5 ms·

Maybe I'm just less aware of what other people do than others, but I find this fundamentally unconvincing (the argument that this explains most of what's usuall

by comex 12y ago

Maybe I'm just less aware of what other people do than others, but I find this fundamentally unconvincing (the argument that this explains most of what's usually considered emotional inception, not the existence of the phenomenon in some cases). > Beer, soft drinks, gum, every kind of food (think backyard barbecues). Restaurants, coffee shops, airlines. Cars, computers, clothing. Music, movies, and TV shows (think about the watercooler at work). Even household products send cultural signals, insofar as they'll be noticed when you invite friends over to your home. Any product enjoyed or discussed in the presence of your peers is ripe for cultural imprinting. Your choice of coffee shop or fast food communicates something to your peers if you're seen there, which, as far as I know, is often fairly uncommon, depending on your situation. It's nice to be culturally aware, but that doesn't constrain your consumption of music, movies, and TV too much (especially music) unless you watch very little. Nobody notices what brand of sneakers you're wearing... at least, I rarely even look down that far, and I can't believe other people are that different. Household products? Maybe once in a year. Nor do I find all of the anecdotes convincing. Bed sheets - sheets themselves may not be the hottest product category, but I've seen many mattress and mattress store commercials. Tempur-pedic, Sleepy's (I have heard that jingle so many times I doubt I will ever forget it), etc. Gas stations - don't advertise because usually you don't have multiple stations right next to each other. Since the service is a commodity, everyone goes to the closest station. Why not two-faced - because it's easier to remember something if it's clear, well-defined, and repeated often, and that includes unconscious associations. No need to bring in cultural factors.

Retric 12y ago
Gas stations do advertise. Fill in the blank '___ with Techron'. You also see a list of gas stations at an interstate exit sign. http://www.kentucky.com/2011/09/05/1869947/ads-at-interstate-exits-mean-revenue.html http://www.kentucky.com/2011/09/05/1869947/ads-at-interstate... (third immage bottom right.) Anyway, there are lot's of forms of advertizing. From informative "talk to your doctor about ED" to simply memorable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVcbasIb8lQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVcbasIb8lQ However, the cultural inception idea is not about some sort of Pavlovian response. You don't actually get to taste what's for sale in a supermarket, so it's an abstract choice. And with little to no information to work off of you make a split second decision after split second decision which is draining. In that situation simple familiarity is worth a lot. Similarly, your not actually going to test drive every car in your price range on the market. That said, signaling is a big part of advertising. If nobody knows you just spent 20k on a watch it's harder to justify the purchase.
- davemel37 12y ago
  > Anyway, there are lot's of forms of advertizing. I think this article is specifically referring to branding advertising as opposed to educational, informative, direct response, etc... re: watch purchases, those that spend 20k on watches are usually people who can appreciate the amazing craftsmanship, mechanics, and art form behind it. Here is a mindblowing video of a Corum Golden Bridge being made. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOdmoGoh3ck https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOdmoGoh3ck I am not discounting the status symbol of owning a $20k watch...but I could just as easily impress lots of people with a TAG watch for 1/10th the price. or a Patek Phillipe for half the price.
  - Retric 12y ago
    I agree mechanical watches are fun. However, for comparison Intel is manufacturing at 14 nm which means their features size is ~30 atoms wide. Or ~1 million times more precise than those watches and few people care. High end watches became a status symbol in the 16th century and technology has simply progressed to the point where there low tech by comparison. Anyway, people who buy 20k watches are generally the kind of people that can afford to buy them. It's simply not a major purchase to most of them.
    - davemel37 12y ago
      Its not about the tech perspective of the mechanics, its about the fact that a human being crafted by hand this amazing mechanical watch. Personally, I am blown away that its even humanly possible to craft watches like this Golden Bridge by hand. Its like wearing an original picasso on your wrist. There are plenty of people that can afford to purchase them that don't as well. I think you need a deep appreciation for the art to be comfortable dropping $20k on a watch even if its a drop in the bucket for you.
davemel37 12y ago
> insofar as they'll be noticed when you invite friends over to your home. Any product enjoyed or discussed in the presence of your peers is ripe for cultural imprinting. While I disagree with the article for other reasons, your post is missing a fundamental point. Your behavior is based on what YOU think these products say about you socially, not whether they actually do say those things.
icebraining 12y ago
Bed sheets - sheets themselves may not be the hottest product category, but I've seen many mattress and mattress store commercials. Tempur-pedic, Sleepy's (I have heard that jingle so many times I doubt I will ever forget it), etc. Yes, but at least around here, mattress ads actually try to convince you about the quality of their products, by talking about the technology and showing how work. I've never seen an ad that was just a person sleeping peacefully, Corona-style. Nobody notices what brand of sneakers you're wearing... at least, I rarely even look down that far, and I can't believe other people are that different. Really? Do you know many teenagers? I don't look at them either, but I can tell you that both my sixteen-years-old brother and most of his friends definitely do.
jonahx 12y ago
> Nobody notices what brand of sneakers you're wearing... at least, I rarely even look down that far, and I can't believe other people are that different. Believe it. Many are.
cauterized 12y ago
Perhaps cultural imprinting is as much about reinforcing our self-image as it is about impressing our peers?

