« Eff, portrait of a public figger | Main | silly »
The economy of fear
by effenheimer at 06:03 PM on September 16, 2003
I had my eyes opened wide the other day. It is an unusual experience especially when you think you've pretty much got things figured out. I'm not a prick about it, I just thought I had a rough idea.
Then I was watching "Bowling for Columbine" and I realized I had only hit on part of the problem with violence in America until Marilyn Manson of all people said "Fear fuels consumption." Whoa.
My brain started tingling like blood was rushing into segments that had never had the pleasure before. I had the pieces before. The Cold War, advertising, killer diseases of the week, war. But for some reason I never realized that either delibeerately or not, we as Americans are being kept in a state of constant anxiety just so we'll buy more shit. Afraid of dying on the road? Buy an SUV. Afraid people will think you're poor? Buy name brand crap so people never know. Buy a gun, keep it loaded, the enemy is at the gate. Kill, kill, kill.
We have enemies that seek to destroy our way of life. We must build billions of dollars worth of ships, missiles, planes, bombs and laser-guided what have yous if we want to live.
Frankly, it made sense. A hell of a lot of sense. Violence most certainly IS the answer, after all.
comments (22)
Touche. I'm almost tempted to say, "from the mouths of babes" but Manson's a dude, isn't he?
by anna at September 16, 2003 6:13 PM
Pretty wierd, isn't it? Every once in a while Marilyn Manson does come up with something really good. I liked some of their earlier stuff, like Smells Like Children and Antichrist Superstar, a lot.
The ad industry is fairly big in L.A.-- I've worked with Suissa Miller and some of my college friends are actually employed in it and I'd definitely say that a large part of their attitude is "make people worry about something, and then give them a solution."
One thing I like about shopping at ethnic markets is that the packaged products don't try to give you this psychological sell of "bigger, better, more," or "buy this to join this affinity group." A lot of labels are still just line drawings, one or two colors, no flashy graphics, and maybe talk about being "the best in the country" or "everyone's favorite" or something. It's quaint, really. I dread the day when those companies catch up to the American ones in the consumerism game.
The game is definitely everywhere. The "make people worry" ethic influences everything; the news media, entertainment... uh, actually, I guess those are really the only three things American society is built on, isn't it? "News" media (generally run by multinational corporate conglomerates), entertainment (ditto), and consumer goods (ditto!).
by jean at September 16, 2003 10:22 PM
You forgot the one critical catalyst of the fear recipe – lies. They are responsible for fear, unless you are Christian. Then it’s truth.
by MrBlank at September 16, 2003 10:35 PM
in my line of work, lies and guilt move bibles like nobodies business. hey woo...it sure is hot out here. ok, who wants some salvation!
by bible salesman at September 16, 2003 11:27 PM
Are you fucking kidding me?
by douchenation at September 17, 2003 3:07 AM
Michael Moore is about as "fair and balanced" as the Fox News Channel he (doubtless) chastises. Of course, Marilyn Manson is entitled to his uninformed opinion, but will someone please read John Lott's book "The Bias Against Guns?" Thanks.
by douchenation at September 17, 2003 3:18 AM
I work in the insurance industry. A massive hurricane is impending. What do you think we're selling?
by anna at September 17, 2003 6:56 AM
Michael Moore's objectivity aside, Manson's right, and Effenheimer is right. Look at how the US has gone ahead after 9/11. The constant harping on Iraq and Al Qaeda and terror and so on-- There's been no proof (or evidence) that Iraq was involved in the attacks on 9/11, and yet a number of polls have up to 70% of people believing that. Why? Because the government's been trumpeting it. Dick Cheney said it again recently in an interview somewhere.
by Adam at September 17, 2003 8:08 AM
The common consumer/American has been sold shit, in this manner, for as long as advertising has been around. If you want someone to do something or not then put it in a commercial or movie and the masses will follow. Look at cigarettes. Before it became public knowledge that they were harmful the ads portrayed them as a relaxant that could improve your life. People bought it. Even after people knew cigarettes were harmful they continued to use them due to already being addicted or started using to portray an image bolstered by ads, commercials and movies. Anyone remember the Marlboro man or countless actors/actresses chain smoking in movies while looking as cool as they could be? Now, after the fallout of the lawsuits, smoke free environments, and those fucking commercials by that activist group (can't remember their name but they piss me off and I don't even smoke); smokers are viewed as nothing short of criminals. Why do we buy this? Because we use the television and other media as our only source of information. It's on FOX, CNN? Must be true. The average American is so comfortable and complacent that they don't even want to seek the truth anymore. They don't want to get dirty and talk with people who have been affected by things we took for face value because our media portrayed them a certain way. Why do all of that work when you can watch TV?
Now, I own a gun. I have a Beretta 9mm for home protection. Do I think I will ever need it? Probably not. I just couldn't forgive myself if something was to happen where I couldn't protect myself or Amy. Am I paranoid? Depends. If being prepared is paranoia then I guess I have it. I just don't like the alternative.
by Ezy at September 17, 2003 10:11 AM
douche, wasn't that the book with a bit in there about children theoretically having a necessity to own guns because of statistical violence against them?
by lajoie at September 17, 2003 11:24 AM
I like this bumper sticker: "Terrorism is a symptom, not the disease."
In addition, my doctor has an old ad on his wall: "More doctors smoke Camels than any other cigarette." Ha!
