If a celebrity says in a commercial "I trust my savings to Bank X", and that does not happen, is that lying?

What is a lie?

Here is a celebrity that probably isn't telling the whole truth... yet it's one of the best commercials ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m71m-LBq...

If I give you a car and you use it then that is a product you use... that's often how it works. Although there is a lot of cases of celebrities finding out they've been used for endorsements without their knowledge:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/art...

However, a celebrity is about selling too. These days there's little that's real about them as well. Fake hair, fake lips, fake chests, air-brushing, make-up and more.

A celebrity is just bought at a different level than we are. Trading looks and fame and our wish to be associated with them if only vicariously. We all have our currency even if it's not monetary.

What is our price and how gullible are we? Advertising is a game of fools. Who is more of a fool? Usually it is who the advertising is directed to but I think those who come up with it have bought into it as well just in a different way (though part of their delusion is we are the stooges not them).

That we get goofy over what anyone does especially someone who is pretty, or at least famous, is kind of sad but does speak to our wish (need) to be recognized if only as sycophants:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/19/scienc...

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"In a series of experiments, Dr. Miller and other researchers found that people were more likely to expend money and effort on products and activities if they were first primed with photographs of the opposite sex or stories about dating.

After this priming, men were more willing to splurge on designer sunglasses, expensive watches and European vacations. Women became more willing to do volunteer work and perform other acts of conspicuous charity — a signal of high conscientiousness and agreeableness, like demonstrating your concern for third world farmers by spending extra for Starbucks’s “fair trade” coffee."
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I've known people who base their whole personal value on what they buy and expect others to like them based on what they choose to wear, eat, consume... buy. But in my mind it shouldn't be like that. I buy, when I buy, for me, what makes me happy and what feels right to me which does include fair trade, earth friendly and socially conscientious goods that last a long time or give high value such as great taste and high nutrition with foods. Or for instance, with clothes it's not about fashion but comfort though what's comfy usually looks pretty good too. What lasts a long time is initially expensive but cost per use is often much less. But, here I am justifying my habits as though they need to be.

Skepticism is virtue. No one should be a pawn nor should they just "buy" into something because someone else who looks good says we should. However, that's what works. That's why it gets used. Further, we will, as humans, shun those who don't do as we are since it somehow becomes unacceptable if someone isn't doing as we are so we undermine and ostracize them as uncool... until someone we consider cool adopts their style, then we stumble over ourselves in a hurry to assume it as well:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grunge_fashion

One thing I've been considering lately is that a big part of the human race is about adding value to basic things and trying to make a buck on that, partly because the system that's been set up requires we do make the bucks for living with others in communities and due to the populations of the world. It's not good enough anymore to just have food, shelter and clothing. We now have commerce (though that has replaced wars and genocide so there is a brighter side) which requires getting the word out. Marketing.

Marketing is basically psychology games.

As an example, supermarkets are presented to us as our best place for choice but most of the items for sale are formulated based on the same ten or so ingredients that bring the most profit. Ironically a section of microwave popcorn might have 10 brands (and several flavors of each) but most of those are owned by just one or two companies. There are 7,000 varieties of apples in England but only a handful get sold in the produce section of the large stores. Is that really choice? Carefully crafted illusion which eventually becomes our only choice.
http://www.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2005/03/07/story3.html

Oh, and we are lazy. We want others to do the work of figuring out what's good.


However, there are celebrities I admire and if one were to recommend an item I might be interested in then perhaps I'll check it out. Usually I still research because even the most conscientious get duped.

And even when something is very truthful, what gets left out is often a sin of omission:
http://whattoeatbook.com/2007/12/26/another-coca-cola-product-simply-orange/

Personally I don't "buy into" the idea that it's okay to consume, consume, consume but laws around advertising come about because people are easy-sell despite salesmen being up there in admirability with lawyers.
http://www.brazencareerist.com/2008/06/02/do-you-lie-on-the-job-too

Snake oil, bait & switch, and other forms of fraud are all possible because of our desire to get a deal and no doubt often to be recognized:

But, really think. Are there things you fudge the truth on, if only at the job? Like even pretending to like the boss? :D

Where is the line?

Not saying it's okay but... I think we even might want to be lied to since we tend to choose the least honest (truth can be so offending) and go with those in jobs and relationships who are the best bluffers and liars. I don't understand it because we are so angry and hurt when we find out. But is it more that we found out because they aren't good enough bluffers/liars? I tend to think that's why we continue to buy into something even after we've had lots of reasons to know better. To acknowledge the lies is to own up to being played a fool; instead we choose denial.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Business_ethics

Truthfully... if we chose only those who had fostered great reputations for honesty and quality products, treating people fairly, being good community members, then that's how most people would do business. So we do indeed get what we pay for.

My actual opinion though is that it sucks. :D

But I often have to live with the wisdom of the crowd so I blame the stupidity of my peers nearly as much as the shysters.


In the end, an actor is selling a bluff, a great pretender which in some ways is a form of lying.

Is all the world a stage then? I hope not.

I'd call it acting. But then I wouldn't buy a product or invest my money based on a commercial a celebrity or anyone else makes.

some people consider it lying. but i consider it neither lying or telling the truth.cause it is in the script and he/she is paid to say that.