I spotted a couple of quotes from the web that I thought I would post here, from discussions on the world economic slowdown, banker bailout, sovereign debt crisis, yada yada.

Personally, I don’t fully agree with them but I liked the fact they make me think about advertising and marketing, and role it plays in society…plus they are quite passionate statements.

You’re right but the problem is that our society has spent 3 decades, starting with the greed culture that Thatcher unleashed, telling people that home ownership (and indeed materialism in general) is the thing to aim for. In fact, it’s gone a lot further, essentially mocking those that are not wealthy enough to take part in this clamour for material goods. It has told people that if they don’t have the latest gadgets and fashion, or a nice home and car, they are nobodies. Our TV and other brain-dead media bombard us with images of the lives of the wealthy shit living it up. Under these circumstances, is it any wonder that many people do whatever it takes not to be left behind, even if you and I might think it’s all vacuous and not take part in this chase ?

Blaming the poor is missing the point. It’s those that seek to exploit them where the finger should point. The finance, advertising and media sectors are hugely responsible for the state we’re in.

Because advertising convinces them there lives are meaningless and worthless unless they have X. I don’t have a TV at home but it is impossible to miss adverts whether it is the TVs in the gym or when staying in hotels. Late last year one particular advert made my blood boil, it was Nintendo telling parents (not children) that if they did not have a Wii Christmas would be ruined as no-one would want to come around to celebrate and their kids would hate them. And for 8 minutes an hour umpteen TV channels beam this propaganda and nonsense like it into millions of houses. Never mind the other adverts on everything from newspapers to bus stops.

It is little wonder that people eventually believe that there life will be better that they have X, and that people are willing to get into debt to buy it?

Our whole economy is based on this – people spending money they don’t have on stuff they don’t need. As Modern Toss so succinctly put it on a carrier bag a few years ago – Buy More Shit or We’re All Fucked.

Thought provoking or insane ramblings? Maybe a bit of both.

You might have noticed the site has been stripped back a little in recent weeks.  I’ve been slimming it down as some work goes on behind the scenes which might come to fruition in the next few months.