Eff, I was just talking to Brit about what drives public opinion, and how most people never go beyond their little network news programs to figure out what is going on in the world. Fascinating stuff.
by Linz at September 17, 2003 1:05 PM
Another thing: we talked about how our eyes have been opened by various things. Talking to more educated friends, taking a less mainstream class in college, reading newspapers from other countries, talking people from other countries, and not from the West in general. What if I'd never come across these things? My opinions would be much narrower.
by Linz at September 17, 2003 1:07 PM
Of coruse Michael Moore isn't fair and balanced. He is one man with one man's opinion and I have seen him pull one of two stunts I didn't think were quite fair. For example, his ambush of Dick Clark was entirely out of context. If he tried to talk to Dick Clark about the welfare to work program he uses in his michigan restaurants and receives a tax break for, then MM should have told us he tried to talk to him. You just ambush me as Im getting into my car and I won't talk to you either.
Fox represents as a news organization. a fair and balanced one. It's a crock because they do more editorializing than I ever thought of doing.
Michael Moore is a satirist with an agenda. I would also say that just because someone has an agenda doesn't make them wrong. MM tells us up front who he hates and why he hates them and why he is going after them. if that isn't a basis for trust then what is?
I hate the right and when I say right I mean those memebers of the right wing who have a clue, not the dumb asses I know who are republicans because their dad was and who actually believe all the bullshit. I hate the ones who look the other way when Ken Lay rips off california, then look another way when republicans blame a democrat for the same problem (gray davis). I really hate the power brokers who will lie to keep what they have, use propaganda like Goebbels and cheat like a mother fucker.
Politics can help people. it should help people. It has and can again. If it can't then why would anyone go into it EXCEPT for the wrong reasons.
And god DAMN do I hate arnold schwarzenegger. WHOOOO! I hope he gets his ass kicked but good.
by eff at September 17, 2003 1:47 PM
Linz: If Terrorism is a symptom, then what is the disease? And who pays attention to bumper stickers? Don't they lower the value of your car and your I.Q.?
Eff: If Michael Moore is a satirist, then why did he get an Academy Award for best documentary? He's just as much of a liar as any other politician. How does that help people?
by MrBlank at September 17, 2003 7:59 PM
there's something wrong with being biased against guns? hm, maybe i should stop re-reading the zelazny paperbacks and actually read a real book...i think i was out to lunch when that particular point was explained.
if i can procrastinate as much as possible the day on which i have to even think about having to think about pointing a gun at somebody--much less pulling the trigger--then by jingo, i shall do so. now i'm like everybody else, i'm scared of the boogeyman too. i leave the lights on. i call the cops when i hear funny noises.
but knowing myself, i kind of think owning a gun would just make me hear more funny noises. [we won't talk about the voices, if that's ok with you.]
by r@d@r at September 18, 2003 6:04 PM
wow, it's amazing, now I'm supposed to be in the business of answering to position that aren't even mine because you said I said something I didn't say, blank?
Morre's approach to documentry filmmaking is to use humor to make his points and keep people's attention. "Corporate Cops" isn't satire? TV nation was definitely satire. There is all sorts of truth in satire if you aren't stuck in a linear track.
When he goes to a bank and makes fun of the douchebags for givintg away guns, you dont see the satire in his applying for and getting a gun while he asks the questions mocking the whole process?
I don't agree that he is a liar, certainly not "just as much of a liar as any politician" not by any stretch.
Just because you disagree with someone's opinion doesn't make them a liar and like I said, I only really question his APPROACH on the Dick Clark thing. What exactly DID Moore lie about?
by eff at September 19, 2003 10:39 AM
http://www.hardylaw.net/Truth_About_Bowling.html
by MrBlank at September 19, 2003 4:05 PM
Now, now kids. Let me tell you a fun gun story. When I first started dating my wife she was concluding a messy divorce with a guy who'd gotten sucked into a cult. He was a bit unstable and I feared for our safety. So I bought a 9 mm pistol. Gradually everything got cool and wife gave my gun to a pal for safekeeing. Haven't seen it since. Do see a lot of the ex as we're real good drinking buddies.
by anna at September 19, 2003 5:18 PM
I was watching a United Way promo at work today for the kick off our our fund drive. one of the people in the video works for Haven House, one of those secret women's shelter women move into so their abusive hsubands can't find them. the counselor lady said one guy used to keep a loaded rifle on top of the refrigerator and point to it every time she pissed him off, just to let her know he could kill her any time he wanbted to.
Another guy dug his wife a grave in their basement. I said well sure taken out of context that could seem bad, but it was probably just a joke. Come to think of it, the rifle thing could be kindof funny too if you think about it. Some people just have no sense of humor.
by eff at September 19, 2003 5:41 PM
That is some dang crazy stuff, Eff.
And Anna, that's so wild! It's great that you two can be buddies now. Good to know that he got out of that cult, too. He is over that, isn't he?
by jean at September 20, 2003 3:19 AM
Yeah. Twas in another lifetime, one of toil and blood.
by anna at September 20, 2003 10:21 AM
During the Iraq war I learnt something. That Iraq Body Count site created a record of both the highest and lowest possible death count, basing it on any figures any news company released.
http://www.iraqbodycount.net/
The difference was fairly large. I'm hoping that I'd still have learnt the same lesson even if there was less difference in the figures.
The lesson was simply; look at the two extremes, the truth is probably some where in between.
Apply this lesson to Bowling and the whole US gun arguement and I can't see how anyone still wouldn't be freaked out and quite frankly pissed off at the shitty state of affairs. Even if it's mid way between what the NRA and Morre are each saying....
by Fuzzy at September 21, 2003 1:18 AM