ShipofFools said:
I don't think people are getting dumber.
I do think that these bullshit idols and heroes the media tries to shovel down our and our kids's throats are a lot dumber then they used to be.
This mass media thing... I don't think it's healthy. I think people need to stop worrying about Myley Cyrus or Justin Bieber or fuckers like them, stop thinking about empty-headed, non creative celebrities and focus on what is going on in your own life.
There are plenty of people in our own lives that deserve our attention, don't waste it on these icons the media has created.
You know, young kids see the celebrity lifestyle and think it's great, and what's worse they think they should live like that too, not knowing you can be so much happier if you focus on people instead of bullshit thinks like lifestyle, style, brands and all that shit.
That fucking shit never made anybody happy. Now when you buy a car or a jacket or something way more expensive then it's worth, and you get that warm feeling inside of you?
Yeah that is not happiness, it's only temporary and goes away real quick, and then your life is shit again because you put idols and things in front of the people who really matter.
...
I got off topic for a while there.
So in summary: I don't think people are getting dumber, but I do think whatever the fuck passes for culture that these media conglomerates are shoving up our asses is getting really fucking stupid.
Focusing on people is how those horrible horrible child stars got started in the first place. Myley Cyrus or Justin Beiber didn't become "pop idols" because of brands or products, they are just used to sell said products. It's not the "pop stars" that obsess over the products, it's the consumers. We are bombarded with subliminal advertising and social engineering every day we browse the internet, listen to the radio, or watch tv. It's usually meant to have a stronger effect on children because then they grow up as consumers and make more little consumers.
And maybe that's fine, maybe that's the intended path for human evolution, but if our society angers you so much, maybe reserve some of that hatred you put on kid stars for the corporations and organizations that turn these kids out in the first place.
Look I hate pop music too but do you honesty think Justin Beiber is horrible as a human being? He started singing because he enjoyed it, because he wanted to entertain people and create something. He wanted to develop a talent. Under different circumstances he could have become a rock icon or got involved in some new, fringe genre of music. He wasn't born a spoiled prick, he was turned into one or at least has to play one.
The people that really run this country (those that hold the coin and more importantly the debt) want our "pop stars" and "idols" to be self entitled, spoiled, snotty jerks because that's the perfect consumer. They want everything they can't afford (credit cards provide debt, debt is worth more than the same amount in cash) and they are so full of themselves that they drive other people crazy, get enough of those people and the "stragglers" become anti-social as a natural defense to the insanity around them, and the anti-social person is the other type of consumer, the kind that tries to fill the holes in his life with products. The person is depressed because they are unable to connect to anyone else but rarely would a person be self aware enough to realize this so they get it in their head that they just need that new pill or the new pillow set or the new video game.
My point is the idols themselves are not really dumb, in fact many get into it pretty smart and promising but are conditioned through social pressure and drugs into another "burn out" because it makes for great media coverage while setting it up to make more room for the next idol.
I know that sounds crazy, maybe even bordering on "conspiracy theory" but just look at how we act, just look at yourself bringing up how much you hate Cyrus and Bieber. Why those names? How do you know who they are if you don't listen to the music? It's because there are cycles of "interest" that the media constantly beats into our brains to the point where even people that want no part in it still have the names, songs, and images seared into their mind through repetition.
Or maybe I'm wrong and it's all just silly stuff with no meaning and nobody is trying to be in charge of anything ever.
EDIT: The stuff the "corporate media is jamming down our throats" may be unpleasant but it's far from stupid. "Buy my product!" is a stupid ad, we don't see that with large corporations. They use years of research into the human mind and human behavior to develop advertisements so subversive that you can consciously think "Man that makes me never want to buy that thing" except that now you are completely unable to get it out of your head and you feel compelled to tell your friends or family how stupid you think that new commercial for that product is.
See what happened there? These companies can hire the people to put together enjoyable ads but they want the messages and images to be associated with strong emotion because that's when people spend the most. Easiest strong reactions to get out of people? Anger and disgust. Suddenly the obviously "stupid" commercials and the gross out skittles commercials start to make a hell of a lot of sense.
Sorry that was a long rant but hopefully somebody will read it.