(Untitled)

[havenne]

I have been accused of being psychic.  The conversation has been moving forward, bringing together 'value' and 'worth,' 'time' and 'money.'  Ideas have filtered in about the emotional component of desire, about the price vagaries of retail and the hidden factors in 'cost.'  So what pops up on the Times site but this article:

http://www.nytimes.com/

Comments

[dragonmyass]

Try tuning into your emotions the next time you're vacantly watching TV and note how you feel when a commercial comes on that interests you. Merchandizers know how to tap into your deep emotions and make you think you "need" something. They may stress that the items are going fast and you will feel the urge to rush out and buy the product before they run out. They attach sentiment to items. They try to make it seem that the product will take away all of your worries or even better, solve all of your money problems.

I've stopped at QVC while channel surfing and found myself stressed and my blood pressure going up because of the stress that I might not be able to get the item before they run out of something I wasn't even remotely interested in and had no use for.

[havenne]

Or, imagine the feeling when someone outbids you on Ebay, especially when you've put your top sane value on whatever it is. I know that I've been drawn in, bidding higher and higher, indulging the thrill of the chase, only to be outbid with only 4 seconds to go. Then I stop and kick myself and ask, 'what was I thinking!?!' 'This piece of crap isn't worth that!' I will take a moment to breath a sigh of relief, feel bad for whoever just outbid me but, at the same time, revel in not being the one falling for bidding mania.
Wasn't there some study that found that little kids know advertising jingles, logos and Ronald McDonald before they can read or something like that? It is scary what advertising can do and has done to us.

[dragonmyass]

Yes, I don't think it was a study. I believe it was in the documentary Supersize Me. They showed people who couldn't remember the Pledge of Allegience but could sing the McDonald's Big Mac theme. They also showed children who were able to recognize Ronald McDonald before they could even recognize Santa. Sad.

[havenne]

I don't think I've see Supersize Me, just as I haven't watched Sicko, either; saw Bowling for Columbine and it disturbed me. I'm not sure how I feel about Michael Moore but it all sure makes me think