Posts
Most people won't agree with this blog but that's your opinion and i'm happy if you have one.Lil Rick sang a song and put a political party into power. Oprah endorsed Obama and he beat the odds. These events show how strong the power of group think is.
Remember as a child when we read the story of The Emperor’s New Clothes? I’m sure many of us may have thought how stupid these people were for going along with the emperor and not stating that they can’t see the clothes. Yet when the little boy stated the obvious everyone was then more than willing to acknowledge the nakedness of the empire. I’m here to say that today the majority of us are acting like the masses instead of being willing to be the little boy. When asked during an interview about his theatrical antics and unique and sexual lyrics Adidja Palmer known as Vybz Kartel simply stated that the people are his sheep and he is the shepherd.
A quick survey of Facebook and what the people have posted will also show this. Daily I’m faced with posting of Babbzy’s Cuntery at Large, Bajan Fari and the entire Santana series with great reviews about the hilarity of them. People of all cross sections of society are on this bandwagon and are quick to forward and repost them for all to see. Those who are not fans are afraid to step out and say that they disagree. That was so until today when I will say Babbzy’s title is very suiting because it describes what her and the other videos in my opinion are. Before those of you who are fans look to attack me notice that I said that it was my opinion. I am not saying my opinion is correct, neither am I saying that it is wrong for many others to find it funny. What I am putting forward is that some people find it funny because the masses do.
Music, fashion, food and even radio stations. In this Mixx we are in Love with The One that is now too Hott to Slam. Let another station pop up with a few choice personalities and reviews from the right people and we will be looking for something new to listen to. As males we all wore big the pants with the large bottoms and I remember when Trinity Chris had one of the biggest dancehall hits with Bun A Tight Pants , now let that song play in a party atmosphere and the younger generation would be in tremendous disagreement since nothing but tight pants are being worn. In fact it seems that all we need to do is write a song about it, have some people model it in the videos and sit back and watch every Tom, Dick and Johnny follow pattern. I’m willing to bet if I can get the right person to post this blog and say it speaks the truth that my reader list quadruples by weekend.
I don’t expect many people to agree with me for I have unpopular taste. I think Kelly Rowlands and on some days Latoya Luckett were the best looking members of Beyonce and Friends or as they were commonly known Destiny’s Child. I would rather listen to Alicia Keys, Kerli, Chrissette Michelle or Jill Scott than a Beyonce song but the last time i said this out loud i was attacked and ostracized for being an opinionated bigot. What I’m saying is the amount of passionate agreement on trending topics makes it hard for me to believe the authenticity of the views. I dare say if I can get Rihanna to sing a song about looking sexy in her pink lace panty that sales for those underwear will go through the roof. These days it seems that revolutionaries are dead. No one is willing to think for themselves and those who do are afraid to speak out about them less they be excluded from the meetings of those who are cool.
The old cliché goes we were all born originals why die copies? It is so sad these days that those who do stand out like the Gagas and Rihannas have become the blueprints for mass production of Mr. Palmer’s sheep theory's victims. All I'm saying is like what you like but like it because you like it not because you are supposed to.
Follow on from earlier discussion- if you promote something as the “expected” or at least “normal”- put it infront of people enough times to the point of saturation, a significant percentage will agree or go along with it if you don’t give them enough information to have a different opinion. I can understand where you are coming from with the idea that Lil Rick and Oprah are influential enough to incite the masses but to say that singing a song put the DLP in power, would tell me that Bajans are uneducated – which I know is far from true.
ReplyDeleteEvery politician is a voter, but there are more voters than there are politicians, and most voters probably are not educated about economic ‘checks and balances’. So had all the Bajans who voted for the DLP, known that without some experience and understanding in the Government, to have economic and financial check and balances- VAT would have gone up and ‘hard times woulda hit dem’ fuh six, after the DLP took power- Lil Rick would have still sung his song but the masses would have been informed. Result may very well have been different in that election.
Granted there are some politicians in Government who may not understand anything about economics and balancing the books- but that is a whole other sort of argument! As for the Rhianna and Lady Gaga blue print mass production of the people…I rather dem den Vybz Kartel and I listen to and like all 3 of them. I consider myself to have an opinion and less of a victim of group think, so I agree with you about being entitled to your opinion without being called an opinionated bigot. However, without some level of mass appeal, you and I would not be Real supporters or lovers of a good song done in the acoustic version!
This is one time I have to agree with what is stated in this blog, that most if not all of us are force to follow pattern because we don't want to look odd or feel left out.
ReplyDeleteHowever, although some of you may disagree with me, society and history have shown that this way of thinking is the best way to control us the masses.
Remember control is the ultimate and this is just another way to accomplish it and to bring the strong mined people to they knees.
The masses are open to influence by the media machine and whatever other parties are placed in a position to "educate and inform" a broad base. While some people may blindly follow, I think it is provincial to imply that this is generally the case.
ReplyDeleteThere are many other factors that should be taken into account where DLP and Obama being elected is concerned.
1) Barbados is a small society. Word spreads like wildfire.
2) It is human nature to be curious. When there is something new eg. a radio station, people will be inclined to explore. I would love for an a hott 97 type station to start here. I'd listen to it 24/7 - that's not because it is new.
3) Some people follow trends. They want to be in tune with what is hot. Largely, people get dressed for the crowd. If they think the crowd is going to love their ensemble, then it's what they will wear. It's the way of the world: people do things to seek other's approval - bosses, opposite sex, peers.
Whereas you closed saying like what you like because you like it and not because you want to fit in. I will tell you dislike what you dislike because you dislike it and not because you want to stand out or go against the grain.
There are people like that too.