Great post.. I was writing about this just the other week. If we ONLY knew how bad it is then maybe we might wake up! Here's something I feel that may shed some light on the situation:
I was in university in 1992 – 1996. One thing that sticks in my mind about that experience was a hypnotist show I saw. You’d think I'd remember more strongly something to do with studying, but no. This was one of the biggest lessons I think I could have taken with me from that experience. Now let’s be clear, there is no debate that hypnotists are able to do what they do, because it works. They are not playing tricks on us, using stooges, or prearranging anything. What this guy did on stage in front of our very eyes was quite revealing and disturbing. If you haven’t seen this on stage, then you may have seen it on TV where it is equally or even more disturbing. The ability of someone to utterly ruin someone’s perception of truth or reality is something not to miss! In the time it takes to make a cup of tea, we have someone seeing black as white, quite literally. We have an intelligent and sane person declaring that 2+2 =5 right there in front of our eyes. And what did it take to achieve that? Just a few suggestions and a prod. Now, take this knowledge, and think about a 24/7 barrage of ‘hypnotic’ suggestions coming in from all directions, from every angle. Think about the quality and quantity of messages we receive just from our media alone. How do we stand a chance? How can we expect anyone to overcome this total hypnotic reality? Well some do, and they go insane. Others do and they go religious, and some others do and go to sleep. Interestingly, that is the first and easiest thing for a hypnotist to do, to put you to sleep.
Very interesting what you say here!
That makes total sense! Great example.. Thanks for the post!
That's interesting empirical evidence you have of how suggestible we can be. Hypnotism has always fascinated me, but have never taken the time to deeply look into it. I may be wrong, but I haven't heard about someone having a response of significant influence from a hypnosis video before. I do know however, that hypnosis puts you into a theta wave state, in which you are subject to much more influence then when you are when in an alpha wave state (which TV induces). However, with the excessive exposure that many people have to TV today, with addition to the other tricks used in conjunction with the alpha state, It's effect over time can be quite substantial. As for kids below the age of 7, they are particularly vulnerable to TV programming as during this time they are in a theta state. They are basically in a state of hypnosis during this time while being exposed to TV brainwashing via (media/tv shows/movies). I personally think it would be more disturbing seeing hypnosis done in person, as just like you I saw a performance at my university in which I saw it done to my fellow students. I feel that at least for that time in my life, I would have been skeptical as to the validity of what I had seen if I had merely just seen it on TV, in which can be easily be fabricated.