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Truth in a Feel-Good Society

A feel-good society is one guided more by the pleasure-principle than the reality-principle.

The pleasure principle is a concept originated by Sigmund Freud; it is a principle that continuously drives one to seek pleasure and to avoid pain. The reality-principle, in contrast, is one that defers pleasure when necessity demands it.

As one matures one becomes ruled more by the nature of reality, i.e. truth, than by the desire for pleasure. Freud informs us that the mature individual "no longer lets itself be governed by the pleasure principle, but obeys the reality principle, which also at bottom seeks to obtain pleasure, but pleasure which is assured through taking account of reality, even though it is pleasure postponed and diminished".

I claim that America is now functioning as an ‘adolescent society’; America has in the last several decades come to be guided more by self-absorption in feeling-good than by truth. I do not think that such was the case following WWII when Harry Truman faced reality eye-to-eye and America acted very much as a mature society accepting its responsibility to act as a leader seeking to help guide the world beyond the dangers that had grown up primarily because of the technologies developed to fight WWII.

America has learned the power of mass marketing and has used that power to revolutionize its politics. “Madison Avenue has become the symbol of mass marketing expertise in America. Madison Avenue has developed an understanding of human behavior that has allowed it to successfully and consistently manipulate human desires in America.

Americans have grown to accept the identifying appellation of ‘consumer’ with apparently a large degree of eagerness. We have become happy consumers reacting to the manipulations by Madison Avenue; we think of consumerism as synonymous with being a good American. When asked what Americans could do to help in the war effort against terrorism Bush told us to go shopping and we accepted that as the patriotic thing to do.

Political operatives, having recognized the power of the Madison Avenue techniques, have successfully directed those techniques into the world of politics. And those political manipulations have turned America into a Feel-Good Society, which has little regard for the value of truth.

Focus Groups and framing issues have become the bread and butter of political campaigning. Politicians pander because that is the road to election. American citizens can’t handle the truth; therefore politicians do not tell them the truth.

Success is the metric of truth.

coberst;983147 wrote: Truth in a Feel-Good Society

A feel-good society is one guided more by the pleasure-principle than the reality-principle.

The pleasure principle is a concept originated by Sigmund Freud; it is a principle that continuously drives one to seek pleasure and to avoid pain. The reality-principle, in contrast, is one that defers pleasure when necessity demands it.

As one matures one becomes ruled more by the nature of reality, i.e. truth, than by the desire for pleasure. Freud informs us that the mature individual "no longer lets itself be governed by the pleasure principle, but obeys the reality principle, which also at bottom seeks to obtain pleasure, but pleasure which is assured through taking account of reality, even though it is pleasure postponed and diminished".

I claim that America is now functioning as an ‘adolescent society’; America has in the last several decades come to be guided more by self-absorption in feeling-good than by truth. I do not think that such was the case following WWII when Harry Truman faced reality eye-to-eye and America acted very much as a mature society accepting its responsibility to act as a leader seeking to help guide the world beyond the dangers that had grown up primarily because of the technologies developed to fight WWII.

America has learned the power of mass marketing and has used that power to revolutionize its politics. “Madison Avenue” has become the symbol of mass marketing expertise in America. Madison Avenue has developed an understanding of human behavior that has allowed it to successfully and consistently manipulate human desires in America.

Americans have grown to accept the identifying appellation of ‘consumer’ with apparently a large degree of eagerness. We have become happy consumers reacting to the manipulations by Madison Avenue; we think of consumerism as synonymous with being a good American. When asked what Americans could do to help in the war effort against terrorism Bush told us to go shopping and we accepted that as the patriotic thing to do.

Political operatives, having recognized the power of the Madison Avenue techniques, have successfully directed those techniques into the world of politics. And those political manipulations have turned America into a Feel-Good Society, which has little regard for the value of truth.

Focus Groups and framing issues have become the bread and butter of political campaigning. Politicians pander because that is the road to election. American citizens can’t handle the truth; therefore politicians do not tell them the truth.

Success is the metric of truth.


