| So I was visiting my local Big Box computer store | | | | The marketing tag line used for cigarettes in the |
| today and I saw the standard products that are | | | | 1980's to market to women, comes to mind. |
| always marketed to avid computer users, the | | | | "You've come a long way, baby." |
| box of a billion and one pens (because we always | | | | Just down the aisle from this fascinating new |
| lose ours), the spiffy carabineers in various shapes | | | | product was something a tad more disturbing a |
| and sizes, including the one that works as a key | | | | vacuum pack bag of 'blood'. Advertised as, "For |
| ring, the flash lights, the USB accessories, the fun | | | | humans and vampires", having as its display |
| toys that make everyone's life "easier". | | | | picture an anime like, rather full figured woman in |
| Then I turned my head and saw the standard | | | | a black Victorian style corset with blood running |
| food display of sugary and salty snacks that just | | | | down her chin, and claiming to have all the |
| about every store has at their check out. I saw | | | | nutrients and components of regular blood, I |
| something I didn't recognize. It was called Gamer | | | | realized that not only have we started marketing |
| Grub. This is a snack food that is marketed | | | | to sub-cultures, but even sub-sub cultures. |
| specifically to computer geeks. It is in a foil bag | | | | Gamers are a sub culture of their own. |
| that you can rip open and tilt straight into your | | | | People who are "goth", into vampire games and |
| mouth so that you avoid having messy fingers on | | | | novels and dress eccentrically, usually entirely in |
| your keyboard, screen and computer parts. It | | | | black, and their clothing tends more toward the |
| currently comes it 4 flavors, Pizza, PB & J, BBQ, | | | | Victorian era than it does the modern are a |
| and S'Mores. | | | | sub-culture of Gamers, and can even be |
| Even more interesting, it is formulated to give | | | | considered a unique sub-culture of their own in |
| energy to your brain! It advertises that it is "a | | | | some cases. (In the interest of full disclosure, I |
| delicious performance snack packed with essential | | | | was a part of this particular sub culture as a |
| vitamins and neurotransmitters to keep you | | | | teenager, however I went through it in the |
| focused and quick." I must confess that when I | | | | mid-eighties when it wasn't considered "cool", it |
| went to their website to learn more about them, | | | | was considered downright weird.) My first (very |
| I suggested an "Asian Fusion" flavor with rice | | | | adult) thought was, "that sounds really gross". My |
| crackers, seaweed and wasabi peas. I was so | | | | second thought was again, of how far and/or |
| very intrigued by the idea that a food product | | | | desperate marketing and product development |
| would be so specifically marketed and packaged. I | | | | has become in that there are products available in |
| know it has happened many times in the past, | | | | main-stream stores that would have been |
| but this was such a niche market and that is (to | | | | unthinkable when I was within that particular niche |
| my mind) even more unusual in a major chain | | | | market. |
| store. | | | | Cool, but unthinkable. If nothing else, our parents |
| I have to say that my first thought was, "My | | | | never would have allowed us to buy them. I |
| heavens but we have come a long way from | | | | suppose now that we are all grown up with kids |
| when I was a teenager and being a "gamer" | | | | of our own, we are okay with the products that |
| meant that you always wore a black t-shirt & | | | | our parents did or would have forbidden us as |
| jeans, played D&D or text based computer | | | | kids. I think of all the little kids who now have |
| games like Zork, typically read science fiction, and | | | | Mohawks or brightly dyed hair, not to mention all |
| had no life. Now there are products that not only | | | | of the adults (including myself) who have streaks |
| are marketed to gamers, games and consoles, | | | | of color in their carefully worked coifs. (Mine is |
| but people in other fields and industries are | | | | bright purple.) |
| marketing to them as well. And not just to the | | | | The world is a very different place from when I |
| "engineer" side of the market but also to the | | | | was young. In many ways it is better, in others, it |
| practical side that needs to do things like eat | | | | is worse. But one thing is certain, and I guess, |
| occasionally and might think beyond the standard | | | | hasn't changed. Advertising is doing its best to |
| bag of Cheetos or corn chips to something food | | | | keep up with the trends. |
| like that might even count as vaguely healthy. | | | | |