OFF BRAND UGGS

Today in English we discussed advertisements, and how they appeal to us rhetorically. We looked into why we, as consumers, are drawn and are loyal to certain products or brands. The girl next tot me eventually raised her hand and said, "This is going to sound really stupid, and I know it, I mean it is going to sound so dumb, but, like I know this is stupid, like..., like...," and in my head I am thinking well you can't possibly sound any more ignorant than you already do tripping over your words like a holiday drunk, but I like to go by the rule of their is no stupid question or stupid answer. Lot's of times I sit in class and want to say something, but don't because I feel like people will just look at me, and I don't need that negative attention. Anyway, about a minute later, the dumb girl started to explain to the class that, "If I see a product like boots, I have to have the name brand. That is why for Christmas I asked my dad for UGGS. When I have really expensive name brands, I feel happy inside, and I feel like, if I had like, non name-brands, I would be sad." At that point I looked down at my half price  Target boots and I swear I could almost see a tear drop from one of the eyelets. Then she proceeded to explain some thing about G-Brand watches and how there are cheap ones at Walmart for twenty-five dollars, but unless she has the real expensive name brand watch, she won't be happy. Then, funny enough, they started talking about the North Face fleece brand and sure enough I had a black off-brand North Face that cost all of $15.95 tied around my waste.

I really don't have a problem with name brand clothes, or people who wear them. I have a few, nothing is ever really by choice. I do like fashion and different types of clothing but honestly, as a college student, I'd rather eat dinner. The point of today's lesson in English was to try and figure out why we buy these clothes, and what people perceive about people who have these clothes. I raised my hand and explained that I think it is a status thing, and a money issue. If you walk around wearing UGG boots, a North Face, and a pair of Hollister Co. destroyed denim, [even though that is the only outfit you own ;)], you yourself will think, "Oh, look at me at least people think I am rich," and the people who see you will think you have money as well. When I raised my hand and explained this to the class, they all claim that they do not buy these things for status, or money, and it is just that they are comfortable, sooooo comfortable, so blah blah blah. But what they don't realize, is that there might be a slight to no difference from those damn UGG boots they were wearing, to these just as fashionable, fifty-dollar-less Target boots my mama bought me. The reason they believe all of these things, is because of how the products are advertised, and obviously advertisements are doing their jobs, because it they have effected about 85-90% of the girls, and guys  I have seen around campus. It was funny to sit and watch as their minds all spaced out when asked why they prefer name brands to non names brands, and they couldn't think of anything. All they could think of was the commercials they saw that made them buy the product. So, hats off to all of the advertising and designing commercial industries, you've duped the majority of us.