Marketing and the media

[Sol]

This is truly the age of information. We're aware of so much in fact I wonder whether or not we have some of the worst cases of denial ever. It takes strong denial to continue along some paths. Cigarette smokers keep smoking despite mountains of info. Many racists cling to the idea that they are superior despite DNA evidence that we're the same down to 1 or 2 decimal points. The worst cases of denial though are happening in the home. So many of us are in denial about our being media slaves that I think it is becoming an epidemic.

The evidence is obvious. Advertisers have spent billions and billions researching the best ways to manipulate our choices. TV shows are tested before airing to make sure that they appeal to a "targeted" audience. We're aware that our best interests are not the concern of the TV broadcasters but we watch anyway. Our home life can center around the cell phone, laptop, and TV set almost entirely. How many of us have cancelled dinner at the table with TV's and cell phones off? Even families with kids have dinner in front of the screen or all over the house as the norm.

What I'd like to know is this...Is our increased knowledge lending itself to a stronger, more widespread denial in the world? Do we believe that this indulgence in available media is just the new norm or are we in denial about an obvious epidemic of media addiction that has the potential to harm our families?

[mad_mervyn]

^^Nobody gives a fuck.

That's the bottom line.

We live in a world where everyfuckingperson just wants to have fun.

Wear fancy shit.

Drink the most expensive shit.

Bang as much snatch as possible.

[Sol]

We neglect our intellectual growth for worthless materialism which has no intrinsic value.

We need firstly for people to realize there is a problem before we can solve it

[Prada]

I would have to somewhat disagree on some points. Consumers are smarter then perhaps any point of time and this is because of the advent of the internet where WE CAN pick and chose what to watch, when, how and where. If anything it is now more difficult fo markets to target consumers (aka target market) because they cannot as easily tell who, where, what, when their target market is watching. Case in point, you can watch the superbowl on the web (legally or illegally) and not watch ads. So nowadays marketers are using unorthodox methods to target motly the younger generation (e.g viral marketing, guerrilla marketing). However these methods of marketing are not congruent with many companies brand image, hence the reason the are stubborn to adopt these methods.

[Sol]

But the problem still stands. If you are not caught by one method, you are caught by another. Most people dont know they are caught.

And tahts the shame

I know what catches me. And i use it to my benefit.

I too possess the power to say no to flat screens and rampant consumerism.

People who encourage me to spend on worthless items are removed from my line of sight



RUM IS NOT WORTHLESS

[Narkissos]

bump!

[Prada]

This post is a bit confusing. I would separate media from marketing. They are two different things. Yes the media can be used for political purposes, markets use media for different purposes. Yes, the ignorant get fooled in either case however I still feel people are becoming more "aware" of the antics market as well as politicians are up to. I think our society is so "conditioned" and ,unbeknownst to them, systematically led in such a way that you just dont have the time to give a f-ck.

-The U.S has killed millions of people in the last decade but its all justified right? Terror?
-Hundreds of thousands if not millions of people die of f-in hunger in Africa in todays day and age people are dying of f-kin hunger? While the west is dying of obesity, how f-ed up is that?
-The U.S is the champion of democracy right? Yet they support ruthless regimes that knowingly kill thousands of people per year. What f-ck is that about?

My point is do we really care, do we really? Nope we don't. We know it but we don't care, we don't have time for others. How is that 20 years ago a single man could support a family of four, now a couple have trouble supporting each other. What happened to the value of our money? Gone. So get up, work, get in line like everyone else and not give a f-ck of what goes on around you don't have time for that.

:)

[Sol]

lol!

not quite what i was getting at, but you made some valid points.

I think mental slavery is worse than physical slavery, because people dont even know they are enslaved.