A Lighter View
Commercial Surrealism
By K.E.H. Stagg

June 9, 2016

   Taking advantage of the onset of summer, we caught a commercial several times this past week that so traumatized me, I can't stop replaying it in my mind. A man is visiting an amusement park with his child when he's overcome with back spasms. A passing stranger offers him the medicine being advertised - and I can't remember what it is - which he takes, and is instantly cured.  During the time between the onset of pain and ingesting the miracle cure, everything stops in place. 

I was first horrified by the sight of an upside-down roller coaster frozen in its tracks, because I know the law of gravity means it's mere seconds away from dropping off the tracks. The carnage that would ensue is beyond appalling. But an equal terror induced in my mind is:  What idiot accepts medicine from a total stranger??

Trying to envision myself in a similar situation at Hersheypark, I can't imagine offering medicine to anyone other than my immediate family members.  If I saw someone in the throes of agony, I can't picture myself rummaging in my purse while asking, "Do you need ibuprofen?  An NSAID?"  I'd offer to find the closest First Aid station or a doctor and wait while help arrived, but risk a lawsuit by offering meds, not knowing the potential allergies or interactions with other drugs already on board? No way!

In a reversed situation, if I were offered medication by an absolute stranger, I would immediately be suspicious, even if the container label read "Bayer aspirin."  I would be certain it actually contained an illegal street drug that would cause me to attempt walking the monorail, or swinging from the jetway wires like a monkey.  I've no doubt I would instantly dial 9-1-1, screaming, "There's a lunatic offering free drugs in the park!"

It seems to me the creators of that ad are living in an unreal world - on just about every level.