As much as we would like to think that we make rational choices, we are all very susceptible to advertising, propaganda, status, peer pressure… whatever you want to call the scientific research into how to effectively change our psychology about our purchasing and lifestyle choices.
Let’s call it “propaganda”, to cover all those effects that overpower rational thought.
When propaganda is effective, I am not aware of it’s effect on me. Or sometimes, even when I am aware, it still pleases me to go along. Just for the feel-goods.
In my grandfather’s day, even my dad’s… men wore hats.
I mean really nice hand made hats, made of fine materials, for when dressed up for business attire. It was what they did, it was the fashion, and not having your hat made you … incomplete or incompetent or and outsider in some small way. The hat served no purpose, yet it was … just what they all wore. The details of the hat in some way defined the man among his peers and in his own self image.
A fella drives a huge Ford pickup to his accounting job in the city. The truck has never seen a gravel road, let alone a bail of hay or a 2x4. No way a trailer hitch is going on this V-8 beauty, it’s cherry!
No, he would not feel comfortable in a Chevy or GM… and he’ll argue about it with his pals. In reality, he’d be far ahead in every respect driving a Prius… but… advertising has overcome him and affected his self image. Honestly, he can’t drive standard transmission, might be a terrible driver, and might be better off in every way riding the bus to work. But that doesn’t sell trucks.
Because for every story about a heroic “good guy with a gun”, I bet I can find at least two about an FBI agent’s negligent discharge, or some lady dropping her purse with explosive result, or some kid getting ahold of a negligent parent’s gun… none of us like to think the WE are the idiot in the story.
But when I took flying lessons, all my instructors had either crashed or said “I have not crashed yet.” Because s### happens.