Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Silent Dave · 04-30-2003, 06:11 AM

For those who don't live in the Fatherland -- er, I mean, the United States of America -- there is a series of TV ads put out by the Office of National Drug Control Policy called Nick and Norm, in which two white guys in suits eat at a fancy restaurant and discuss whether drug use supports terrorism. Norm is the middle-aged guy who, in between mouthfuls of food, asserts that it does. Nick is the younger, long-haired yuppie who has a few ideas of his own -- but who, in the space of 30 seconds or so, comes to see the wisdom of Norm's logic.

My idea: a series of ads in which Nick and Norm discuss atheism with the same lyrical soundbite quality of rational argumentation.

NICK: This whole existence of God debate, it's just silly.

NORM: Why silly?

NICK: Well, come on. It's obvious that God exists.

NORM: Obvious?

NICK: Obvious.

NORM: That water glass in front of you?

NICK: Yeah?

NORM: It's real?

NICK: Sure it's real.

NORM: How do you know?

NICK: I can see it.

NORM: That leprechaun next to the glass?

NICK: What leprechaun?

NORM: You don't see it?

(Pause)

NICK: Okay. Not that obvious.

--Brought to you by the Office of National Theism Control Policy--

Dave

Defiant Heretic · 04-30-2003, 07:21 AM

Ha! I remember the first one of those.

It's true that drug money supports terrorism because it's the truth.

Circular argument defined.

Okay Norm, I've got one for you. In order for drug money to support terrorism, it has to go through the black market. Currently, drugs are imported by cartels from South America, which I assume is who you think gives the money to terrorists.
Now what would happen if drugs were legalized; grown and sold entirely in the United States by pharmaceutical companies...pharmaceutical companies that would be subject to FDA regulations, by the way...what would happen then? Would Rite Aid take it as an opportunity to break into arms dealing? Or would drugs become safer to use, while at the same time eliminating any chance of the money being used to fund terrorism? It's worth thinking about.

Oh, and in case you didn't know, Norm, that information scattered throughout my tirade was called evidence. It's commonly used to support a rational argument. Just trust me on this one, Norm. After all, it's the truth.

Silent Dave · 04-30-2003, 10:45 AM

I think "Nick" brought that one up in a recent commercial. Norm's response was basically a tirade about junkies on every corner, needles in the sandboxes, etc.

:boohoo:

Dave

christ-on-a-stick · 04-30-2003, 12:09 PM

Quote:

I think "Nick" brought that one up in a recent commercial. Norm's response was basically a tirade about junkies on every corner, needles in the sandboxes, etc.

Yah, the latest one is beyond lame.

Dave, I love your idea!!!

pz · 04-30-2003, 12:25 PM

Except that those Nick & Norm ads are so egregiously stupid, and the characters such annoying prigs, that they always make me want to run out and buy drugs.

Your ad might convince me to become a Jesuit, instead.

Ab_Normal · 04-30-2003, 12:49 PM

Hearing about these Nick and Norm things makes me happy that I don't watch much TV... I've managed to avoid them so far. (Maybe they don't buy time on TLC and Comedy Central.)

SharonDee · 04-30-2003, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ab_Normal
(Maybe they don't buy time on TLC and Comedy Central.)

...or the History Channel or Discovery Channel or A&E or Bravo, since I've never seen them either. I feel lucky.

anakata · 04-30-2003, 01:38 PM

Silent Dave: \o \o \o \o

Nataraja · 04-30-2003, 03:39 PM

I've seen a few of these. I'm fully in support of Nick. He consistently has the stronger case (except in the above).

Demigawd · 04-30-2003, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SharonDee
...or the History Channel or Discovery Channel or A&E or Bravo, since I've never seen them either. I feel lucky.

Arrrrrgh! I just saw an example of these commercials, and it was on The History Channel. The dialogue writer obviously is inspired by Jack Chick.

04-30-2003, 06:11 AM	#1
Silent Dave Banned Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Bloomington, MN Posts: 2,209	Nick and Norm on atheism For those who don't live in the Fatherland -- er, I mean, the United States of America -- there is a series of TV ads put out by the Office of National Drug Control Policy called Nick and Norm, in which two white guys in suits eat at a fancy restaurant and discuss whether drug use supports terrorism. Norm is the middle-aged guy who, in between mouthfuls of food, asserts that it does. Nick is the younger, long-haired yuppie who has a few ideas of his own -- but who, in the space of 30 seconds or so, comes to see the wisdom of Norm's logic. My idea: a series of ads in which Nick and Norm discuss atheism with the same lyrical soundbite quality of rational argumentation. NICK: This whole existence of God debate, it's just silly. NORM: Why silly? NICK: Well, come on. It's obvious that God exists. NORM: Obvious? NICK: Obvious. NORM: That water glass in front of you? NICK: Yeah? NORM: It's real? NICK: Sure it's real. NORM: How do you know? NICK: I can see it. NORM: That leprechaun next to the glass? NICK: What leprechaun? NORM: You don't see it? (Pause) NICK: Okay. Not that obvious. --Brought to you by the Office of National Theism Control Policy-- Dave

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

04-30-2003, 07:21 AM	#2
Defiant Heretic Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,288	Ha! I remember the first one of those. It's true that drug money supports terrorism because it's the truth. Circular argument defined. Okay Norm, I've got one for you. In order for drug money to support terrorism, it has to go through the black market. Currently, drugs are imported by cartels from South America, which I assume is who you think gives the money to terrorists. Now what would happen if drugs were legalized; grown and sold entirely in the United States by pharmaceutical companies...pharmaceutical companies that would be subject to FDA regulations, by the way...what would happen then? Would Rite Aid take it as an opportunity to break into arms dealing? Or would drugs become safer to use, while at the same time eliminating any chance of the money being used to fund terrorism? It's worth thinking about. Oh, and in case you didn't know, Norm, that information scattered throughout my tirade was called evidence. It's commonly used to support a rational argument. Just trust me on this one, Norm. After all, it's the truth.

04-30-2003, 10:45 AM	#3
Silent Dave Banned Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Bloomington, MN Posts: 2,209	I think "Nick" brought that one up in a recent commercial. Norm's response was basically a tirade about junkies on every corner, needles in the sandboxes, etc. :boohoo: Dave

04-30-2003, 12:25 PM	#5
pz Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Morris, MN Posts: 3,341	Except that those Nick & Norm ads are so egregiously stupid, and the characters such annoying prigs, that they always make me want to run out and buy drugs. Your ad might convince me to become a Jesuit, instead.

04-30-2003, 12:49 PM	#6
Ab_Normal Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,842	Hearing about these Nick and Norm things makes me happy that I don't watch much TV... I've managed to avoid them so far. (Maybe they don't buy time on TLC and Comedy Central.)

04-30-2003, 01:38 PM	#8
anakata Regular Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Sweden Posts: 194	Silent Dave: \o \o \o \o

04-30-2003, 03:39 PM	#9
Nataraja Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: NC Posts: 433	I've seen a few of these. I'm fully in support of Nick. He consistently has the stronger case (except in the above).

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.