consumerism

Consumerism rules our society.  Companies feed our minds from the day we are born with images and slogans, infiltrating us with their brands.  They condition viewers to want products, services, and brands that we would otherwise look past.  The colors and movement of television, advertisements, video games, and movies make our minds unable to focus on anything less attractive.  We are conditioned to be lifelong consumers.

Instead of playing outside, kids sit on the couch and watch television or play video games.  What happened to the Boxcar Children?  We used to go outside and imagine.  We would say there was hot lava under the swingset so we couldn't touch the ground.  We would dress up like pregnant women (yes, even Timothy :)).  We would make houses for families that we would design from catalog cut outs.  Everything we did was pretend, involved real brainpower, and grew our imaginations.  My, how things have changed!

Now, companies have child psychologists help with their marketing strategies to find the best ways to infiltrate the child's mind.  They psychologically evaluate children, knowing their reactions to every piece of media that meets their senses. They watch and know kids as well as a pedophile watches and knows kids, and that is absolutely horrifying.

When I see product placement, I cringe.  Watching commercials, I am now conscious of exactly what these companies want me to think and what they want me to do or buy as a result, and it makes me sick.  So many people fall victim to these ads, all so that a company that makes a sub-par product can make a profit.

To what level has our society fallen?  How much farther can we fall before we fall apart?  How will this affect a child's future, thus the future of this nation?