by comex 12y ago

Retric 12y ago

Gas stations do advertise. Fill in the blank '___ with Techron'. You also see a list of gas stations at an interstate exit sign. http://www.kentucky.com/2011/09/05/1869947/ads-at-interstate-exits-mean-revenue.html http://www.kentucky.com/2011/09/05/1869947/ads-at-interstate... (third immage bottom right.) Anyway, there are lot's of forms of advertizing. From informative "talk to your doctor about ED" to simply memorable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVcbasIb8lQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVcbasIb8lQ However, the cultural inception idea is not about some sort of Pavlovian response. You don't actually get to taste what's for sale in a supermarket, so it's an abstract choice. And with little to no information to work off of you make a split second decision after split second decision which is draining. In that situation simple familiarity is worth a lot. Similarly, your not actually going to test drive every car in your price range on the market. That said, signaling is a big part of advertising. If nobody knows you just spent 20k on a watch it's harder to justify the purchase.

davemel37 12y ago
> Anyway, there are lot's of forms of advertizing. I think this article is specifically referring to branding advertising as opposed to educational, informative, direct response, etc... re: watch purchases, those that spend 20k on watches are usually people who can appreciate the amazing craftsmanship, mechanics, and art form behind it. Here is a mindblowing video of a Corum Golden Bridge being made. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOdmoGoh3ck https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOdmoGoh3ck I am not discounting the status symbol of owning a $20k watch...but I could just as easily impress lots of people with a TAG watch for 1/10th the price. or a Patek Phillipe for half the price.
- Retric 12y ago
  I agree mechanical watches are fun. However, for comparison Intel is manufacturing at 14 nm which means their features size is ~30 atoms wide. Or ~1 million times more precise than those watches and few people care. High end watches became a status symbol in the 16th century and technology has simply progressed to the point where there low tech by comparison. Anyway, people who buy 20k watches are generally the kind of people that can afford to buy them. It's simply not a major purchase to most of them.
  - davemel37 12y ago
    Its not about the tech perspective of the mechanics, its about the fact that a human being crafted by hand this amazing mechanical watch. Personally, I am blown away that its even humanly possible to craft watches like this Golden Bridge by hand. Its like wearing an original picasso on your wrist. There are plenty of people that can afford to purchase them that don't as well. I think you need a deep appreciation for the art to be comfortable dropping $20k on a watch even if its a drop in the bucket for you.

davemel37 12y ago

> insofar as they'll be noticed when you invite friends over to your home. Any product enjoyed or discussed in the presence of your peers is ripe for cultural imprinting. While I disagree with the article for other reasons, your post is missing a fundamental point. Your behavior is based on what YOU think these products say about you socially, not whether they actually do say those things.

icebraining 12y ago

Bed sheets - sheets themselves may not be the hottest product category, but I've seen many mattress and mattress store commercials. Tempur-pedic, Sleepy's (I have heard that jingle so many times I doubt I will ever forget it), etc. Yes, but at least around here, mattress ads actually try to convince you about the quality of their products, by talking about the technology and showing how work. I've never seen an ad that was just a person sleeping peacefully, Corona-style. Nobody notices what brand of sneakers you're wearing... at least, I rarely even look down that far, and I can't believe other people are that different. Really? Do you know many teenagers? I don't look at them either, but I can tell you that both my sixteen-years-old brother and most of his friends definitely do.

jonahx 12y ago

> Nobody notices what brand of sneakers you're wearing... at least, I rarely even look down that far, and I can't believe other people are that different. Believe it. Many are.

cauterized 12y ago

Perhaps cultural imprinting is as much about reinforcing our self-image as it is about impressing our peers?