You too can be a model!!

[Davey]

As a Non-Native English speaker, I do have my questions about the English language so now and then, and because I am only 21 I do have some questions about language in general.

I am always reading the Kansai Scene magazine, this is a magazine for foreigners in the Kansai area. In this magazine you can find articles about life in Japan, events, reviews, classifieds, and advertisements.

Now there is this one advertisement that is searching for children models, from newborn to age 13, and on the top of this advertisement it reads:

YOU TOO CAN BE A MODEL!

Now the thing that is bothering me; How can they write down YOU, because new born to 13 year age children aren't reading this magazine... So is this just BAD English, or sometimes that people shouldn't take to literally?

 

[dreamer]

Well basically I guess it's like those adds where parents are supposed to push their kids into photoshots...

 

[Pachipro]

They are probably aiming at the parents and they figure this will catch their eye and make them read it and maybe bring their "beauty" in. In reality, "you" would mean anyone reading it.

 

[RockLee]

In this case "you" refers to EVERYONE. (correct me if I'm wrong, but that is the impression I get)

 

[Pachipro]

Yes. Anyone or everyone reading the ad.

 

[Davey]

But kids aren't reading that magazine, while the advertisement says from new born to 13. So isn't this text really wrong then?

 

[Thunderthief]

English can be very vague at times, sometimes you can mean one person or many persons in general. For example a parent sees it they would probably either show it to there child or force them into it. English doesn't always have to be as direct and straight forward as Japanese. (Call it sloppyness I guess)

For example I would say "To flush the toilet you push the handle." Where it may be me who was pushing the handle and simpally saying you as an example.

 

[fritzmonkey]

But kids aren't reading that magazine, while the advertisement says from new born to 13. So isn't this text really wrong then?

They technically aren't lying because you can be a model. Not for them, but you can be a model none the less. This part of the ad is to catch the readers attention. They can't write.
"Newborns to kids the age of 13 can be models too."
Because its too long and doesn't catch your attention. So they go with "YOU can be a model too!"