Oddbean new post about | logout
 @3967703f They're one of the many indicators to foreigners visiting the US for the first time that American society is fundamentally broken. Just so unbelievably weird. 
 @28e7000d I hear you. It's insane. 
 @28e7000d Can I also add, that I don't even get why they exist. I mean, do people go to medical professionals and request meds like they're in a candy store? What is going on?! 🤷🏾‍♀️ 
 @3967703f It appears that it's mostly done to persuade the practitioners prescribing drugs to pick 'this one' over their competitors alternative. But, again, fundamentally broken. Just produce and prescribe the best drug for the job on the basis of cost effectiveness, availability and outcome. Not on who has the best bloody adverts. 
 @28e7000d If that's the intended audience, that's even worse. I don't want to go to docs who can be influenced by TV commercials to  prescribe meds. That's just.☹️ 
 @3967703f One of the most pernicious and truly evil aspects of US society is how detrimental it has become to other cultures. And this is one example of it.

Drug companies know how stupidly easy it is to scam excessive amounts of money out of the US populace so what works there *must* be exported globally. Hence, in my country, the best invention in British society to ever have occurred in hundreds and hundreds of years - the NHS - must be obliterated to permit it. 
 @3967703f Healthcare in the US skipped past "do no harm" and went straight to "do whatever it takes to make shitloads of money, consequences be damned."  

Just paint the former as communism, and enough Americans will lap up the latter no matter that it'll most likely end up killing or bankrupting them. 

Again, so bloody weird. 
 @28e7000d I agree. It's really fucking weird and it's gross. 
 @28e7000d Yep. You're right. The U.S. has spread its evil all over the world, but I think you all did it first. 😃 And, the same criminals running this joint are running yours too. The people of both nations need to fight back. 
 @3967703f "but I think you all did it first"

No denying that. A much worse evil, to boot. 
 @28e7000d On some level, it's always been the same people. 
 @3967703f @28e7000d Hi just saw this but the answer is money 🤑 

Back in the day (I don't know about now) drug makers got a TAX BREAK if they advertised the drug, so it incentivized them to do just that.

Added bonus is people are malleable and advertising works but originally it was money.

(Also pharmaceutical reps exist for a reason...) 
 @a9c723a5 ☹️ @28e7000d 
 @3967703f @28e7000d Oh I know... the truth makes it so much worse than your original post 
 @a9c723a5 I've heard two disturbing things about the disturbing situation. What you said, and that the docs are the target audience. Idk. But, all are reasons are extremely bad ones. @28e7000d 
 @3967703f @28e7000d It can be both 
 @a9c723a5 Certainly can. @28e7000d 
 @a9c723a5 @3967703f @28e7000d Can’t imagine asking my GP for a drug, except for refills of one’s he chose. 
 @0c0ba540 Exactly! I didn't go to medical school. @a9c723a5 @28e7000d 
 @3967703f @28e7000d They literally do. Or that's what pharma companies want folks to do anyway. My brother works in pharma and his job for a while was to find new markets for existing products. Literally just who can you convince that your thing might help them. The fact that we even call medicines products is absolute clownshoes. 
 @3967703f @28e7000d I believe people actually do ask their docs for the drugs.  The ads must work, they must spend billions on them. What always gets me is the horrible possible side-effects and risks they list! 
 @383059e4 Yeah, it's so crazy how the side-effects vary and how many there could possibly be. I don't want any parts of any of them. If I took one, my brain would conjure them. @28e7000d 
 @3967703f @28e7000d yeah like the bent "carrot" one.  Side effect is breaking your penis, and no sex for a month after each treatment.  Men really try this? Enough men have this problem to justify advertising this 500 times a day? 
 @383059e4 I just saw that demented commercial. Bent carrots floating around the screen.🙄 @28e7000d 
 @28e7000d @3967703f I can absolutely confirm this. It’s so, so weird. 
 @4cdf8c79 Seriously strange. @28e7000d