I do my best thinking in the bathtub, or during long-distance drives by myself. Today i had just put down my book in preparation for soaping up, when i started to notice the music coming from my husband's office television, where he was obviously watching another episode of "Band of Brothers." I got to mulling over series we've watched in the past couple of years....
When you first start watching a program that's reasonably well-crafted, you get interested in the novelty and roped in by the human desire to get to know the "people" (characters) involved. Behind the scenes are all the emotionally-manipulating techniques the industry uses to hook you into becoming a regular viewer. Depending on certain things you start NOTICING the manipulation, and if i becomes significantly annoying you cease to patronize the product.
So it is, i feel, with processed foods. I may be attracted by the novelty, if convinced that it's not an intrinsically bad product (like lowest-common-denominator TV shows), and give it a sporting chance of winning me over. Certain reduced-carb (or intrinsically-low-carb) foods come to mind. But if i'm feeling particularly analytical (or sensitive) the manipulative aspects of the product begin to irritate or cloy or ... just rub me the wrong way!
The fact that novelty is attractive is the basis for changing clothing fashions as well as other aspects of daily life. People who want to sell you something find a shortcut to your affections through novelty -- whether it be a distinctive flavor combination or a less-trodden literary path or (in my theme today) an opportunity to eat something we usually prefer to deny ourselves. The attempt to manipulate you is usually perceptible if you eat/watch/listen mindfully. If you KNOW the tricks being played, it's less easy to lead you down the garden path.
...Like with LC, gluten-free, acceptible-ingredient-filled processed stuff. As an occasional treat, there's nothing wrong (for ME*) with enjoying a little "charming garbage." OCCASIONALLY. The mistake is in doing it "just this once" every single day, or using it instead of actual FOOD, or being unaware of just what is going on.
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* i don't have a chronic problem with trigger-foods, but realize it can be a BIG issue in some; they have my sincere sympathy!
This was a theme in the delightful book The Meat Fix: Baby Boomers rebelling against the diet of their parents. Personally, I've had so many bad food-related illnesses that I'm done experimenting.
ReplyDeleteI love getting obsessed with good TV shows. The last one was The Killing.
yeah, i know i'm best off eating a mostly-meat diet, with some tested and proven sides that give me little-to-no trouble ... but when i have to be around other people life gets more complicated. :-) AND sometimes it's fun to experiment, TOO!
DeleteI feel like different businesses and whole industries are trying to manipulate me all the time, looking for my sensitive buttons to push.
ReplyDeletei'm sure they are, too! and there are others who seek to manipulate our social and political positions through pushing fear- and outrage-buttons -- now THOSE people just make me disgusted and angry at THEM.
DeleteWell Tess your best thinking may be in the bath tub. For me my best thinking is done whilst I iron. I can come up with all sorts of good ideas, some of which I give them a go others a definite no go! A great idea may be to reward myself a glass of chilled wine once the ironing is done !!
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
lol -- ironing is something i rarely do (unless i'm sewing something), but i can see how that would work! like dish-washing, it's a "zen" activity in which one's hands are busy without the need of most of the brain, which is then free to wander in its own little world....
DeleteMadonna said she has her best ideas in bed. It's probably the only thing she and I have in common.
ReplyDeleteduring that not-really-awake-nor-asleep phase? that IS good for insights!
Delete"Madonna said she has her best ideas in bed"
ReplyDeleteI reckon a few men had their best ideas in bed with Madonna !
Getting my coat.
Regards Eddie
wise move, Eddie! ;-)
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