This Message Was Brought To You by Me
Marie Devers
Advertisements everywhere, I haven’t time to think1
without some local merchant selling me the kitchen sink. 2
All along my childhood, it’s been exceedingly bad— 3
from my diapers to my schoolbooks, there’s always been an ad. 4
Every show is brought to me by business courtesy; 5
every team I’ve been on has been sponsored for a fee. 6
Doesn’t matter what it is, if I’m their demographic, 7
they add MARSHMALLOWS! ‘til I think that I just have to have it. 8
I sing jingles when I read – their persistence is extreme! 9
I find ignoring messages to be a rough routine. 10
From getting up to lying down, the advertisements play, 11
but I’ve learned to lower volume and just to walk away. 12
Future kids will probably find that our great civilization13
was easily told that they’d be sold the world’s next great sensation, 14
so kids like me have got to see that most ads are promotion15
designed to throw a lasso over human beings’ emotion, 16
but happiness cannot be found in catalogs or stores, 17
and the pleasure that they’re marketing may already be yours. 18
Question
Which statement BEST describes the theme of this story?
Responses
A Don't judge a book by its cover. Don't judge a book by its cover.
B Try new things. Try new things.
C Be aware of advertising. Be aware of advertising.
D Treat others fairly. Treat others fairly.