In Response to Stephen Rolfe...

"In today's media, we (this generation) seem to be drawn to those who act a fool and demonstrate less than responsible ways of life....... Do you feel that other generations role models acted this way or are we the beginning of a new look on our figure heads?"

      Although I agree with Stephen when it comes to marketing illegal activities to teens seem to be more widely accepted and portrayed on television, I don't think it was absent from television before our generation.  TV shows in the 70's-80's like Roseanne, Baywatch, Three's Company, etc. also used sex and drug experiences to gain the viewer's interest in the programs.  However, I think that in today's television it is much more glorified.

     As someone who has never really taken part in the "party" scene I still find myself interested in watching other people do it.  I've never been a fan of Jersey Shore, and I honestly don't see the appeal.  Perhaps it's my lack of interest in seeing what 6 unattractive people a few years older than me (that act many years younger) are up to this weekend.  My hope is that people don't really look to these people as role models, but the opposite.
     Shows like 16 and Pregnant however, pose more of a concern for me.  If you have ever seen the show, it tends not to show the true hardships of having a child young.  When my close friend's six year old daughter said "I can't wait until I'm 16 so I can be on this show," my concerns about what is being shown on television began.  I think that without television there will still be an interest in drugs, parties, and sex, but to have teens actually thinking it would be a good idea to get pregnant...we need to begin to worry.  Should television marketing be held to the same standards as product and service marketing?

Narcissistic Websites

     Peter DeLegge wrote an article, which can be found on the Marketing Today website about company websites that are more concerned about promoting themselves than helping the consumer.  He states that it tends to be found more commonly in small to mid sized companies than larger ones, however, I doubt that there are not large companies with similarly poor websites.  Narcissistic websites are those websites that you go to in order to find help with an issue and all that you find are boastful stories and raves about the company.  From a marketing perspective this type of issue on a website could cause huge problems for a company.

     When a consumer is looking for information, or help with a problem, if they don't find it quickly and efficiently they may get the wrong idea about a company.  Of course it is important to talk about the company on the website, especially it's success; but there is a place for that, and it should not be the main focus of a website.  For example, I was recently looking for a screen printing shop to send in a T-shirt order.  The information that I wanted from the companies were options, prices, packages, specials, etc.  I went to a number of websites and had such a hard time finding all of these things in one place that I gave up and am now planning on waiting until I get home over break to use a company that I already know has what I need.  This means, that all of those companies that I reviewed lost a potential customer, and I doubt that I am the first.

     Today, it is easy to find other options when you are unhappy with what you are already using.  Can you think of a time that you have been unimpressed with a Narcissistic website?  If yes, has this ever caused you to take your business elsewhere?  If no, take a look at this website, and see how easy or difficult it is for you to find out how to contact the company for help.