feature) about a girl and just apply her name to it. Simple. However, guys do get more creative for their guy friends. At least when they're not calling each other by their last name which, let's be honest, is almost all the time. Guy nicknames for each other usually revolve around some inside joke or random factoid. Nicknames like "Midnight" may be used because a guy is really tan. Or the nickname "Beefcake" is applied because he's a gym rat. Guys find one thing about their friends and harp on it and make a name out of it. Women do this too. They find a trait about a guy and use some insane creativity to come up with a name that they can actually use in public without the guy even having a clue. I'll try to give you an example, but I really can't do the female mind justice. It's like they nickname a guy "Snowflake" because 2 years ago a guy once looked at them in a cabin while it was snowing outside. Then they can use it in casual conversation. It's actually quite impressive. And of course, women's nicknames for each other are "bitch" and "slut" since that's pretty much how they all look at each other. Am I wrong?
My final observation is about the people that don't have Facebook. Almost everyone not on Facebook (and really, it's quite a shrinking market) all seem to have the same excuse. They claim it’s because they don’t want to get random friend requests from old high school people who they have no desire to see or hear from. You know these people... they don’t want randoms friending them. Which is funny because normally these people are the weirdos you wouldn’t be friends with anyways! Newsflash weirdos: You have the option to decline friend invites! Shocking, I know. When people tell me they're not on Facebook, I regard them instantly with suspicion. I understand why some people don't like Facebook. But not having an account just seems odd. I mean, could 750 million people be wrong?
I'm Macster and I Approve This Message
First of all, has anyone else noticed that apparently all the insurance companies got together and decided to shoot new marketing campaigns designed for a younger demographic? From State Farm's "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there" schtick where State Farm clients sing the jingle and a State Farm agent appears ready to grant wishes like a genie (Video #1), to All State's spokesman pretending to be different events that could occur if you don't have All State coverage (Video #2), to Farmer's "Professor Nathaniel Burke" (aka JK Simmons) teaching and testing his agents about common (and very uncommon) insurance claim scenarios (Video #3) that are always followed by the "We are Farmer's, bum da bum bum bum bum" thing that is ridiculous, they all seem to be preying on younger crowds. This follows the trend of Esurance and their animation heroine Erin Esurance, the sassy purple haired comic book looking gal (although even Esurance is trying to be witty nowadays and going live action (Video #4). And of course there's still the Geiko gecko still doing his thing and Flo, the annoyingly upbeat Progressive lady. And you know what? It works. I obviously have started paying attention to their commercials. I can't even tell you what their campaigns were like before. And others are paying attention as well. My friends and I were in a discussion one day hardly watching TV when all of a sudden we all stopped talking to watch a State Farm commercial. A random observation but tell me the marketing hasn't worked!
I've noticed a marked difference about males and females. If you get two guys in a car there will be little conversation. You may shoot the shit a bit, but most guys are content to drive and just listen to music or the ballgame together in silence as they drive from Point A to Point B. A guy and a gal? There's conversation pretty much the entire drive, like they're uncomfortable if there's a lull in the dialogue. It doesn't feel like a natural exchange, it's almost tedious. And if you put two girls in a car? It's non-stop chatter at a much more furious pace. Just an interesting dynamic picked up on over the years. Something to think about next time you're in the car.
Another observation I've noticed is the use of nicknames by dudes and the subtle use of nicknames used by dudettes. Guys have really really basic nicknames for women. They use names like "Crazy Susan" because her name is Susan and she's crazy. Or "Becca Big Tits" because her name is Becca and she has a large chest. Or "SoCal Jenny" because her name is Jenny and she's from Southern California. Or "Bitch Cindy" because her name is Cindy and she's a bitch. You get the point. Guys take a fact (or stereotype or feature) about a girl and just apply her name to it. Simple. However, guys do get more creative for their guy friends. At least when they're not calling each other by their last name which, let's be honest, is almost all the time. Guy nicknames for each other usually revolve around some inside joke or random factoid. Nicknames like "Midnight" may be used because a guy is really tan. Or the nickname "Beefcake" is applied because he's a gym rat. Guys find one thing about their friends and harp on it and make a name out of it. Women do this too. They find a trait about a guy and use some insane creativity to come up with a name that they can actually use in public without the guy even having a clue. I'll try to give you an example, but I really can't do the female mind justice. It's like they nickname a guy "Snowflake" because 2 years ago a guy once looked at them in a cabin while it was snowing outside. Then they can use it in casual conversation. It's actually quite impressive. And of course, women's nicknames for each other are "bitch" and "slut" since that's pretty much how they all look at each other. Am I wrong?
My final observation is about the people that don't have Facebook. Almost everyone not on Facebook (and really, it's quite a shrinking market) all seem to have the same excuse. They claim it’s because they don’t want to get random friend requests from old high school people who they have no desire to see or hear from. You know these people... they don’t want randoms friending them. Which is funny because normally these people are the weirdos you wouldn’t be friends with anyways! Newsflash weirdos: You have the option to decline friend invites! Shocking, I know. When people tell me they're not on Facebook, I regard them instantly with suspicion. I understand why some people don't like Facebook. But not having an account just seems odd. I mean, could 750 million people be wrong?
I'm Macster and I Approve This Message
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