The power of the Media. The power of suggestion

Every time i see the Adtrac clip which professes to showcase the "top 5 most-watched avertisements" in Singapore, i choke in disgust.

Take a minute to think about it:

1.DO you actually CHOOSE the advertisement you want to watch?
2.DO you actually switch channels primarily because you dunt like a certain ad, or conversely surf channels in search of your favourite ad?
3. DO you actually watch the ads anyway or do you instead take a pee break, snack break, pass the fruits, attempt to channel-surf without family protesting or check the latest 4D/TOTO results?

Rhetorical questions, i guess. Biased questioning, you may beckon.

But seriously, ithink it is more accurate to say that they are the 'top 5 advertisements that paid the top prices to be played right after most-watched TV PROGRAMMES'. And even that is only loosely based on the assumtion that viewers stay on the same channel even when their fav TV prog has lapsed into commercials.

The legitimacy of the Adtrac clip's claims are severely debatable, in my opinion. If you ask me, i see it as nothing more than a gimmick to give so-so advertisements more airtime and some sort of product differentiation. In short, it is nothing more than another thinly-disguised appendage of today's entertainment circle that has taken on such a commercial spirit.

Another trashy commercial apparatus that attempts to hoodwink those that are careless enough to slip into this make-belief and be further entrenched in this screen-based existence and experience.

AWARENESS

Before this year's elections, i could be considered politically apathetic

Or worse, a political ignoramus.

I used to justify that most pple of my generation was like that, nothing wrong. And politics didnt really seem to affect my life.

SO i breezed through 21 years of consciousness thinking i was well-learned and educated, ready to go to NUS and do just what any teen of my educational profile would do.

Indeed, i could be considered well-educated, just educated enough for the State to feel comfortable with i guess.

21 years of my life, my knowledge of the local political scene and local politics were gleaned from the State paper, radio, television.

But it only took 5 minutes at a rally to break all that fairytale and what's-done-is-always-best-for-you myth.

And from then on all my five senses were opened, i should say i was slowly waking up from a very heavy sedation.

Imagine waking up in the middle of an operation, finding that the anaesthesia has worn off just enough for you to have consciousness. You dunt remember agreeing to the op, but protest is useless since They will insist it's in your best long-term interests anyway. These individuals in white, all too busy with their professional tasks to notice your consciousness and increased heart activity. Incision is imminent, yet all your struggles are in vain as you find there is still enough to curb almost all muscular movement. You watch as they bleed you a little to prepare for the main beef of it. You're hooked up, you need constant blood transfusions. You summon all the might left inside you to force a tear, maybe that will attract attention.

Now elections are over. Status quo maintained with gains for the opposition almost all over the island. one in three singaporeans have voted for an alternative. hopes this forces a re-think of mentality and strategy. now they have started the post-election mop-up machinery.

I feel qte drained and filled with a sense of helplessness, hopelessness. what kind of society are we living in, here in sunny singapore? so many incidences that hark back to an Orwellian society..its scary hairy.