Archive for the ‘Psychology’ Category
Communicating Disposition
Posted on: May 15, 2009
No quality of human nature is more remarkable, both in itself and its consequences, than that propensity we have to sympathize with others, and to receive by communication their inclinations and sentiments, however different from, or even contrary to, our own…Hatred, resentment, esteem, love, courage, mirth, and melancholy; all these passions I feel more from communication than from my own natural temper and disposition.” David Hume, treatise on Human Nature, 1740, section xi.
In his Treatise on Human Nature, David Hume touches a very pertinent aspect of human disposition: not only does he highlight the centrality of communication as a foundational principle in our interaction with our social peers, but also the importance of doing so effectively, thereby conveying messages to the clearest degree. So crucial is effective communication in imparting emotions and sentiments, that one may give higher resolve to what is imparted by another, than one’s own judgment.
The Sale of Culture
Posted on: April 11, 2008
- In: Advertising | Politics | Psychology | Society
- 3 Comments
There is no culture, except the one advertising has sold to us through a number of media, mainly television. Our dreams have been packaged and sold to us, a lifestyle – nothing more than an article of trade. We consume this lifestyle and enjoy short bursts of satisfaction, much like an orgasm. Then we want more. The authenticity of life, of being a human being has moved away from inward reflection, to outward exposition. We have become what the consumer society has made us, individuals looking to satisfy our own needs and desires. On Maslow’s pyramid of the hierarchy of needs, then, we ricochet off the stages between needs for security and needs for love and belonging – which too are meagre, artificially fabricated needs.
It is no wonder then, that we tend to disregard the bigger picture and indulge in our own foolishness: we are too busy looking for the satisfaction in the wrong places, in effect, ignoring the true institutions from where we derive the atonements, our family, friends, and ourselves.
The result is therefore a loop, a mindset which benefits not our community as it should be, rather the marketplace. We become the fuel for the hungry engines of the corporations that try so hard to keep us innoculated with their ideas of culture and happiness.
Pakistan Bans Then Unbans YouTube
Posted on: March 1, 2008
- In: Information | Media | Pakistan | Politics | Psychology | Society
- 2 Comments
I do not know how many of the people in North America (and the wider world for that matter) are aware of the fact that Pakistan had banned YouTube from being accessed in the country. Other than reasons that have been mentioned on various online news syndicates, there remains speculation as to what happened.
Some claim the ban was initiated due to very offensive motion images against Islam. Pakistan, being an Islamic state, may have proceeded to enforce the ban to protect the image of Islam. On the other side of the coin, the ban may have been enforced to protect the Pakistani Muslims from being angered by the video clip and therefore rioting. Maybe this was done to protect the Dutch from causing another worldwide scene of hate and anger.
Some say the government banned YouTube because it had videos which were against the government, making parodies of many. There is a particular video of Musharraf and Bhutto which shows them in bad light. It is morally incorrect according to myself and many like-minded individuals to show a deceased person in bad light. But here’s the video:
What I want to focus on, however, is the former reason and incorporate the notion of democracy. Pakistan is an independant, democratic nation and as such, free speech is encouraged so long as it does not cause harm or terrorism and hatred. The video, along with the blasphemous cartoons of the Holy Prophet did stir worldwide controversy in which the muslim nation went through a considerable amount of suffering. Many as well as this blog here claim that this was just freedom of speech. We need to understand that our understanding of freedom may differ from people in the east, in the middle east, and even down south. How can we then discount this notion of range of meanings in a world which is increasingly becoming more globalized? Have we all forgotten tolerance? And when was Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism or Bhuddism shown in bad light? Christians may be called sinners as they knowingly sent the Prophet Jesus Christ to the cross. Yet not all of us would think this way. Even the Papal institution runs a city completely under its eccentric law. Do we then call this Christianization? Like Islamization? What do these words even mean?
Please do not get me wrong. This is not a controversy I am trying to stir up, I would merely like people to understand the duality of meanings of words and notions.
What do we do now?
Persuasion in Advertising
Posted on: January 12, 2008
- In: Advertising | Links | Psychology | Society
- 2 Comments
Now this is really interesting (Original post found here: http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/video-to-eat-your-weekend-and-scare-you/)
This is a demonstration of subliminal persuasion and imagery in advertising at work. What happens when you fool the fooler (is that even a word?) ?
Don’t Tase Me, Bro
Posted on: December 31, 2007
- In: Communications | Media | Psychology | Society
- 12 Comments
Funny thing, society. It is mechanical, following the same routing over and over again. We’re accultured to this. Anything out of the ordinary, breaking through the monotones stays with us, echoing in our lives. This is just an example. We usually take stuff like this for granted, consider it something funny, but what is really going on here?
