--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I saw a commercial for an above-ground…" description: "\"I saw a commercial for an above-ground pool, it was 30 seconds long. Because that's the maximum amount of time you can picture yourself having fun in a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b96/mitch-hedberg-695_actors_i-saw-a-commercial-for-an-above-ground-p_2591781.png" --- # I saw a commercial for an above-ground pool, it was 30… ![“I saw a commercial for an above-ground pool, it was 30 seconds long. Because that's the maximum amount of time you can picture yourself having fun in an above-ground pool. If it was 31 seconds, the actor would say "The water is only up to here? What do I do now? Throw the ball back to Jimmy? Or…” quote by Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b96/mitch-hedberg-695_actors_i-saw-a-commercial-for-an-above-ground-p_2591781.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b96/mitch-hedberg-695_actors_i-saw-a-commercial-for-an-above-ground-p_2591781.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b96/mitch-hedberg-695_actors_i-saw-a-commercial-for-an-above-ground-p_2591781.png) > “I saw a commercial for an above-ground pool, it was 30 seconds long. Because that's the maximum amount of time you can picture yourself having fun in an above-ground pool. If it was 31 seconds, the actor would say "The water is only up to here? What do I do now? Throw the ball back to Jimmy? Or put some goggles on and look at his feet?"” [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The joke highlights how absurd advertising limits our imagination to a brief, idealized moment of enjoyment. **In simple terms:** Ads only show short fun moments. Key Takeaway Recognize the limits of marketing. Themes humor advertising perception Mood ironic playful critical Type observational satirical When to use this quote - marketing analysis - media literacy - creative brainstorming - advertising strategy - consumer awareness Key Concepts satire cognitive bias media critique Questions to Reflect On - How do ads shape what we expect to enjoy? - Can we imagine longer experiences beyond the ad? A Different Perspective The humor may oversimplify complex marketing tactics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Goggles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goggles/) [Having fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-fun/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [Most of the moments of our life - and I calculated, you know, the psychological present is said to be about three seconds long;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/most-of-the-moments-of-our-life-and-i-calculated-you-know-the/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [“Thirty seconds can be very long sometimes. Long enough to work a miracle or a revolution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/thirty-seconds-can-be-very-long-sometimes-long-enough-to-work-a/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“If I told you I love you now How many seconds would it take How long would you allow All that I am to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/if-i-told-you-i-love-you-now-how-many-seconds-would-it-take-how-long/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“When you choose a man who thinks eight seconds is a long time, perhaps you need two of them. Hmm?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-johnson/when-you-choose-a-man-who-thinks-eight-seconds-is-a-long-time-perhaps/) [Cat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-johnson/) > [It could not have been ten seconds, and yet it seemed a long time that their hands were clasped together. He had time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/it-could-not-have-been-ten-seconds-and-yet-it-seemed-a-long-time-that/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Five seconds is a long time when it comes to basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-reaves/five-seconds-is-a-long-time-when-it-comes-to-basketball/) [Austin Reaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-reaves/) > [“If you can, I implore you to watch this scene. It’s seven seconds long. Three hours. Thirty-two takes. And it was only the second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-sestero/if-you-can-i-implore-you-to-watch-this-scene-it-s-seven-seconds-long/) [Greg Sestero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-sestero/) > [My family has always gone to church. I like to think that faith has been a part of my life since I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-goepper/my-family-has-always-gone-to-church-i-like-to-think-that-faith-has/) [Nick Goepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-goepper/) > [Everyone watched, wondering if this could be the same lunatic who'd nearly berthed his ornithopter in the restaurant. I swallowed, for it seemed he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-oppel/everyone-watched-wondering-if-this-could-be-the-same-lunatic-who-d/) [Kenneth Oppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-oppel/) > [I hated the goggles, don’t get me wrong, but I felt naked without them. Almost like playing without a helmet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dickerson/i-hated-the-goggles-don-t-get-me-wrong-but-i-felt-naked-without-them/) [Eric Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dickerson/) > [There's someone out there for everyone, even if you need a pickaxe, a compass, and night goggles to find them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-someone-out-there-for-everyone-even-if-you-need-a-pickaxe-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I love the Tea Party. They are the ultimate beer goggles. They make everything look better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-love-the-tea-party-they-are-the-ultimate-beer-goggles-they-make/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [Volcanic ash will be experienced in all parts of your world, as the volcanoes around your earth are simultaneously activated. Face masks and goggles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/volcanic-ash-will-be-experienced-in-all-parts-of-your-world-as-the/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [“Every person sees the world through lenses of his or her own design—individual goggles that alter focus and perspective as desired. For those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/every-person-sees-the-world-through-lenses-of-his-or-her-own-design/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [For me, vision is just about the most important thing. So goggles play a huge role in my sport. I come to the competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/for-me-vision-is-just-about-the-most-important-thing-so-goggles-play/) [Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/) ## More by Mitch Hedberg > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [There was a product on late night TV that you could attach to your garden hose - "You can water your hard-to-reach plants with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/there-was-a-product-on-late-night-tv-that-you-could-attach-to-your/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Imagine if you were a drummer, and you accidentally picked up two magic wands instead of sticks. There you are, keeping the beat, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/imagine-if-you-were-a-drummer-and-you-accidentally-picked-up-two/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I like wearing necklaces, because it lets me know when I'm upside down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-like-wearing-necklaces-because-it-lets-me-know-when-i-m-upside-down/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I'm sick of Soup Of The Day, man. It's time we make a decision. I need to know what Soup From Now On is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-m-sick-of-soup-of-the-day-man-it-s-time-we-make-a-decision-i-need/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I have a friend who is a juggler. If I'm at his house, I don't like to take food from him, if it's in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-have-a-friend-who-is-a-juggler-if-i-m-at-his-house-i-don-t-like-to/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I don't get the regular AIDS test anymore. I get the roundabout AIDS test. I ask my friend Brian, "Do you know anybody who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-get-the-regular-aids-test-anymore-i-get-the-roundabout-aids/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I don't know how to fix a car. If the car breaks down, and the gas tank does not say "E", I'm screwed. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-know-how-to-fix-a-car-if-the-car-breaks-down-and-the-gas-tank/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I drank some boiling water because I wanted to whistle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-drank-some-boiling-water-because-i-wanted-to-whistle/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [What's a sesame seed grow into? I don't know we never give them a chance, what the fuck is a sesame?! It's a street...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/what-s-a-sesame-seed-grow-into-i-don-t-know-we-never-give-them-a/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I'm an ice sculptor. Last night I made a cube.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-m-an-ice-sculptor-last-night-i-made-a-cube/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I went to a restaurant with my friend, and he said, "Pass the salt." I said, "Screw you! Sit closer to the salt."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-went-to-a-restaurant-with-my-friend-and-he-said-pass-the-salt-i/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I had a bag of Fritos, they were Texas grilled Fritos. These Fritos had grill marks on them. They remind me of summer, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-had-a-bag-of-fritos-they-were-texas-grilled-fritos-these-fritos-had/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I bought a house, it's a two bedroom house, but I think it's up to me to decide how many bedrooms there are. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-bought-a-house-it-s-a-two-bedroom-house-but-i-think-it-s-up-to-me/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Mr. Pibb is a poor imitation of Dr. Pepper. Dude didn't even get his degree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/mr-pibb-is-a-poor-imitation-of-dr-pepper-dude-didn-t-even-get-his/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) [Explore all 405 Mitch Hedberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. 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