Monopoly TV

I was talking to my roommate about hitchhiking the other day.
It was one of the main modes of transportation for her throughout the travels in south America. I commented that is was a rather dangerous endeavor, but she just said that over there it is much more common and is not really so risky.

True. Back home, whenever I needed a ride, I would merely raise by arm a the traffic, and instead of a taxi, a passer by would stop and bargain with me about the price of the lift. It is also not completely uncommon to catch free rides like that. Now, do bad things happen?...sometimes, yes. But they also do with fake taxi cabs in new york and other places. So why is it perceived to be so dangerous here? People are afraid of each other, unable to trust. Here you are taught that is an uncommon, dangerous activity, so even if you see someone hitchhiking, you probably won’t pick them up. Who will>? Some creep maybe>? Seems to be a self fulfilling cycle.

Then again, statistically, thanks to the media, the US population does have a rather extreme view of reality. Based on several surveys most people here overestimate the dangers of the outside world...and no wonder why.

Ah, media, our cherished drug, the backbone of social order. Funny that though I am often appalled by it, I am still a Marketing major. Ads, consumer behavior, shopping patters...you are observed and studied constantly. And even when you are not, you keep craving the fabricated reality.

In an average US household, there are 2.55 people and 2.73 TV sets. An average TV set is ON 8 hours and 11 minutes a day. (Economist) That’s over 112 days a year, and over 50 years amounts to 15. 15 years. The most accepted and beloved drug, that has made it into every home. One that switches off your brain after 30 seconds, while you are exposed to thousands and thousands of commercial messages, partially fabricated news, and all the other crap…like “reality tv”…I just get a kick out of that phrase. Choose one, right?

And all this, run by just 6 consolidated corporations. Media monopoly galore.
Everything is engineered and is on for a reason. This is a business and an industry, that manufactures wants and desires. So is this in fact is what you want and desire?...

…keep the brain ON