15 Cultural Phenomena That Were Just Marketing Ploys

Even some of the most basic facts of life and institutions we hold most sacred can be traced back to some guy who wanted to sell us something.
15 Cultural Phenomena That Were Just Marketing Ploys

I enjoy this list of interesting facts. The longer the list is, the more I enjoy it. This one has over 500 entries, which is more than a hundred thousand words. I had to break it up into a series of posts because I couldn't fit it all into a single post. It's too long, too meandering, and too funny. I have to warn you, if you read it, you'll be stuck with a really odd sense of humor, a weird way of thinking, and a love of strange things. You'll probably enjoy it, but not everyone will. So, if you want to read a list of odd facts that aren't too odd and that you won't find offensive, stop reading now. If you enjoy this list of interesting facts, then please take the time to look at the other posts in the series. They are all funny. They are all interesting. Some are silly. Some are profound. You may find them offensive in some way, but that's okay. We are all entitled to our own opinions and we all have to deal with people who don't share them. That's life. 

The Miss America Pageant

The Miss America Pageant CRACKED.COM Believe it or not, New Jersey hasn't always been an enthusias- tic supporter of young women's excellence. The Miss America pageant began in 1921 as a swim- suit competition to lure tourists back to Atlantic City once sum- mer was over in the time-hon- ored marketing tradition of boobs.

Insider

Diamond Engagement Rings

Diamond Engagement Rings CRACKED.COM These days, asking someone to marry you without the presentation of a little velvet box is a good way to get a no, you cheapass, but few people ex- changed engagement rings at all be- fore the 1930s, and even fewer of those rings contained diamonds. That was around the time the De Beers company came into a massive glut of diamonds and, to avoid crashing prices, con- vinced the public via a massive market- ing campaign that you didn't really love someone unless you put the product of horrific mining practices on their finger.

BBC

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