The media is the massage
FM Lurker and Susy both responded to a post from last week suggesting that as bad as the economy looks right now, irresponsible reporting by the media is likely to prolong and worsen the slump. FM Lurker specifically suggested that heavy-handed reporting on foreclosures and people walking away from their homes is already becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy: when we become desensitized by hearing reports over and over stating that thousands upon thousands of people are doing something, it makes that certain something easier to contemplate doing and ultimately to do in the end, and maybe the increasing number of foreclosures reflects that to some extent.
I like to think I'm not deeply impacted by what I see in the media, but I realize that I'm deluding myself for the simple reason that I know all the words to the Oscar Mayer song. The truth is pretty plain: advertising works. Short, snappy vignettes that grab the viewer's (or reader's) attention and get repeated over and over tend to stay with us. Concepts, ideas, or stupid little jingles that stay with us influence our buying habits whether we know it or not.
I realize that news stories about foreclosures and economic gloom and doom are not the same thing as advertising by a long shot, but much like advertising, the simple fact that bad economic news gets repeated in dire, somber tones over and over and over causes that concept to take root. What I'm not sure about is to what extent internalizing negative economic projections actually influences behavior. Do people spend less because they feel poorer? Do they spend more because they feel bad about the state of the country and want to make themselves feel better? Do they fight harder to save their homes because they see so many others are going down in flames, or is it easier to just let go and burn with the rest? I don't know the answers to any of those questions, but I'd like to hear your thoughts.
I do have one simple suggestion for people who want to be less influenced by the media as a whole: turn off your television. My screen went dark in 2006, when the cable company finally flipped the switch in my building left on for five years after the former owner of my home moved out. I didn't have any cable channels, but screwing the cable into the wall gave me crystal-clear reception on the network channels. When I was finally faced with the dilemma of either paying for cable (since I have nothing but snow on the screen without it) or letting go of television, I opted to let go.
It was harder than I thought it would be. Much, much harder, in fact.
That's not to say that I don't watch TV online at times. I love The Office and last year's other guilty pleasure was Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I sure don't miss hearing the nightly news anymore, though. You could argue that I'm just putting my head in the sand because I'm avoiding hearing news that seems more depressing day by day. Even though I read the newspaper and pop in on a few news sites every day, there still may be some truth to that. On the whole, however, I think being TV-free has been a good choice for me because it's one less inroad to having my emotions and desires tweaked by someone who ultimately just wants to lighten my wallet.
Would anyone be interested in a group TV shutoff challenge? Drop a comment if you think it's a good idea. If you think it's a bad one, well, let me know that as well - but I'd love it if you'd tell me why.
9 retorts. What say you?
FZ - We're going tv-free after Labor Day weekend. Our reasons are simple - I can't take the endless parade of ads directed toward my children as we get closer and closer to December. I plan to supplement with DVDs from Netflix. My husband is skeptical that we'll make it for 4 months but it's worth a try!
Don't have a TV and only ever had one which I didn't pay for. Recently we've started renting movies again and watching them on a laptop.
there are so many great reasons to shut off the tv. we've never had one (my parents never had one, now my husband and I don't ) but I think that there are so many other ways to pass the time -- your challenge is to be commended and i hope those who join you will be pleasantly surprised.
I would definitely be interested. When I first moved in I was having work done on my apartment and my cable line was cut. I found that I rented movies and seasons of shows I wanted to watch but then just read and listened to the radio. It was actually great.
However when I decided I couldn't steal internet anymore they reconnected my cable and I got the basic channels you did. I find tv sucks the life out of me, but I can't help but watch it! I'm up for any challenge you decide to throw out there.
Mr Chiots and I cut the cable cord last August and it was the best decision we ever made. We all seem to forget cable was a luxury until about 15 years go. I never had cable growing up (my parents only got it about 10 years ago). It’s a “need” now. Funny how that is.
There are more benefits to nixing cable than saving money.
1. Mr Chiots and I read more books (which is better for the intellect, keeps your brain active)
2. We are much more productive, we rarely watch TV, so all those to-do lists that have been piling up for years finally all got finished.
3. We also spend more time talking now that we’re not watching TV every evening, we used to watch all kinds of stuff because we wanted to get our $50’s worth out of our cable, now even though we can watch all the free network channels in HD, we don’t because we don’t need to since we’re not paying for it.
4. We’re also more creative about what we do watch, getting old shows from the library, often British or foreign shows (Good Neighbors, Battlestar Galactica, Jekyll (series from the UK), many documentaries), these shows are often more interesting, better writing and production value. Plus sometimes it’s fun to watch through the complete run of Seinfeld in a month.
5. Not to mention, you don’t have to watch commercials, so you’re not tempted by all the ads you see on TV. Not to mention, this time of year - NO POLITICAL ADS - yeah!
6. I’m sure it’s also better for children to not watch TV so much and not be exposed to marketing & reading is much better for their minds.
I have a tv and cable but I don't watch anymore. I'll borrow movies and tv shows I want to watch from the library, but the tv only goes on when it's hockey season.
Now I find that if I do turn on the tv, I cannot stand the advertising. I was watching in awe the other day with my friend, who doesn't have cable and therefore wanted to watch some tv because he never gets the option, because the advertising was just. so. bad.
Right on, everyone - I'm impressed by how many TV free or about to be TV free people there are. I posted above that I spend more time on the internet without TV, and that I think I'm trading one bad habit for another. Is anyone else doing the same?
Erin, question for you: Since you no longer watch TV, have you thought about cutting off your cable? I don't know how much you'd save, but in New York it would be at least $100 per month.
I spend a lot of time on the Internet and a big chunk is probably timewasting. I couldn't do that AND watch TV :)
Moom - Agreed! I don't know how people have enough hours in the day for both.
Post a Comment