Duh? :rolleyes: Of course, that has been the case since the late 1960's and grew rapidly in the 70's and 80's. Keeping up with the Joneses took on new meaning, i.e. the large home with no furniture in it, the luxury car affordable only because it could be leased, the redefinition of "need" as in I need a four bedcrom house with a family room, large kitchen with granite countertops and a media room for my wife and one child, cable TV or a dish is a necessity. People who claim they are living paycheck to paycheck are spending a small fortune on a cell phone. Give me a break. For the most part Americans have no clue how ridiculas the look to the rest of the world. We have our needs and wants all screwed up. Enjoying the good life is fine once you earn it and can afford it, but that is not the case for many people rather it is reversed. Isn't that how we got into this financial crisis in large part? Everyone simply cannot afford a house, but that did not stop an awful lot of people, they were entitled to it, well, no they were not.

If you want to see this mentality of perceived necessity in action, take a look at the show on HGTV call House Hunters. My favorite was the man and his 13 year old daughter who found it necessary to sell their five bedroom 6,000 sf home because it was not large enough. :-5

My grandfather who was born in 1902 and passed away

in 1991 , summed it up with a few well spoken words

"Don't worry little luxury , you will be a necessity by the by"

He would go on to 'cite'

electrisity

automobiles

televisions

grocerey stores

clothing stores

gasoline

etc...

coberst;983147 wrote: Truth in a Feel-Good Society



A feel-good society is one guided more by the pleasure-principle than the reality-principle.



The pleasure principle is a concept originated by Sigmund Freud; it is a principle that continuously drives one to seek pleasure and to avoid pain. The reality-principle, in contrast, is one that defers pleasure when necessity demands it.



As one matures one becomes ruled more by the nature of reality, i.e. truth, than by the desire for pleasure. Freud informs us that the mature individual "no longer lets itself be governed by the pleasure principle, but obeys the reality principle, which also at bottom seeks to obtain pleasure, but pleasure which is assured through taking account of reality, even though it is pleasure postponed and diminished".



I claim that America is now functioning as an ‘adolescent society’; America has in the last several decades come to be guided more by self-absorption in feeling-good than by truth. I do not think that such was the case following WWII when Harry Truman faced reality eye-to-eye and America acted very much as a mature society accepting its responsibility to act as a leader seeking to help guide the world beyond the dangers that had grown up primarily because of the technologies developed to fight WWII.



America has learned the power of mass marketing and has used that power to revolutionize its politics. “Madison Avenue has become the symbol of mass marketing expertise in America. Madison Avenue has developed an understanding of human behavior that has allowed it to successfully and consistently manipulate human desires in America.



Americans have grown to accept the identifying appellation of ‘consumer’ with apparently a large degree of eagerness. We have become happy consumers reacting to the manipulations by Madison Avenue; we think of consumerism as synonymous with being a good American. When asked what Americans could do to help in the war effort against terrorism Bush told us to go shopping and we accepted that as the patriotic thing to do.



Political operatives, having recognized the power of the Madison Avenue techniques, have successfully directed those techniques into the world of politics. And those political manipulations have turned America into a Feel-Good Society, which has little regard for the value of truth.



Focus Groups and framing issues have become the bread and butter of political campaigning. Politicians pander because that is the road to election. American citizens can’t handle the truth; therefore politicians do not tell them the truth.



Success is the metric of truth.
Good post, Coberst. I agree in general. Just like adolescents, we as a society want everything now without thought of how Mom & Dad provide for our every whim and want. In this case, Mom & Dad roles are filled by Uncle Sam. We do what we want, when we want, how we want, knowing that good ol' Unc will take care of everything.



Party on, Garth. :yh_frustr

The most important qualification for a successful politician is his or her ability to comprehend how to get votes. A successful politician, just like a successful marketing manager, must be very knowledgeable about how to manipulate the American citizen. Since the American citizen has few critical thinking skills the best way to manipulate them is to tell them what they want to hear.

coberst;983538 wrote: The most important qualification for a successful politician is his or her ability to comprehend how to get votes. A successful politician, just like a successful marketing manager, must be very knowledgeable about how to manipulate the American citizen. Since the American citizen has few critical thinking skills the best way to manipulate them is to tell them what they want to hear.


I believe that is what I have been saying in about a dozen posts over the last few months, it's called pandering and populism and Americans soak it up without giving the slightest consideration to the consequences.

I think anybody who wants to describe America as a "feel-good society' really ought to watch the news more to see the blatant climate of fear and near panic that has been created over the past several years in the US Media.

All lace curtains and no sunday dinner. As my aunt would say.