To not get the hype about Christmas adverts

[Qwertybynature]

Am I just being a grinch? I can't understand the level of excitement about the John Lewis advert or the Coca Cola Lorry. When did it even become a thing? I'm not religious so I'm not even bothered about the commercialization of Christmas but I can't get excited about a TV ad.

i'm on the grumpy fence here too

i mean who gives a shiny shit where the coke lorry is??? its not magical, its designed to sell you stuff!!

I know different strokes for different folks, all that. I know it. And I am a kind, decent person. Mostly.

BUT

I can't bear it, it's part and parcel of the infantilisation of society that makes me want to go and live in a cave

this. With fucking knobs on

I don't mind people watching all kinds of dreck. It's a bit of fun. I love watch Made in Chelsea dammit

but adverts

people doing the advertisers' work for them! By CHOICE!

I hate adverts. I don't watch them. I barely watch tv. I don't like the JL adverts, don't care about the coke ones either, I don't squeal or squeee all over FB.

I like Christmas adverts in general though. My family set up a company in the nineteenth century and owned one of the very first 'chains'. They had little paper adverts at Christmas. I still have one from 1889. It's bloody lovely. It does evoke in me a feeling of nostalgia. At the same time as I acknowledge all of the other valid and hideous aspects to consumerist Christmas.

Showy that sounds amazing!

At the other end of the spectrum are people fannying about on social media actively doing the job of the marketer for FREE. It's the digital equivalent of wearing clothes with the word BENCH draped all over your arse. Just, stop sleepwalking, get some of your own opinions, and state them if asked. That's all.

PS: my job is social media. I'm duty bound to spend vast swathes of my life on Facebook. There is. No. Escape.

It's the artificiality isn't it? It's not actual pleasure, it's a crazy, hyped-up, faux pleasure which is only meaningful if you've shared it on social media and received plenty of likes?

I think I probably misunderstood your first post. The infantilisation of society with regards to behaviour as opposed to merely liking Christmas adverts as a benign activity. I like it the most because I said it loudest and mine is biggest and nobody look at the big hole, paper over it with squees and joy and hyped up sentimentality.

It's annoying but it's worrying too.

Yes, exactly that. The clamour to be seen as the person having the MOST fun EVER because THEY are the MOST FUN person EVER. Just, everyone calm down, and go about your lives nicely like you used to. This desperate need not to let any trend pass you by, lest anyone think you don't get it or something. That's what I meant by infantilisation. It's how little children act.

I mean, honestly. It's an advert. You see hundreds a week, probably, and they're only designed to part you from some cash. No more, no less

^^ this

Adverts do not make Christmas.

I am a massive Christmas grinch - I'm jewish, DP is russian orthodox, and I am incredibly cynical about the "need" to buy piles of gifts, stretch yourself financially and get into rows about who is spending one bloody day where. Not that everyone does this, but it seems many do.

But - a good advert? Bring it on. Obviously ads are designed to sell us stuff, but if it's done in a smart, warm way that is entertaining again and again, why not?

I find the new JL one too sad/mawkish, but happily watch the current Lidl one - with lessons in detangling fairy lights and dressing up Stanley the boxer dog - several times a night.

I 'get' that It's nice to have Christmas themed adverts. I just don't get the gushing and hype that goes with it.

The JL advert did bring a tear to my eye. However by Monday I will be utterly sick of it and start picking holes in it.

From my cynical POV, the advert hype is just adding fuel to the fire of xmas frenzy. As in, in people's minds, Christmas = spending money on food, presents, travel, to create this special, emotional day. And now a well-known advertiser comes along and taps into that, validating the spending hysteria. And there's this massive public reaction saying, Yes, JL! You understand us! Spending money makes it all meaningful! You've tapped into the zeitgeist!

I'll climb back into my grinch hole now

Exactly Essential I think that's why I don't understand it. Any other time of year and the majority of people are wise to the power of advertising; show a (multi) million pound production and rephrase 'spending' as 'giving' and people are all over it.

All this new JL ad has made richer are the Gallagher brothers for using the 'half a world away' song. That was the theme for the Royale family comedy show too! Great song. I will probably blubb though , christmas seems to have this effect on me regardless of ads! ( at least i can whizz through them if i tape any programmes on itv)

Admittedly I haven't watched it (yet) but I do love the song too 80's, although by the end of December I'll probably be sick of hearing it.

I have seen the JL advert, I now do not need to see it ever, ever again. I know what the song is and what the 'plot' is. But it's only 6/11.

Qwerty, just pause the ads ( if you can on your tv, we have a freeview box only, not sky, and we can do this! )Then go back after 5 mins ( or more at christmas ) the worst ads are 'starts boxing day ' ones, ffs let the workers have one day off ! Same every year, and after 50 of the blighters ive had enough of the hype too. Christmas is for little kids really, and i am a bah humbug and proud! ( if your religious, apologies by the way)

I had no idea you could do that with a free view box 80s. Totally agree with the Boxing Day ones too, particularly Next.

Exactly Sparkling it's not even bloomin' December.

The man in the moon spying on the little girl.. They should have had him turn his telescope on David Cameron and co in number 10 spying on us mumsnetters ..god, how many times has she been on there for?

I've just seen an Oddbins advert, I've never been in an Oddbins......
It had a fox that dragged a bah humbug into a box and change him into Mr happy Xmas. It was awful.

Shops should shut for both days.. If i were in power i would enforce this.
We all coped years ago when it happened.
Oddbins.. I dont even think my nearest big town has one!

I've just seen it (the JL ad). I clearly have a heart of stone. Even Noel didn't want to put his vocals to it.

Haven't seen the oddbins one yet, didn't know they were still going.

Trouble is the smiley happy folk on these ads, christmas for a lot of people is nothing but hassle and heartache. Just say ' shop here, spend money' and be truthful. Its not always great.

I posted on the thread MNHQ started asking about memorable ones.

I like some and dislike others, but I don't get the excitement about the premier of the new JL advert or the big drama about going to see the Coca-Cola truck. I hate the Coca-Cola truck adverts. I already hate this year's ASDA Christmas advert, it's weird and annoying.

It seems to be a thing though, getting excited about adverts. It's a new thing to me, like elves on shelves and Christmas Eve hampers.

A proper advert starting no earlier than the middle of November, playing Christmas music and preferably without trucks or hard-done by mum's is acceptable background noise to me.

Sweet Ebeneezer in anti-Xmas heaven, the TK Maxx one has just been on. It's encouraging you to buy presents for people you don't even really know.

Is that a new thing? Buy a gift from TK Maxx for people you pass on the stairs? Your nosy neighbour? The noisy neighbour upstairs?
Feck off, I question buying my mother something for more than £5.