Humpday Happenings...
Today, I'm going to be tossing out a little-used phrase, and one that needs to be brought "closer to the flame" so that we may take a good hard look at it...but first, it's Wednesday, and that means it's time for the military quote:
"WHO SAID THAT?"
Now you've ALL said this in your lives (many times, I'm sure), but who is this quote originally attributed to?
"If you want anything done well...do it yourself."
The answer might surprise you.
(hint: It's not from America)
Now that we have the synapses firing, let's move on...
*** The phrase I mentioned at the top might be something you've never heard of, but most assuredly have had experience with, nonetheless.
It's called SOCIAL-CONDITIONING.
(cue the spooky music, 'cause I just heard quite a few light bulbs click on over a lot of heads)
More familiar is the term "Pavlovian Response".
We are ALL products of social conditioning to SOME degree...we can't help it. It's all around us, all the time.
Some people are more entrenched in this than others, and that's not necessarily a good thing for society (as a whole).
It's all dependent upon WHAT is being thrust at us in order to "condition" us.
Some times, it's an innocent billboard that expresses the dangers of drinking while driving.
Other times, it can be graphic depictions of some horrific event.
What you have to note is that every bit of all that outside "stimuli" is meant to illicit some sort of RESPONSE in us, be it joy, sadness, anticipation, anger, or even jealousy (to name but a few).
Whenever we view something (or someone), or hear something, or read something, we are being conditioned to some extent.
That's why I say we can never avoid it.
This isn't to say that none of this is GOOD for you...much of it really IS.
For example, you hear a strange noise outside your house.
Your "response" kicks into protective-mode and you either investigate the sound, call the police, or do both, but you usually do SOMETHING.
You hear your child crying in the other room, and your first instinct is to go check it out...simple stuff, hmm?
Now, let's take this "conditioning" a bit further...
Let's suppose you wanted to take a large number of people down a specific "path"...get them all to follow the leader, as it were.
How would you accomplish that with the least effort and still exact the most results?
Well, you could ALWAYS turn to the media in some form...
Control the press and you can control a LOT of elements in every person's life.
Even the advertising can be used to condition us...and it has (and quite effectively).
You see something that just came out, and they make it seem SO wonderful, that your life simply can no longer function properly WITHOUT IT.
Take most all of our new "social-media" venues...designed to draw you into it.
This blog is proof of that much. It works, right?
If a media source wishes to take you in a certain direction with a targeted ideology, people will follow along, without questioning.
One aspect of social-conditioning that can be considered GOOD is our PATRIOTISM.
We are conditioned to BELIEVE in our nation...and one another. And that's worked out pretty damn well for this country for the last several hundred years. Like I say...a POSITIVE connotation to a form of conditioning.
Don't ever think of ALL this conditioning as being BAD for you, because it's not.
As our parents "conditioned" us with such things as INTEGRITY, MORALS, CIVILITY, so we continue to do likewise with our children...and so on.
And THAT (also) has worked out pretty damn well for this country, insofar as those who have trusted in such beliefs.
The trouble lies when conditioning has no real value, other than to serve the master that provides it in order to promote something other than what is in the best interest of those being conditioned.
A prime example can be found in such venues as MUSIC, CINEMA, TEXTILES (clothing), and most manufactured items.
Now, some items we NEED, and are pretty much standard fare...kitchen utensils, tools, furniture, and the like.
Other things, that we consider "add-ons" to our lives take on a much different tone.
Homes, cars, cell phones, shoes, jeans, food products...all of these and tons more are there to appeal to our baser instincts...they feed our inner beast.
It's perfectly fine to desire such things when you've earned them, but the trap lies when you come to DEPEND on them...and eagerly await the next "fix" whenever the newest item rolls into whatever store you frequent.
Why do you think society is being "herded" slowly, but inexorably into the Internet for everything?
So many facets of our very lives are being "amended" by this "online experience", and we've grown quite dependent upon it for much of our modern lives.
Granted, there are advantages to this (in some ways), but, more often than not, it's depriving us of our ability to interact in a REAL social manner.
We've already seen that schools are doing away with cursive writing (no more letters to Grandma or letters from camp) in lieu of "texting" or use of a keyboard (which was the sole realm of once-valued secretaries with typewriters in days past).
We've also come to have a cell phone all but surgically-attached to our person, because we can no longer WAIT to call someone, or just want even more diversion from all the other diversion we're being conditioned into confronting in our life.
To me, a cell phone is a great EMERGENCY TOOL...nothing more. You're stranded and you can call for a hook to get outta wherever the hell you're at. You need to notify someone about a death in the family...works for me.
I have to come to appreciate many things in life, but I don't really wish to become dependent upon all that much, purely because "someone" says I (you) HAVE to...simple as that.
And I question a lot more than I used to, because I've seen the results of negative social conditioning...
More crime, less civility, slovenly appearances by individuals, lack of respect, rampant apathy, lack of responsibility...ALL of these (and more) are the byproduct of social-conditioning.
When this nation becomes too accepting of the wrong things, people WILL become "conditioned" to them, or as I like to put it...DESENSITIZED to it's "wrongness".
Why do you think that more and more criminals are being more emboldened when it comes with interaction with law-enforcement?
Why do you think we're seeing more officers gunned down these days, when "experts" maintain that crime IS (in fact) going DOWN?
Some people are being conditioned to act in such ways, as to confront, contend, and convince (themselves) they're doing right.
Remember, social conditioning will never always be overt...it's often very subtle, so as not to alarm people, or even make them aware they're being "controlled" to any degree.
I think more folks in America are beginning to see the light, and waking up to this.
They are making better decisions as to what is right and what is wrong.
We're seeing as much in the political ring.
What we need to focus on is all the other things that impact our lives...and decide whether we want to be conditioned by others exclusively, or how we might be better able to condition OURSELVES, based on proven values and principles that can define our nature.
So take a look around you today, and see how MUCH "conditioning" there is out there.
Take note as to how YOU are reacting to it, and how it may be affecting you.
You might just surprise yourself.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay safe out there, America.