Once upon a time, it was hard to watch a kids' show on TV without seeing this commercial at least twice, and the jingle was so catchy to some that you'd hear it on the street or at school. The tune was hard to get out of one's mind and it distracted from the relevant question raised. Would it be better to be an Oscar Mayer weiner because then everyone would love you? Or better to not be an Oscar Mayer weiner because then you'd be quickly eaten?
People actually debated that without asking what seemed to me the more obvious questions: Is the premise here that the majority is singing that they're glad they weren't born as an Oscar Mayer weiner? And why single out that possibility when we could all name thousands of other things we're glad we're not? I'm glad I'm not an amoeba. I'm glad I'm not a warthog. I'm glad I'm not a chicken salad sandwich. I'm glad I'm not Jerry Sandusky.
Or is the idea here that these children might someday be given the option of becoming Oscar Mayer weiners? Exactly how would the biology on that work? If that's the case then I think the kid who doesn't want to be an Oscar Mayer weiner is right. But as was too typical in cartoons of yesteryear, someone wanted to sell the message that the group is always right and that the one person who takes a different viewpoint is a troublemaker. This commercial may be selling frankfurters but it's also selling the idea that independent thinking is wrong.
So watch it at your own risk. I won't be responsible if it corrupts your view of humanity. Or if you spend the rest of your life humming the jingle.
