For the past eight years, I’ve chosen advertising for my career, and I often find myself in debates with friends who claim that advertising doesn’t influence them at all. Most people seem to have a lot invested in believing that they are independent thinkers and somehow unaffected by the thousands of messages they receive each day through various media. I can understand that…believing that we are all highly influenced by our environments and to admit that whomever has the most budget to spend on advertising, would be able to influence one’s mind is an admittedly chilling and unsettling thought. And, thankfully, not true. Knowledge, for example, is a far more persuasive message than even the most brilliantly suggestive advertisement. This video, however, gave me pause to wonder how great the power of suggestion actually is….

I left my trusty Mach3 razor that I had been using since college in a hotel while I was on business a few weeks ago, and went to the store to buy a new one. Turns out they sell replacement razors for them, but no more Mach3′s. I cursed myself for losing my beloved as I perused the other options available. The Mach3 was the first multiblade razor of its kind and it was great. Now-a-days, it seems all the kiddies have been gullible enough to believe 4 and 5 blade razors are where it’s at, and I was reminded of a saturday night live commercial parody for the “Mach14, 14 blade razor”. My choices limited between, bottom of the line disposable 2 blade razors and the highest option razor, the Gilette “Fusion” 5+1 razor, I figured I’d give it a shot. Turns out, this razor’s unbelievable. Someday, perhaps, if he’s lucky, my grandson will shave with the Mach14, but for now 6 blades is doing me right. At left is a screenshot from Gillette’s website where the “Doctor” asks if you’d like to “Slip into something more comfortable.” I want to point out that my razor did not come with a lab coat for me to slip out of when the mood strikes me. For this reason, I give the razor a B+.