People think if someone is in authority, then they must know what they're talking about. Advertisers know this. If they have a person in a suit trying to sell a pill, most people won't pay attention. But if they put a white doctors coat on the same person, over 60% of people will not only pay attention, but will buy the product. People associate that white doctors coat with someone who has authority in the medical business - even if that person is just the janitor. (if in doubt, check out medical ads on TV).
Long ago before we knew about the straightline tie to causing lung cancer I remember doctors (well actors pretending most likely) ENDORSING CIGARETTES! I think one brand had menthol in it. I was just a very young kid and it may have been before your time. Doctors are supposed to know what is healthy for you so it carried extra weight and influence. At that time we did not know that 90% of lung cancer is caused by smoking. At least I sure hope we didn't. I know that cigarette makers KNEW some of the crap they used was not healthy. But death sticks? I hope they didn't know that truth. People do not listen to CONTENT. They react to PACKAGING. That's why you can sell them anything at anytime for any reason and charge them for it through the nose and they think you are doing them a favor! Stupid reigns supreme. Sadly I think it always will. Thank you for your reply Shuhak! :)
Did You know I can STILL sing the jingle to a cigarette TV commercial that was aired in 1968? I was only 4 years old when they aired that commercial (and for us, TV was rare so I probably only saw it 2, maybe 3 times at the most). Oh, they knew darn WELL they were touting death sticks - and trying to get kids to smoke as well All they cared about was money! And it kept rolling in!! If I recall correctly, they tied up the courts for years trying to prove that R J Reynolds knew they were deadly and still sold them. I've seen vintage ads of the so-called "doctors" endorsing cigarettes. I know quite a few many of the actors who endorsed cigs died because of them (in one way or another).
Shuhak 