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Conference quark::human_relations-v1

Title:What's all this fuss about 'sax and violins'?
Notice:Archived V1 - Current conference is QUARK::HUMAN_RELATIONS
Moderator:ELESYS::JASNIEWSKI
Created:Fri May 09 1986
Last Modified:Wed Jun 26 1996
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1327
Total number of notes:28298

177.0. "Junk Culture" by PNEUMA::WILSON () Mon Dec 15 1986 16:22

    What's the one thing that really makes you wonder whether we should
    just pack it all up, folks, it's all downhill from here?
    
    I'll start...
    
    Cola-flavored bubble gum...
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177.1More Junk...PNEUMA::WILSONMon Dec 15 1986 16:3521
    Here's another:
    
    On some tubes of toothpaste I've seen something like the following.
    
    Any comments or questions about ---? Call 1-800-.....
    
    
    
    Classic Coke. (Use of the word "classic")
    
    David Lee Roth
    Squeeze margarine
    
    The sentence "This is the Good Stuff" all over a plastic carton
    containing a Wendy's burger.
    
    Any of those ads for junk products where you have to call a toll-free
    number and "Order Now! Supplies are Limited!" 
    
    Velvet paintings of Elvis, Unicorns, and DaVinci's "The Last Supper"
177.2Still more...PNEUMA::WILSONMon Dec 15 1986 16:396
Furniture polish that contains more lemon juice than most lemonade.

Pre-washed jeans.
    
Refried beans (weren't they fried right the first time? And if you fry
them again, doesn't that make them re-refried beans?)                
177.3Dial 1-800 for cornBARTOK::COCHRANESend lawyers, guns and money.Mon Dec 15 1986 16:407
    Cooking directions on a can of corn.
    
    The fact that some people *need* cooking directions on
    a can of corn (or any other self-explanatory tin of pre-
    prepared food).
    
    Mary-Michael
177.4Off the top...JAWS::COTEGo ahead, take your cheapest shot...Mon Dec 15 1986 16:5212
    "Home Shopping Club" TV stations.  (UHF 66 in Boston)
    TV reduced to *just* commercials.
    
    Steak 'ums.
    
    Alternative toothpaste dispenser. (Pumps, flip-tops, ect.)
    
    Discount beef purchase plans where you're told "cutting loss may
    be as much as 28%, or more". That seems to cover everything...
    
    Edd
    
177.5Well, ok, just for a bit...QUARK::LIONELReality is frequently inaccurateMon Dec 15 1986 17:1410
    I suppose this topic really belongs in SOAPBOX, but I can't resist...
    
    
    Kids' dolls that vomit
    
    Peanut butter and jelly flavored pop-tarts
    
    Bluejeans that you buy with holes and tears already in them
    
    Fake car telephone antennas (it used to be fake CB antennas)
177.6my 2 centsUSMRW4::AFLOODBIG ALMon Dec 15 1986 17:378
    XMAS in the stores in October
    
    the deterioration of the "work ethnic" in favor of the free ride
    
    pay cable channels that show 3 year old re-run movies as features
    
    new wave/punk clothes, hair coloring, face makeup
    
177.7Gag me with a boneDECWET::MITCHELLMon Dec 15 1986 18:507
    "Tab" with calcium.
    
    Antacids touted as "a good source of calcium"
    
    ANYTHING "with calcium" (the fad nurtient of the 80's).
    
    John M.
177.8SPIDER::MILLERYou're a mean one, Mr. GrinchMon Dec 15 1986 22:096
    Gum that changes color when you chew it.
    
    'Professional' wrestling.
    
    And of course those idiotic yellow signs people put in their car
    windows.
177.9self-explanatoryRICKS::KRAVITZTerrapinMon Dec 15 1986 23:321
    The bomb.
177.10A fat juicy worm with a hook in itBOBBY::REDDENProfit ProphetTue Dec 16 1986 06:525
    AFter reading .1-.9, I wonder what's wrong with them.  I though most
    of that stuff was done in the 'theatre of the absurd' spirit.  Isn't
    the point of such products to be sufficiently absurd/offensive that
    they penetrate into your consciousness?  Would you even notive such
    products if they weren't examples of "junk culture"?
177.11Relax, man...PNEUMA::WILSONTue Dec 16 1986 08:1211
    RE: Note .10
    
    Let's not get deep about this, mate. 
    
    There's a philosophy file where you can use words like "penetrate"
    in the same sentence as "conciousness."
    
    Meanwhile, onward with the cakes and ale!
    
    
177.12VAXWRK::NORDLINGERTo reach the unreachable STARTue Dec 16 1986 08:3111
	Instant Decaf
	
	Ads, for Diamonds as Christmas presents, that let 
        you wait until April to pay,

	Mountain Climbers with Walkmans,

	Soldiers taking the 5th.

	
	John
177.13FLOWER::JASNIEWSKITue Dec 16 1986 08:495
    
    	The "Bear" fad and children's cartoons called "Kissy foot"
    
    	Joe Jas
    
177.14In the silver box...EVE::CINQ_MARSTue Dec 16 1986 09:455
    Here's one more:
    	
    	Tartar control toothpaste (didn't we ALWAYS have tartar?)
    
    
177.15PNEUMA::WILSONTue Dec 16 1986 11:3111
    When people ask, "Can I ask you a question?"
    
    The "gold" versions of popular credit cards
    
    Anything that "makes its own gravy or sauce"
    
    Velcro straps on shoes
    
    Teenagers who leave their sneakers untied to look "cool"
    
    Muzak versions of many songs, like "Light My Fire" 
177.16just what does semi boneless ham mean?CEODEV::FAULKNERmy sharonaTue Dec 16 1986 11:413
    
    the "freedom" available at your local 7 - 11.
    
177.17JETSAM::HANAUERMike...Bicycle~to~Ice~CreamTue Dec 16 1986 11:495
	Any sign that starts out: "For Your Convenience..."

	Restaurants that deny having a bathroom (a la Dunkin Donuts).

	Food that costs more because they didn't add salt, sugar, etc.
177.18ySEAMOS::CURCIOSauna_Rat, In the Heat of the NightTue Dec 16 1986 12:243
    
    Cars that have T-Tops or Sunroofs or even a convertable AND 
    Air-Conditioning
177.19Not the VELVET ELVIS !!!TOPDOC::STANTONI got a gal in KalamazooTue Dec 16 1986 12:4012
        re. 1...We need the Velvet Elvis paintings!!!  8->
                        
    
    Nightline with Ted Koppel
    Blue Nun commercials on TV (Yuppies running amok with wine!)
    Cliff Notes
    The New York Post & other Murdoch papers
    Speeding motorists with "Baby on Board" decals
    Menudo
    
    
177.20YAZOO::B_REINKEDown with bench BiologyTue Dec 16 1986 16:204
    grabage pail kids cards - especially the cartoons on the back of
    them
    
    
177.22No more, pleaseQUARK::LIONELReality is frequently inaccurateTue Dec 16 1986 16:355
    I'm afraid this is getting out of hand, especially for this
    conference.  As I expected, a lot of the replies are just things
    the writer dislikes.  If you wish to continue this topic, please
    take it to the 2B::SOAPBOX conference.
    					Steve