Back-to-School Advertisements Tell Us Something About How Things Have Changed

When I graduated HS and was heading off tofrom Target. Amazing! There is a $5.00 coupon
college, the year was 1983, I remember it well, as Iattached with a bar code (next year will probably be
was the Senior Class President and soon I would bean RFID Chip) and it is jam packed with stuff I could
the low-man on the Totem Pole all over again. Ionly dream of back in the day - and with a forward
remember the Back-to-School ads targetingthinking innovative mind, I probably did too!
graduating high school seniors on their way to college.Inside is a set of speakers made for an iPhone
Back then we didn't have cell phones, well, we diddocking station to play tunes, Xbox 360 Arcade
but the cost was exorbitant - how about $.70 toConsole, iPad like computer, iPods, Digital Recorder,
$1.00 per minute? Now then, perhaps like you I'veGraphic Calculator for calculus, memory sticks,
been getting the same back-to-school ads in my mailcustom small printers, digital cameras, digital video
box.cameras, entertainment centers, coffee pots,
Recently, I've gotten them from Office Depot,microwaves, backpacks, cleaning supplies, bathroom
OfficeMax, Staples, Target, Walmart, and quite asupplies, and Mountain Dew by the case? OMG! I
few others. Dell has sent me their catalog, so haswish. And what parents are supposed to buy all this
Apple, and other electronic manufacturers. In my dayfor their kids - that is insane? Let Obama's Stimulus
there were electronics, but they were things like apay for it - have you seen the price of tuition these
Texas Instrument mathematics calculator, a Casiodays?
calculator watch, and all sorts of Boom Boxes. YouWith all these distractions how on earth is the kid
could get a TRS-80 computer, which is hilarioussuppose to graduate? About the only thing that
considering what we have today, you'd have beenwasn't in the catalog was the alcohol that kids drink
better off with the TI calculator to tell you the truth.in college. I think we are spoiling our kids, and perhaps
They also had typewriters, IBM, and other brands. Iwe need to get back to learning, not shower them
already had a small one that was electric and it madewith all the material goods of the rich and famous.
corrections by changing the cartridge. Now flashWe need to teach them to fish, not load them up
forward and here I am reading my "College Essentialswith everything but a fish tank for their dorm room!
2010 - Everything - College Guide" full colorPlease consider all this.
newspaper size advertisement and marketing piece