The last couple of days, Kathy has been bringing in Kix cereal for breakfast. Surprisingly, this has led to some unexpected controversy.Unbeknownst to Kathy, Kix elicits a bad reaction from Ann who has been harboring bad feelings for the slogan "Kid-Tested, Mother-Approved" for years. Her argument is that it "makes no sense" and that she's not convinced that the kids actually like Kix just because they tested it. She argues that it's the equivalent of "Justin tested, Kathy approved" and she feels strongly that she can't be the only one out there who feels this way.
I told her I'd put it on the blog and get your feedback. I'll put a poll on the side. Obviously this is very important, so make your voices heard!
17 comments:
This whole kid tested thing has been a thorn in my side for years. Grrrrr. Anyone with a brain can see that it just makes no sense. The kids did not explicitly approve it, and how do we know the mothers even tested it!?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWc3ObX96HY
It's outlined very clearly here. With cute little faces like that, who has time to question the slogan? In fact, I think I'll have another bowl right now. :)
you're WRONG!!! The slogan must speak for itself.
It is not Kid-Tested,Mother-Approved*
*see commercial for smiley-faced children implying the nature of this cereal as also Kid-Approved
It fails!
All i'm going to say is this: My kids hate it and those little yellow balls are a choking hazzard...definatly not THIS mother approved
I feel very stressed making this vote. Thanks to Ann I'm calling into question everything I once held to be crunchy and true. I really feel like I should remain neutral on this. Both sides make valid points.
I know that as a child I definitely tested AND very much approved of this delicious cereal. And I never even had to add berries, like they do on the box, to be happy. Furthermore, I don't recall my Mom ever testing them, but she still approved, probably just by looking at the nutritional value on the side of the box. So I suppose it could be possible to approve it without testing it.
On the other hand, I analyzed the slogan for a good hour and it makes less sense to me than it did before. And that commercial Kathy...the kids don't look very happy. Actually, it just looks like bad acting. I think Mommy is on the other side of the camera forcing her directions upon them. Although it makes sense on the surface, I think there could have been a much better way to word the slogan.
So if I MUST vote...I vote "no". However, nothing will ever take away my love for Kix.
By the way, the added berries on the box totally goes against the "no added colors, no added flavors" claim. Are berries not an added color and flavor? But that's a whole other argument...
As a trained researcher I can say that the information provided does not preclude the possibility that some of the kid testers did not survive the experience. (Pictures not show).
B.C.
How much water does "Kid tested" hold anyway......kids eat glue.
Justin- the kids don't look happy in the commercial because they couldn't get the box open. Weren't you paying attention at all?
If these kids are so stupid they can't even open a cereal box properly, then I certainly am not going to respect their opinions on any matter. Hmph.
Ann- I think it's time to call the help line here at work....you're starting to insult 4 year olds....:)-
Ann, I love how you do not back down from your opinions. It gives me no end of amusement!
I have to approve of any slogan that transcends generations. If fact, it makes me wonder why children's cereals seem to be one of the few groups of brands that never seem to evolve.
I really enjoyed everyone's comments.
Elizabeth,
Great blog! Great pics too!
Garble, garble, garble. Gulp. These Kix are great!
I only gave my children cereals that were chocolatey delicious or were for a rabbit who just couldn't quite get his hands on them. Does that make me a bad mother? Too late!
If Ann's point is that "kid-tested" doesn't make sense because it doesn't imply that the kids actually like the cereal, I think she's right. It just says the kids tried it out, and if the kids were the ones who performed the test, it doesn't logically follow that their mothers could have any say in the test's results. And if we dismiss the kids' opinions because they're stupid, as Ann recommends (and I support), then no conclusions can be drawn whatsoever and the test is meaningless.
However, the slogan could be read as stating that the cereal was tested on children, in the same way Mary Kay cosmetics are tested on bunnies. In that case, the kids wouldn't actually be performing the test; assuming that the mothers are the ones who administer it, they could then be said to approve of the results of children's exposure to Kix (or vice-versa, I suppose). This is the reading I choose to go with, because it conjures the image of captive toddlers being treated as lab rats for General Mills, which amuses me.
I got lost in the comments somewhere...I like Kix, but, having been raised on sugary cereals (see Mom's comment above) I prefer those. As for the slogan, I don't have an opinion one way or the other. I'd need to see more research, sources, and charts to make a final decision. Megan said that tomorrow I can test it and she'll approve it. So it'll be Katherine-tested, Megan approved...? And who wouldn't trust that??
I thought you hated when people change the spelling of words to make alliteration. I'm suprised at you.
Post a Comment