Thanks to
JohnsPlaceonLine - no relation.
Like it or not, we live in a media driven world. We spend 11 hours a day
bombarded by television, radio, Internet, and other forms of media, a
non-stop onslaught on the psyche, an ever-churning series of images,
sound bites, opinions, and advertisements, but precious little
substance.
The media provides shared experience, collective memory.
Unfortunately, many of the ideas we’re exposed to are negative and
self-defeating. The pervasiveness of these negative ideas makes them
hard to ignore; easy to internalize.
If you’re curious about the cumulative effect of all this media upon
the mind, here’s a list of 7 negative attitudes common in the media and
tips for dealing with them.
1. Mindless Consumerism: The average American is
exposed to 247 commercials everyday. Buying things has become reflex,
due partly to the ideal lifestyle flickering on the television: big
house, giant SUV, three-car garage, flat-panel television. There’s
nothing wrong with enjoying life, but are you buying things to improve
your life? Or to compensate for feelings of emptiness? Find something
to believe in; fill the void with something real.
2. Poor Body Image: Never before in history have we
been surrounded by so many examples of physical perfection, shaped by
cosmetic surgeons, airbrushed by artists, and distributed by print and
video. Remind yourself that fitness is more important than perfection.
Besides, your value as a human being is not related to your appearance,
and those actors don’t look half as good without make-up and lighting.
3. Roaming Eye: Television gives everyone (men in
particular) the idea that the world is overflowing with beautiful,
willing sex partners; it’s not. And even if it were, that roaming eye
isn’t doing you any favors. Remind yourself that relationships are
built upon more than physical attraction.
4. Destructive Communication: Electronic media
brims with insults and anger. On message boards, gentle persuasion has
collapsed beneath the weight of incivility. In real life, victory is
seldom obtained with witty one-liners or rude put-downs. Hone those
communication skills. Learn to Persuade without offending. Connect.
5. Clique Mentality: As if cliques weren’t
prevalent enough, television programs often have casts that are
socially, ethnically, and racially homogenous. That’s fine; it’s free
enterprise at work, for the most part, and not every story involves a
melting pot. I make no bones about it; I’m simply reminding everyone
not to be afraid of diversity in the real world.
6. Stereotypes: As evolved as we believe we are,
television is overflowing with stereotypes: the dumb jock, the
bubble-headed blonde, the geek with a pocket protector, all
products of lazy writing. Most of us are smart enough to recognize a
stereotype for what it is, but I question the subconscious impact of
such repeated exposure. The best defense is to remind yourself that
every human being deserves to be evaluated as an individual, no matter
how prevalent or justified a stereotype might seem.
7. Negativity: We’re wired to pay attention to
danger, which is why the Discovery Channel broadcasts so many programs
that show the world being destroyed by tsunamis, earthquakes, and giant
asteroids; why the news leads with gunfire and bloodshed. Remind
yourself that there are just as many positive forces in the world as
negative; your focus on the negative is a matter of personal choice and
perspective.
Full article here.
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