You are being deceived.

Anyone who knows me, knows I do not like disingenuous people or advertisements. I think it comes from my background with psychology. I don't like being manipulated and I don't like it when people sell me things without being honest about it. Tell what you want to tell me. Don't suddenly call me up to see how I am doing only to ask for a favor. Needing a favor is fine, don't pretend to be my friend first. As annoying as this is with people you may know, it is far worse and unforgivable when advertisements and corporations do this.

You are being deceived. Whenever you turn on the TV you are being deceived. Lied to? Not necessarily although there is not much preventing companies from doing that. No, instead you are being misled, or rather deceived. I have to laugh whenever I see items in Hot Topic about non-conformity or people "trying to go their own way". We are easily led beasts, we humans. It is easy to make us believe that we have to buy something or that we think a certain way.

I watched a cute commercial yesterday about a family making do during a power outage. They gathered the children together and grabbed flashlights and told stories and all had a great time. Snack time was apparently the Dannon yogurt in the fridge. Perhaps they thought they had to eat it so it would not go bad, or perhaps it is a easy snack to have without power. The family eats for perhaps 2 seconds of this 15 second ad. The power is restored but they turn off the lights because they are having a good family time. Now, how is this ad meant to sell the item? The yogurt is only featured briefly. Are they saying that we should have yogurt on hand in case of a power outage? I'd doubt it. No, the idea is that they are showing you a wonderful family time and, oh! look, Dannon yogurt played a part. What should be the conscious of unconscious reaction to this? That, so my family could for one night, just one night, behave like we know each other, I should buy some Dannon yogurt? That is a pretty ridiculous reason, yet that is exactly how you are meant to think. Oh, perhaps not consciously, but subconsciously.

I never take anyone seriously when they rant about corporations and carry Apple products or drive a Volvo and I find it worse when these companies use that elitist non-conformity to sell their products. Apple is a terrible offender. They make the argument that people who use their product "think different" -ly from people who do not. Obviously if you want to be one of the intelligent people you should use Apple products. This was of inclusion and exclusion works with products and political ideas. Why do you think we use the term "progressive" instead of "liberal" these days?

You are being deceived. You are being manipulated and coerced on a constant basis. Only when we realize how we are being sold something can we really be free to make our own choices.

Don't be a victim.

No, I am not posting about a particular problem that people could fall prey to. No, this post is about the growing cult of the victim.

American's have always liked the little guy. They love the idea of the scrappy underdog beating the big monster. That is why all of our history plays off of that. We are the nation that pulled ourselves from our bootstraps and fought off the big dogs...rather than the economic and industrious powerhouse whose rise was inevitable due to resources and population.

Now, please note that I don't mean people should not be proud to champion through despite being a victim. Those people are strong and do not have this mentality. I mean the people who eagerly gobble up another chance to be looked on with pity and and attention.

I actually know people that get excited when diagnosed with a simple problem. They will go on and on about it. They like the attention, I get that, but they also seem dedicated to placing themselves in any little demographic that will afford them the chance to feel "oppressed."

To all those people who feel the need to play the constant victim, please stop. Realize that strength comes from refusing to be a victim. Victims who have risen above the terrible things that have happened to them show strength. Those that do not, show weakness and dependence. I can't really respect either.

I think Dr. Ben Carson pretty much says what I think.


Side rant: Please don't act superior to a whole group of people, when you, yourself have many of those attitudes. Please people, make sure you are not a hypocrite. It's not ok.