DS Forums

 
 

Why do people keep using the word brainwashing!! Excuse me...


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 14-12-2009, 12:35
Scoobyh1
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,071

Hi everyone,

Im not here to start an argument but just wanted to voice my opinion on this RATM and X Factor argument.

I watch X factor and by the looks of the viewing figures, so the majourity of the country. Does that mean that were all brainwashed! NO!

We watch the show for entertainment and if i want to purchase the winners song, i dont see the harm, i like the song and wanted him to win. It that so wrong.

Ok maybe the winner shouldnt be no1 every xmas as i suppose it ruins the surprise but if people enjoy the song and the way its sang, theres nothing wrong with it.

I am certainly not a sheep and just like to watch x factor and enjoy the music.
Scoobyh1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 14-12-2009, 12:48
tangsman
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,597
Hi everyone,

Im not here to start an argument but just wanted to voice my opinion on this RATM and X Factor argument.

I watch X factor and by the looks of the viewing figures, so the majourity of the country. Does that mean that were all brainwashed! NO!

We watch the show for entertainment and if i want to purchase the winners song, i dont see the harm, i like the song and wanted him to win. It that so wrong.

Ok maybe the winner shouldnt be no1 every xmas as i suppose it ruins the surprise but if people enjoy the song and the way its sang, theres nothing wrong with it.

I am certainly not a sheep and just like to watch x factor and enjoy the music.
19 million is not the majority.
If you like bland karaoke singers singing dull, cover versions then good luck to you.
tangsman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-12-2009, 12:50
iain
Guest
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 62,990
its just age old music snobbery.

we watch the x factor, and enjoy it for what it is - brilliantly done entertainment programming. i'm not big on most of the songs compared to what i'd usually listen to, but still enjoy the entertainment of it all.

i think i can be pretty sure it hasn't involved any brainwashing - maybe i'm just weird in that i can enjoy the x factor, and i can enjoy Zane Lowe's show.

Iain
iain is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-12-2009, 13:01
Biko
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,998
I think the X Factor is a decent entertainment programme but I think the problem I have wth it is the fact that people look to it as the holy grail of finding new talent. Theres so many ways in which we can check out new and exciting artists and its not on the X Factor


I could go to a bar in Camden or Soho and find you a million people more creative and talented than Leon Jackson, Shayne Ward et al


I think also the majority of people that listen to alot of music both in and out of the charts think the X Factor just simply doesn't produce good music..ethics, politics and manipulation of the show aside, when it comes to the actual music it really is uninspiring...this is quite bad for a show that carries so much worth.

You can call it music snobbery, elitism or whatever but people who watch X Factor mainly for the music are brainwashed if they think this is the best music has to offer. Joe McElderry is going the same way as Leon Jackson.
Biko is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-12-2009, 13:12
Spacedone
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,488
Hi everyone,

Im not here to start an argument but just wanted to voice my opinion on this RATM and X Factor argument.

I watch X factor and by the looks of the viewing figures, so the majourity of the country. Does that mean that were all brainwashed! NO!

We watch the show for entertainment and if i want to purchase the winners song, i dont see the harm, i like the song and wanted him to win. It that so wrong.

Ok maybe the winner shouldnt be no1 every xmas as i suppose it ruins the surprise but if people enjoy the song and the way its sang, theres nothing wrong with it.

I am certainly not a sheep and just like to watch x factor and enjoy the music.
X-Factor is discussed almost constantly for a 3 month period in newspapers, magazines, TV News (particularly breakfast news), radio and internet, as well as having specific links on music sites.

And you think you're not being brainwashed?
Spacedone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-12-2009, 13:19
astounded
Guest
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,980
I tend to agree. If people like a program and get excited about seeing it every week, then good luck to them. Whether that program is X-Factor, a football match or a quiz show, that's fine by me. There's enough misery in the world without people trying to dictate to others what they should or shouldn't enjoy watching or listening to. It's just people trying to exercise power over others lives by telling them that they shouldn't find something entertaining, and that it means something about them or the country if they do. People should just get on with their own lives,
astounded is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-12-2009, 13:30
celesti
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 15,857
It tends to be used to explain away the mass appeal of something by somebody who happens to dislike it. A lot of the time it's fairly lazy, and of course insulting.
celesti is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-12-2009, 13:31
celesti
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 15,857
X-Factor is discussed almost constantly for a 3 month period in newspapers, magazines, TV News (particularly breakfast news), radio and internet, as well as having specific links on music sites.

And you think you're not being brainwashed?
No. Being aware of something prevalent doesn't mean you're necessarily taken in. Not everybody who enjoys these things is a braying moron with no thought process.
celesti is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-12-2009, 14:11
Slave_Of_Gaga
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 27
Wait until after Christmas to buy it, if you must. You are not legally obligated to buy a cover of a Miley Cyrus song.
Slave_Of_Gaga is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-12-2009, 16:21
LILLYM73
 
Posts: n/a
I personally feel there is lot of people including myself in this country, who dislike some crummy X factor song being no1 for christmas every god damn year.I remember when waiting to hear what was going to be the christmas no1 was fun, but hate the way Simon Cowell and his tripe have spoiled it. Look nothing against the viewers of the show, my lovely mother in law watches it, just want our christmas no1 back please.
  Reply With Quote
Old 14-12-2009, 16:33
Turquoise
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 6,833
I half agree with the OP. I can't stand the X Factor, but I don't think people who do like it are brainwashed. 'Brainwashed' implies that they have had their free will taken, and that isn't the case at all. Not unless Simon Cowell is actually controlling everyone's brains.
Turquoise is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-12-2009, 16:51
misslibertine
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Strawberry Fields
Posts: 13,722
its just age old music snobbery.

we watch the x factor, and enjoy it for what it is - brilliantly done entertainment programming. i'm not big on most of the songs compared to what i'd usually listen to, but still enjoy the entertainment of it all.

i think i can be pretty sure it hasn't involved any brainwashing - maybe i'm just weird in that i can enjoy the x factor, and i can enjoy Zane Lowe's show.

