Fad Diets and Bill Hicks

I can completely relate to Annie’s presentation. I believe that she picked a topic that worked well with her audience (girls) and held a lot of logos and pathos. I also believe that she had a good deal of ethos having tried many of the products herself. I must start by saying that I have never been the “fat girl” and I have never really had a weight problem….but I have still tried a number of products just to lose 5 pounds…which I know would be really simple on my own if I just tried (but like most people these days…I’m too lazy and self indulgent). I know that most things are just gimmicks and I shouldn’t buy into them…but sometimes the pictures (usually fake or retouched, I know) are convincing. I agreed with what Annie said about the ethos of the companies and that if they speak quickly and reel off facts, we tend to believe them without knowing what they are talking about. I believe that most diets want to appeal to our pathos, which they easily do with the pictures and the “do you want to be able to ….. (wear a bikini, play with your children, etc.)” I will say that my step-father has been on the Atkin’s Diet off and on for several years now (even before it was so popular) and it has worked. He lost over 100 pounds, he works out as well, but the diet is what made the difference. The diet is fairly quick and easy for those of you who like meat. I tried it once, but since I am a vegetarian and I don’t really like fatty foods…I starved to death! Anyway, while I know that the Atkin’s diet isn’t that healthy overall…it does produce results so far as I can tell. Anyway, great presentation with a lot of logos and statistics (which were frightening, especially the ones about the little girls already thinking they are too fat). *and also just so Annie isn’t alone out there…my friend bought the Carmen Electra Striptease Video and I tried it once or twice myself*
I was also impressed with Jillian’s presentation. I did not know who Bill Hicks was but after listening to him, I liked him. I felt that he was giving straightforward answers to real problems. Perhaps his language was a little vulgar, but then whose isn’t these days if you want to be famous. Anyway, I think his use of humor allowed him to say things that would not otherwise go across well. Hicks seemed to have the ability to make fun of you to your face and still make you laugh. I believe that this is an important and special gift for a person to have and if more people in America knew of Bill Hicks perhaps they would be better informed on world events or at least questioning what they thought they knew! Good Job both of you!