I have a box of Bigelow Green Tea on my desk. I've just read something written on the box -
"Take your favorite tea wherever you go to ensure your full enjoyment."
Who thought of that rhetoric? So I'm going to the dentist to have some drilling done, but I'm going to take along my favorite tea to ensure my full enjoyment....
I want that job.
To convince people that this product is the secret to happiness, perfection, serenity, beauty, wealth, enjoyment, health...
Consumerism is a curious thing. Because we lack substance, spirituality, acceptance and confidence we easily fall victim to someone else's "truth". Those little blurbs of nonsense that entice us to believe that our well being is totally wrapped up in our attainment and use of a product. A product that will put money in the pocket of some CEO, who will send his/her children to Brown University, with the other children of CEOs, who will all become CEOs when they grow up.
Because we believe the glib promises.
I believe in consumerism. I know that when I purchase a product, I am not only putting money into the CEO's pocket, but the pockets of all the labor that goes into the manufacturing of that product: purchase of ingredients, the making of the product, the packaging of the product, the advertising of the product, and the store on whose shelves the products land. All the people that participated in getting this particular product into my house, including the one who wrote "Take your favorite tea wherever you go to ensure your full enjoyment". They are my neighbors.
I just wish it were a more honest endeavor. How about, "Individually wrapped so you can take a couple of our tea bags along with you in the event that you are somewhere where you can have a cup of tea and they don't have ours and that is what you want".
Can consumerism exist without dishonest marketing? I think it can if we use our power as consumers to choose carefully to whom we give our dollar.
One day, maybe I'll outgrow this rebelious streak that seems to be woven into who I am. Today I don't want someone to tell me what I need, what will make my life happier, and what toys will make it more fun, my skin softer, my sweat smell better, my hair shinier, my children smarter, my husband adore me, my dogs better behaved, my home more fashionable, how to get more friends if my breath smells better, what car to drive, where to invest my money and with whom. IF I want any of those things, I will earn them - I will research what is best for me and work to attain them. Is it just me? Am I the only one who becomes insulted because when I watch a commercial, hear a jingle, I infer that this company must think I am stupid.
Remember back in the day, the old McDonald's jingle? "McDonald's is our kind of place. It's such a happy place, a hap hap happy place..."? Come on. My life is so devoid of happiness that I need to go to a fast food garbage pit to find it? And really, have you been to a McDonald's lately? How many happy people did you see there?
Is it really important that our clothes be soft? You are telling me I need yet MORE chemicals in the material that is next to my skin so that I can be one of the "in" people with softer clothes? And that will make my life better and I'll be happier? Well, jeez Gomer, I'm all over that if its so easy.
Well. Thats it for my morning rant. Could go on, but I'm okay now. I'm going to step back into the herd, but I'm keeping my eyes open. And I'm not giving my dollar to anyone unless I can get something I REALLY want, not something you tell me I want. And I'm beautiful even if I'm not wearing those jeans, or makeup, or my hair is a little frizzy today. And my husband loves me even when my breath is not fresh. And my children are smart even without the video game the TV said they must have...
Peace
2 comments:
This is a good hour long conversation-but I'll be brief.
First of all, the slogan you came up with for the tea would never fit on the box, so you're fired.
Secondly, what's really sick about the whole thing is that it starts younger and younger.
Ethan casually suggested the other day that I shop progressive to get a lower rate on our car insurance. And the guy who yells at you about oxyclean and other related products is a god to my children. Even Jack loves him and the older two often suggest to me that I use those products 'because they REALLY work'. At this point they are still immune to the 'gotta have it because I will be cooler, prettier, smarter' stuff. Hopefully it stays that way. But they do believe what is said on tv, even though I constantly correct it. They also believe that because a cereal has 14 essential vitamins and minerals, it is good for you and 'part of a balanced nutritious breakfast'. They miss the 'part of' part and the fact that it has 14 grams of sugar in 1/2 cup.
So much more to say, but I believe the kids have come down with croup now and so I really need to go clean something now that everyone is breathing and resting again.
Does oxyclean kill germs? Better yet, can I enjoy some tea whilst scrubbing?
Love,
H.
Hi Elf, LOVE this one... and great comments H...I would have read this sooner than Friday at 6pm except I was completely disgusted by the entire human race. With a few exceptions-which is a list you were both on...The marketing stuff is incredible. I think it needs to be regulated-seriously-as facts have got to play a role in selling.
I just recently learned although I have experienced it for years that the average joe out there has average to below average intelligence--and many people can't read, due to a litany of reasons. But-they hear these darn commercials-oh man, when I wake up in the 3am ballpark I have been pulled into a few infomercials that have suckered my parnter in life on several occasions that I know about...I imagine there may be more.
What on earth is wrong with us as consumers? Sure, we talk about it-but can one slob not buying the product really, really make a difference? My belief-NAH...not really...my voice isn't heard. That is until the product kills someone or maims a child etc. then we see it addressed. Yeesh could I go on a roll.
The roll started to get huge as I thought about the number of times no one is heard in regard to a dangerous intersection in a particular town...then when someone dies..all of a sudden what we all knew and moaned about is a headline. OK-glad you are OK, and glad to know you know Paul loves you and that your kids are smart.
Can't even wait until next w/e.
~Paige
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