Iain
*echoes post*

i think i love you this is exactly how i feel too.
misslibertine is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-12-2009, 16:54
misslibertine
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Strawberry Fields
Posts: 13,722
X-Factor is discussed almost constantly for a 3 month period in newspapers, magazines, TV News (particularly breakfast news), radio and internet, as well as having specific links on music sites.

And you think you're not being brainwashed?
no. because i watch the show each year, but a rich man with a daft hairdo and a lovely line in grey shapeless t-shirts has yet to "brainwash" me into buying anything ever released by any x factor act.

i enjoy the show while it's on, but once it's finished... it's over. it's not life or death.

it's hardly 1984
misslibertine is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-12-2009, 17:30
skunkboy69
Guest
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 8,966
I see it as entertainment.Probably more of a popularity contest than a singing contest by the end though.Apart from possibly Will Young, most of the winners haven't brought much to the British music industry.
skunkboy69 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-12-2009, 17:44
rawr
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,256
I watch X Factor, most of the time I don't even like it that much, but I usually end up watching if I'm in, so maybe I am brainwashed!

I think I can live with it though.
rawr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-12-2009, 19:33
30Seconds
 
Posts: n/a
no. because i watch the show each year, but a rich man with a daft hairdo and a lovely line in grey shapeless t-shirts has yet to "brainwash" me into buying anything ever released by any x factor act.

i enjoy the show while it's on, but once it's finished... it's over. it's not life or death.

it's hardly 1984
It's not just daft it's very very daft
  Reply With Quote
Old 14-12-2009, 19:35
misslibertine
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Strawberry Fields
Posts: 13,722
It's not just daft it's very very daft
but also looks strangely soft
misslibertine is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-12-2009, 19:42
tortfeasor
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,141
Wait until after Christmas to buy it, if you must. You are not legally obligated to buy a cover of a Miley Cyrus song.
Good point. I'm certain my point has been made elsewhere but I feel it does have a lot of weight. The fact remains that with all the media attention and hype surrounding X Factor, delaying the release of the winner's single until the start of the New Year would be unlikely to hamper its success to a noticeable degree.

To be honest I think it would make far more sense to have less amount of time between the first and second singles. Why they have the silly delay that seems to be the current trend between the debut single and the eventual follow up is beyond comprehension and I dare say a contributory factor to some of the flopped careers of previous winners.
tortfeasor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-12-2009, 22:53
Slick Nick
Inactive Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 927
Sadly TV is still the most significant promotional tool in the media... people are too bone idle to park their browsers on last.fm for a couple of hours to discover music for themselves.
Slick Nick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-12-2009, 23:29
misslibertine
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Strawberry Fields
Posts: 13,722
Sadly TV is still the most significant promotional tool in the media... people are too bone idle to park their browsers on last.fm for a couple of hours to discover music for themselves.
less of the sweeping generalisations, please.
misslibertine is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-12-2009, 23:37
UltraViolet
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: England
Posts: 7,617
Exactly, I for one listen to all sorts of music/not mainsteam etc, yet I still watch X-Factor(I don't buy the music though, not my thing).

I tend to ignore moronic music snobs.
UltraViolet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15-12-2009, 00:02
fezxenakis
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 891
It tends to be used to explain away the mass appeal of something by somebody who happens to dislike it. A lot of the time it's fairly lazy, and of course insulting.
True enough I guess, but the originators of modern mass marketing and PR techniques were very interested in controlling and manipulating the masses, not brainwashing exactly. This is no secret, look up Edward Bernays for example. They were also quick to recognize the unique and huge power that television exercises over a population.

I think most people would prefer not to think about some of these issues though, especially as they appear to be a direct threat to our enjoyment of popular culture by implying that you're some kind of brainless conformist sheep if you partake. Personally I think you can enjoy it for what it is and be aware of the more cynical manipulative side that does exist.
fezxenakis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15-12-2009, 00:17
misslibertine
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Strawberry Fields
Posts: 13,722
True enough I guess, but the originators of modern mass marketing and PR techniques were very interested in controlling and manipulating the masses, not brainwashing exactly. This is no secret, look up Edward Bernays for example. They were also quick to recognize the unique and huge power that television exercises over a population.

I think most people would prefer not to think about some of these issues though, especially as they appear to be a direct threat to our enjoyment of popular culture by implying that you're some kind of brainless conformist sheep if you partake. Personally I think you can enjoy it for what it is and be aware of the more cynical manipulative side that does exist.
i quite agree, especially with the last part.
misslibertine is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15-12-2009, 00:18
Richlup
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Manchester
Posts: 179
I enjoy watching the X factor, I just think that the winners song should be delayed a few months.
That way the winner doesn't have a ridiculously bad and rushed cover in their back catalogue and we don't have a boring christmas number one.
i.e. Bleeding Love would be an amazing and deserved debut number one for Leona lewis, whereas A Moment Like This probably would have charted at #117 if sung by anyone else and released that week.
Richlup is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15-12-2009, 00:24
CLL Dodge
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: The Green Hills of Earth
Posts: 80,454
True enough I guess, but the originators of modern mass marketing and PR techniques were very interested in controlling and manipulating the masses, not brainwashing exactly. This is no secret, look up Edward Bernays for example. They were also quick to recognize the unique and huge power that television exercises over a population.
I was reading about Bernays just a couple of days ago. United Fruit and the military dictatorship in Guatemala were way beyond what Cowell has done so far but the PR pinciples are the same.
CLL Dodge is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply




 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 14:47.