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The Phelps' Training Secret

Several years ago, I remember watching several commercials in which Subway would use top sports players in their commercials in order to promote their product. One in particular that I remember is the commercial with Michael Phelps. In the commercial, it shows Michael swimming and training for the Olympics. In the middle of his training, the announcer is saying how training is a lifelong passion, and then his mother comes in with a Subway footlong sandwich, and then the announcer states that that passion is fueled by a passion for footlongs. This is an example of a false cause fallacy because it is saying that Michael became a famous and successful swimmer because of his passion for footlong subs.

The next line is a sneaky one that many don’t catch, but the announcer then says, “That’s why Debbie Phelps is always there for her son Michael.” Seems harmless enough but it is really an appeal to emotion. It is saying that in order to be a good mother, you need to buy Subway for your kid. This is of course not true but it seems like it could make sense which is why it is so useful. That is not the end of it though, at the end of the commercial Michael and his mom say, “Subway the official training restaurant of the Phelps family and athletes everywhere.” By saying ‘and athletes everywhere’ it is using a version of Mob Appeal and an Appeal to Authority to make Subway seem popular in sports and hints that if you are an athlete you should eat Subway. I’m not saying that Subway is bad or that athletes shouldn’t eat there, but I do think that they are taking more credit than is actually due to them. I’ve eaten at Subway, and it unfortunately hasn’t made me that much of a better athlete.

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Comments

  1. Kate weberMarch 22, 2015 at 3:38 PM

    Wow, I didn't realize how many fallacies were in one subway commercial. Thanks for pointing that out. isn't it interesting how people try to get us to want or like their products?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Clay BuxtonMarch 27, 2015 at 6:05 AM

    Alot of people go to subway anyway, but having a celebrity say that they love subway and that they get big and strong and they became as skilled as they are now, because they ate subway is definitely a fallacy.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownMarch 27, 2015 at 7:35 PM

    This could also be an appeal to illegitimate authority if they consider Michael Phelps an authority on the food at Subway.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Abigail OverbeyMay 4, 2015 at 6:46 AM

    Maybe his passion for footlongs is fueled by his passion for the munchies. Also, I didn't know that Subway is the 'official training restaurant of athletes everywhere". I should start going there...

    Liz

    ReplyDelete
  5. Abigail OverbeyMay 4, 2015 at 6:51 AM

    I think this commercial makes children want to eat subway only because Michael Phelps is eating it. Kids look up to Olympic Athletes, and if Michael Phelps is eating subway, then they too will want to eat it.

    Kaitlyn

    ReplyDelete
  6. Abigail OverbeyMay 4, 2015 at 6:53 AM

    What most people don't understand is that those athletes train their whole life to be built that way. Most people just expect to eat subway and become muscular.

    Cory

    ReplyDelete

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