Have You Noticed This, Too? TV Ads Without Masks

I've noticed something that's bothering me. Wonder if you have, too.

On entrance doors of most businesses now, there are signs informing people that if they don't enter with a mask on, they won't be served. Sadly, this isn't universal, but most businesses in my neighborhood have them--and enforced them (Not the taverns, which is going to be played out--again--in court, and soon, at least in Wisconsin.).

Not so much on television, though. There, the indications that anything's wrong have been spotty.

It's been a good eight months now since the pandemic has been something that has disrupted our lifestyles. Few, if any, have dodged involvement, from direct unemployment to having out favorite shops close to fleeing to the Hamptons.

Why isn't that reflected in our TV advertisements? Why aren't people wearing masks in some, if not all of them?

One of the best examples for the stubborn to follow is always displayed on television. We tend, either consciously or unconsciously, to follow them because if it's displayed on TV, we assume it's either good to do or should be done.

It's also a good cover for the once-stubborn to adapt to the new trend. If/when their friends point out that they're falling into a habit that others have copied, a common response might be (and has been used): I see it all over on TV. And that can have an effect on others to remind them that that is so, and mimic that behavior.

TV ads, in other words, can be a powerful suggestion for people to fall into line and start or continue wearing masks. We're missing a clear and obvious opportunity.

In the meantime, I see dodging of the obvious everywhere. I suppose this can be attributed to belief in the so-called 'free market,' which isn't as free as available to be advertised on TV or on the 'net. Yesterday, while watching CNN, I saw an ad for a business chair. Very briefly, maybe less than a second but long enough so that it could be noticed, was a demonstration of a whole table of those chairs.

People, of course, were sitting on them: Six in all. They weren't any farther away from each other than they normally would be if there had been no pandemic. That is, 18 inches or so.

Why would they be displayed this way? Are these kinds of meetings still going on? Has Zoomed been zoomed away, all of a sudden?

Farmers' Insurance has another ad with the aging advisor talking to someone about her rates falling if she's gone without an accident for three years. Nice advantage, but not if they're standing less than three feet from each other. Are we to automatically assume that neither has Covid-19?

AT & T's "Lily" has run an ad recently with her and someone else wearing masks. Recently, they came back with one where she and some fellow were standing maybe (?) six feet away, maybe less, without them. Is this a good example? is AT & T crawling up to a back-to-normal stance that's simply not been achieved--and, by authoritative estimates, is about to get much worse?

Is this fear that non-mask requiring state residents won't buy the merchandise advertised with masks on? Will boycotting of these items take place? I've heard of more absurd things.

We are all getting very tired of this, of course. But there is no leadership to guide us out of it, and won't be any, at best, until late January and none for four years if the wrong people win. "Hang on for just a few weeks," says the clueless Secretary of Health and Human Services. Ironically, he may be right, but not because the disease will disappear on its own or because he can do anything about it.

So we need some exemplary TV ads that, even by implication, include masking up as a common practice. We need them across the board. People don't sell themselves, anyhow. They sell items or services. We are likely to see past the masks, but the reminder would help.

Be well. Be careful. Wear a mask. With some luck, I'll see you down the road.

Mister Mark