Your thoughts on the Progressive Elevator commercial. Showtiming?
The trainer, who aims to teach new homeowners not to become like their parents, and his student step into an elevator. Immediately, the young man begins socializing, making quips, trying to engage everyone in conversation. The clincher is that while everyone else is facing the elevator door, his back is to the door facing the people.
To me, this is a classic example of showtiming. And it is my husband to a T. He hates the commercial, wants to know why they think it is okay to make fun of just being friendly. And this IS his behavior in every elevator.
When dh steps into an elevator, it is like he becomes the master of ceremonies and has to keep everyone entertained for however long they are in there. He tries to shake hands when people get on or off, like a church greeter.
Waiting rooms are worse. He asks everyone why they are there, offers to pray with them, gives them his whole Lyme Disease story (embellished with things that never happened). His other captive audience story is how his high school football career gave him the brain injury he deals with today. He embellishes his football days -- yes, he received football scholarships but not to Rutgers, the newest addition to his story that I just heard this past week. Nor did he turn down an appointment to the Naval Academy. As people leave from their appointments, he asks them how their appointment went. No sense of privacy. And when people try to ignore him, he'll mutter under his breath, but loudly enough to be heard, unkind comments about them because they brushed him off.
When he's finished all his super-friendliness, he turns into a beast. Within ten minutes of our adult kids pulling out of the driveway after our holiday time together, he was cursing at me and calling me names, behavior that would have never happened in front of them.
This is classic showtiming, right?
Have you spoken to his doctor about this outrageous behavior? Is he on any type of medication at all? Although God knows what type of meds would 'calm this behavior down.' And then for him to immediately turn into a beast right after he's Showtiming up a storm must be unbearable for you! My mother was that way before she developed dementia. Had this huge outgoing and friendly personality for others, then turned ugly as soon as the door closed on the company. Dad & I always hated that 'mask' she wore and found her to be the ultimate phony baloney. Yes, that same behavior continued throughout her dementia journey, too, by the way, and worsened to some degree.
Was your DH always like this only now it's worsened with the dementia? That's usually the case, but not always. Just wondering.
Sending you a hug and a prayer that this awful behavior calms down with DH, b/c I cannot imagine HOW on earth you're able to manage it!
*BTW, I find those Progressive ads INSUFFERABLE, especially the guy trying to help the folks not turn into their parents: UGH
Speaking of which it's been a while since Liberty has had a new Limu commercial.
It must be crazy-making to live with that flip-flopping. I bet you are walking on eggshells all the time. So damaging to YOUR brain!
Sending hugs and prayers for relief!
I see these commercials only as entertainment. Obviously, they are meant to be facetious.
It is interesting that this commercial bothers your husband.
I am sorry that you have to endure your husband’s behavior.
The commercials that I find more annoying are the ones where people are falling and can’t get up.
I would rather see a commercial like the insurance one. Humor has always had critics. Personally, I do not find the commercials offensive.
We can all relate to the characters on these commercials.
His pcp is doing a MOCA assessment next month. He won't be able to showtime for the test, I hope. But honestly, his heart failure will take him long before the dementia gets intolerable.
My boss enjoyed talking to everyone, plus handing out his business card as he owned a business. He just like chatting with people and learning about them.
When I see that Progressive elevator ad, it gives me good memories about my late boss [passed from covid] a couple years ago.