Greetings Readers!
Today's Freedom Friday post centers on being mindful of the subtle influence of the media...Enjoy!
I was sitting with my grandkids watching Clifford The Big Red Dog - an episode appropriately titled "Food for Thought" - in which Clifford and his two friends became insistent on getting this paticalar dog food after watching a TV promo and viewing a billboard about the product. As the episode ensues the trio, after sampling the dog food, come to realize that what they see on TV isn't necessarily true, they can get strong and jump higher just by doing what they normally do and, most importantly, they should put more thought into something before they decide they want it.
How many of us have seen something on TV or saw something in a store window or on the side of a bus or on a billboard and immediately thought "I MUST HAVE IT!" I use to be like that...OK, I can STILL be like that. :)
Better question: how many of us, after getting the thing we wanted so badly felt like it didn't meet our expectations? That's how the media gets you. They know they we are emotional creatures, habitual creatures and they tap into that with every commercial, radio spot and billboard you see.
Are the ad companies wrong for doing this? Nope! I'd do it too to attract more buyers. The point is that we should be more mindful of the message behind the ad and ask ourselves serious questions before we go lopping the proverbial arm and leg to buy the newest iPhone, Vizio or Mercedes Benz.
I remember reading something in Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad Poor Dad book that mentions we should allow our money to work for us and use the assets we create to buy the luxuries we want...makes sense right? That way, our money is working for us AND allowing us to get the things we want.
Back to my point though: We need to free ourselves from being slaves to the hidden messages in ads that cause us to run like hungry dogs after every bone tossed to us. We need to learn the lesson behind delayed gratification and the pain of instant gratification.
And to think some parents say you don't learn anything from watching cartoons! ;)
Have a PERFECT day!
Michael
MIIS
Image Courtesy: NHPTV
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