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The Curious Tale of the Advertising Illness
In response to my post about autism and TV, reader Bernardo tipped me off to this story from China Daily about autistic kids' penchant for reciting advertising:
"Liang Liang, come here to use the washroom," asked the teacher, but the five-year-old boy astonished his teacher with an advertisement punch line "frequent urination, urgent urination, and delayed urination."
Liang Liang, who keeps himself in fashion of the latest advertisements by frequently speaking them out, is a kid suffering autism in Qiseguang Children Potentiality Exploration Center in Northeast China's Jilin Province. A lot of other kids in the center suffering from the same disease do not like to talk much, but once they open their mouths, it's usually an advertisement line.
I guess this shouldn't be all that surprising. Advertising is designed to stick in your brain... and if you don't have a firm grasp on social parameters, whatever sticks in your brain is likely what you'll repeat.
Posted by Carrie McLaren on 04/13/2007 | Permalink
Comments
The line that got me was In a normal kindergarten not far from Qiseguang Center, parents have also suffered a lot from their children's ad syndrome.
I have to believe that's true. Anyone who has to keep listening to ads after they turn off the TV is most definitely suffering.
Posted by: Charles Star | Apr 13, 2007 2:00:36 AM
There is a mildly retarded guy who works at my local grocery store as a bagger who does the same thing. All of his conversations are based entirely on lines from TV shows or commercials.
Posted by: dan | Apr 13, 2007 11:20:45 AM
