There’s this local radio commercial out right now that I cannot stand. It’s for LASIK (or some variation of laser eye surgery), so I get what they’re trying to do, but it puts my back up. It goes something like this:
It’s summer! Time to go to the beach, go to the pool, go golfing, etc.! Unless you’re one of the unfortunates who wear glasses or contacts, of course. (Cue muted trumpet wah-wah-wah.)
I wish I were kidding about the muted trumpet. I don’t get offended easily, and maybe “offended” isn’t the right word, but my immediate reaction to this commercial (knee-jerk and both times I’ve heard it) is to yell not-nice things at the radio (with accompanying rude gestures). It’s like they can only imagine three options:
- People who wear glasses or contacts can’t go (aren’t allowed?) to the beach, pool, golfing, etc.
- People who wear glasses or contacts can go to those places, but they won’t (can’t?) enjoy themselves.
- People who wear glasses or contacts can go to those places, but they have to leave their prescription eyewear at home, so they won’t be able to see anything and thus won’t be able to enjoy themselves.
This commercial does NOT inspire me to run out and fix my eyes. And if I were considering it, I wouldn’t choose them. It reminds me a little bit of those tampon commercials that assume women wearing pads can’t do normal, everyday activities, except I think those were kind of funny.