Is it me?
Or does the world, more specifically this country seem like a more combative, volatile place than it used to be. It's in our government, it's in our commercials, it's in our rhetoric. I can't watch television anymore without seeing a commercial for some "reality" show where people are embarrassing themselves and each other to "win" a predetermined prize granted by the rules of the show, also predetermined. So much for reality. Anyway, people want to be # 1. People want it all. Some people don't care what they have to do to get it either.
I think this macho behavior is the partly the result of politicians.
Watching commercials as a kid, I noticed the macho rhetoric in our commercials: Life is short play hard, Lead follow or get outta the way, or one of my all time favorites: "just do it". Just do it huh. Less thinking and more doing, sounds good in theory until you give that mantra to those who really should be thinking about their actions a little clearer and more seriously.
But yesterday was the culmination of all these thoughts when I watched football for 7 hours. The commercials are bad... and not just bad, but "starting to really piss me off" bad. So bad that I was programming my remote to other channels so I could watch the history channel, VH-1, a basketball game and Comedy central when these annoying commercials came on, further scattering my attention span into it's own galaxy now.
The worst example is the political spots. None of which were on yesterday, but are memorable for their negativity and unabashed hatred of the competition. It was the first time in my life that in a commercial someone called out someone else, mentioned them by name and put forth a quick argument as to why they stink. I've always been uncomfortable with these ads. It made me long for the golden age of ads when you just talked about how great you are, why your product is worth trying, or find some celebrity to sing your praises. There was never a need to bash the competition. There was never a need to call them out. Burger King actually talking about McDonald's in their commercial. Budweiser and Miller Lite stealing each other's commercials and ideas to trash talk each other... likewise with the cable and satellite companies. Cell phone companies comparing their prices right along the others. Car rental companies, Electronics manufacturers, TV shows, etc. It goes on and on.
Not only can you get the lowdown on a product in a commercial, you also get all the cons of the competitors at the same time. I'm sick of this bias and lack of class by these companies and that's why I don't endorse their products. I know, Bud Light, what a real loss. I don't know how I can live without Coors Light. When did we get so combative and confrontational. Life is turning into gangsta rap. I'm just waiting for the drive-bys now. What are televison, radio, entertainment and the media coming to?
I feel like these people are insulting our collective intelligence. Now we need to have everything spelled out for us? Now we need to be told exactly what to do? Are we not allowed to think for ourselves anymore? Are we not allowed to make a choice... I guess there's no time when you are flipping through so many channels.
Or does the world, more specifically this country seem like a more combative, volatile place than it used to be. It's in our government, it's in our commercials, it's in our rhetoric. I can't watch television anymore without seeing a commercial for some "reality" show where people are embarrassing themselves and each other to "win" a predetermined prize granted by the rules of the show, also predetermined. So much for reality. Anyway, people want to be # 1. People want it all. Some people don't care what they have to do to get it either.
I think this macho behavior is the partly the result of politicians.
Watching commercials as a kid, I noticed the macho rhetoric in our commercials: Life is short play hard, Lead follow or get outta the way, or one of my all time favorites: "just do it". Just do it huh. Less thinking and more doing, sounds good in theory until you give that mantra to those who really should be thinking about their actions a little clearer and more seriously.
But yesterday was the culmination of all these thoughts when I watched football for 7 hours. The commercials are bad... and not just bad, but "starting to really piss me off" bad. So bad that I was programming my remote to other channels so I could watch the history channel, VH-1, a basketball game and Comedy central when these annoying commercials came on, further scattering my attention span into it's own galaxy now.
The worst example is the political spots. None of which were on yesterday, but are memorable for their negativity and unabashed hatred of the competition. It was the first time in my life that in a commercial someone called out someone else, mentioned them by name and put forth a quick argument as to why they stink. I've always been uncomfortable with these ads. It made me long for the golden age of ads when you just talked about how great you are, why your product is worth trying, or find some celebrity to sing your praises. There was never a need to bash the competition. There was never a need to call them out. Burger King actually talking about McDonald's in their commercial. Budweiser and Miller Lite stealing each other's commercials and ideas to trash talk each other... likewise with the cable and satellite companies. Cell phone companies comparing their prices right along the others. Car rental companies, Electronics manufacturers, TV shows, etc. It goes on and on.
Not only can you get the lowdown on a product in a commercial, you also get all the cons of the competitors at the same time. I'm sick of this bias and lack of class by these companies and that's why I don't endorse their products. I know, Bud Light, what a real loss. I don't know how I can live without Coors Light. When did we get so combative and confrontational. Life is turning into gangsta rap. I'm just waiting for the drive-bys now. What are televison, radio, entertainment and the media coming to?
I feel like these people are insulting our collective intelligence. Now we need to have everything spelled out for us? Now we need to be told exactly what to do? Are we not allowed to think for ourselves anymore? Are we not allowed to make a choice... I guess there's no time when you are flipping through so many channels.
Yes, our country is degenerating rapidly into a bunch of name-calling children. I deplore the dumbing-down currently ongoing.
Thanks for the good wishes for the week, I am going to try* to relax tonight and get my head together for what may be ahead. I've realized lately that I sound very negative in mu journal...which is the opposite of how I am in "real" life. going to try to work on that.