It is New Years Eve, tonight I saw a commercial from the Little Debbie baking company advertising Valentine orientated baked goods. I will never purchase from those greed _________ again. Its time to send a message to the corporations through nonpurchages.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), December 31, 2001

Answers

Mitch, I agree that they stretch the seasons, and it seems to be getting worse.

However, when you think how business in general has suffered in the economic slow down since Sept. 11, it is a bit more understandable. After all, it is just six weeks or so till Valentines, and what better New Year's resolution than to celebrate LOVE?

-- corporations and advertising (open_rose@hotmail.com), December 31, 2001.

I agree that they advertise way WAY too early. It makes a person upset that they advertise Thanksgiving too early, Christmas stuff is out way before Thanksgiving, etc. etc. My husband will not put up any decorations for Christmas before Thanksgiving. Advertising is causing the opposite effect in us. We want to buy less, since they plug a second holiday before the first holiday even gets there! Give me a brake, they were doing this last year and the year before. It is not because of 9-11. (Every year we roll our eyes at Christmas displays in October/November! And it is getting worse, this year it was early October!) Sorry, I guess this is a sore spot with me too.

-- notnow (notnow@blabla.com), December 31, 2001.

I guess I'm just not inclined to grouse about things like that. Huggs to all. Peace and free-market, capitalist systems to you this holiday season. It helps keep this country great!

-- not a grumper (open_rose@hotmail.com), December 31, 2001.

Well, don't expect my family to give up Little Debbies lol. I don't care when they advertise. (Come to think of it, I don't know if I've ever seen one of their ads at all.)

-- mary (mlg@mlg.com), December 31, 2001.

I find comsumerism and corporate greed sickening too Mitch.

Here's a great website to learn how to become a "non" sheeple.

Adbusters

-- Jason in S.Tenn. (AJAMA5@netscape.net), December 31, 2001.

Alas! Little Debbie is no longer part of our lives, but it was not their advertising-no, it was that my kids are allergic to cottonseed oil, which is found in LD products-I loved Swiss Cake Rolls too,oh well.I thought it would be hard to give them up, but it wasn't really, now that I think about it.

-- Kelly (ksaderholm@yahoo.com), December 31, 2001.

I thought you might enjoy learning a little more about this evil corporate entity. It was 'founded' by O. D. McKee and his wife Ruth during the Great Depression. They made small cakes and sold them out of the back seat of their old car, living day to day and hand to mouth. They worked very hard and succeeded to the point that, in 1960, they decided to try to market pre-packaged cakes. A packaging supplier suggested they name their new product after a family member. 'Little Debbie' was the four-year-old granddaughter of O. D. and Ruth and hence the name. It's still a family company today.

I just thought you'd like to know a little about the people you're defaming and hoping to put out of business. Oh... Happy New Year and Peace to All.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), January 01, 2002.

Well I have to admit it's not just because of rejection of corporate greed that I'm giving up Little Debbies...It's because of vanity, I suppose. You see, Little Debbies have been a major contributor to why I'm now Big Debbie :!) This is my goal for the year. Hey....I quit smoking at midnight on 12/31/00 and still am cigarette free so maybe I can say I'm Little Debbie free this time next year...Happy New Year to Mitch and all the rest of you!

-- Debbie in S IL (dc1253@hcis.net), January 01, 2002.

My husband would have 10 fits and a bad spell if Little Debbie went out of business. And life without Nutty Bars????

-- Cindy (SE. IN) (atilrthehony@hotmail.com), January 01, 2002.

Well, I don't eat them anymore either but for the last several years I have been weeding out prepackaged foods. All the additives,flavorings,preservatives and added salt. It's just not worth it. There are some things I have to buy but I try to look for the best alternative or do without. If I can't do without then I eat it anyway.

-- LaDena,Tx9 (littledena77458@yahoo.com), January 01, 2002.

I occassionally buy these cakes for the kids and sometimes the oatmeal ones for Cale's lunch. They are about 1/3 of the price of the "Hostess" products sold locally and not much difference in taste.

I see nothing wrong with advertising, sometimes it is educational, sometimes funny, and sometimes we all roll our eyes at some of the commercials we see, and wonder how on Earth that made it on the air!! That is the nature of our economic system, if the company doesn't make a profit, it isn't going to last long.

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 01, 2002.

I understand what you are saying with that is the nature of our country, but we can also say that's a bit much... :o) I think if you can not make enough profit when you are supposed to then maybe people don't want it and you should find another product. Why sell Christmas stuff at Halloween? Seems not right to me.. like who cares what holiday it is, they are all the same, just buy it! However, I do think companies need to make an income to justify employees, expenses, etc. I just think running it all together is somewhat of a insult.

-- notnow (notnow@blabla.com), January 04, 2002.

Very true notnow! sometimes you feel like you had better buy all your christmas stuff in October becasue by December it is all gone!!!! And forget about buying a short sleeve shirt in August, because by then they have the winter coats out!!!!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 04, 2002.