Are we humans programmed to be fooled?
Yes, or you don't believe that? Bewildered or amused? OK, hold on to your opinion, as we take you to a journey of self-realization.
We, all human beings, are in a race where everybody is trying to outwit everybody else, be it school, college, job, business, sports or politics - for sure. The spoken words, or more precisely the language, and visuals we see on the roadside hoardings, newspaper/magazines, in plays and in TV/Movies etc. influences our choices about things we all need to be associated with so as to be called successful, cultured and apparently happy.
If you google 'Language', it shows that language was developed as a means of communication between people. Philosophers, on the other hand says that 'man developed language to woo the woman'. Another philosopher says that 'The ultimate goal of learning to speak may be lying - the ability to talk convincingly about things which are non-existent or clearly untrue. The strength of the spoken language almost definitely lies in passing untruth as truth and so on.
In that context, I read somewhere "Words are not mere sounds. Words paint pictures. They are vehicles of our emotions, our thoughts and our reactions." It further says, " The most effective forms of spoken or written communication are those that tap into the visual, auditory and kin-esthetic (feeling) senses of the listener/reader, and describe a situation or a condition so well that it paints a picture, evokes feelings and create sound within the listener's inner ears."
Ok, in that context, let me first touch briefly on politics. I believe that, barring few exceptions where we have genuinely good leaders, who really want to do good for society, but in politics, that leader or political party, who has greater ability to woo/befool their votebank, goes on to win the elections. AAP's landslide victory in Punjab is a stark truth which no body can deny. And remember, AAP has already tasted massive success twice in New Delhi, despite the presence of all old war horses, on the rhetoric they claim they have the trademark. I shall hold back myself to further comment on that as it's people's mandate, and we should refrain commenting on that. But could we, between me and my learned reader, tongue-in-cheek, say that ' Punjab is successfully befooled' by AAP?
With the likes of Prashant Kishor coming in as a poll strategist, and having tasted success in North, South and East, Kishor has amply demonstrated that 'winning elections is a science', and they have pioneered the same. On the other hand, there is another brand of Kejriwal, which works on parallel lines to Prashant kishor, and they too have tasted massive success, twice in Delhi and a roaring success in Punjab this time, and they have successfully proved that ' winning elections is an art ' which they have specialized in.
The ultimate aim of these strategist/dramatist is to make the masses believe that their political party, or their candidate is holier than Pope, and people should vote for them, irrespective of party hopping candidates do to get any party's ticket, at any cost whatsoever. So, it's the spoken words, around caste, religion, corruption etc., during campaigning, and picture painted out of that in voter's mind, that decides who shall rule the roost. Could we then say that, by and large, exceptions apart, whosoever is successful in befooling votebank, gets to rule you?
Secondly, since our childhood, we have seen our parents saving money and buying gold, as that's considered as a safest hedge against inflation. Add to that, sleek advertisement unleashed by De Bear/Titan and other leading Gem and Jewellery dealers, and at their behest, appropriate scenes carved out in our movies and plays to evoke emotions at birthdays, weddings and special festive occasions, people at large, I believe, keep saving money all their working life, to buy something called gold/diamonds jewellery. However, such jewellery shall be used by them , may be twice in a year, and in all likelihood shall stay locked in their Lockers till eternity, and passed on to next generations to follow. So, we deny ourselves use of our well earned money for a fake satisfaction, and mind it, I am included in this befooling game too. Could we call that 'being befooled' till we part ways?
If still people are left with some money, there are Banks/Mutual Funds/Stock markets, who are eager to take a slice out of the left over money in the hands of gullible investors. Since savings spurs growth, we have Govt of India's schemes, which encourages people to save to claim tax benefits. LIC and Mutual Fund Schemes are another trap an ordinary citizen is made to fall for, in the name of security and in the lure of having an assured future. Not to mention the so many Direct Marketing company across the globe, who shall show you a 3D dream and all the people who fall for these schemes go gaga on the massive canvas these marketing company presents to gullible people. The latest kid on the block nowadays is crypto and bitcoin, which have pure sentimental value, and there are daredevils who shall spend a fortune to be there in it and be counted. This, I shall term as 'befooling beyond imagination'.
Sharukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, M S Dhoni and other celebrities /cricketers advertising for various dubious products, like Kamla pasand, Vimal Elaichi and kind of gambling games associated with IPL, showcasing someone winning big, are all like sale of dreams, and people tend to fall for the same. Similarly, celebrities advertising for Banks, NBFC, and dealers in Gold, Gem and Jewellery are using their faces as a token of integrity for the company/product for which they are Brand ambassadors, are all befooling campaigns.
Then you have another class of dream merchants, called Builders & Developers (though they finally contribute to GDP of the country), who promise one thing and deliver another thing, and with unending delays; company, who give you gift vouchers, lucky draw etc, to be used in next 30 days, 'buy 3-get 2 free', '50% discount' are all such schemes which are aimed at befooling us and in making us spend more than what we originally planned to spend. People may call me cynic, and differ with my views, but then when you look at it in slow motion, the seller has taken more money from me then I initially thought of spending, in the guise of giving me lollypop of discounts/freebies etc.
The list of such ventures, like Education, Insurance, Home Delivery money spinner etc., who are ever ready to grab your eyeballs, is endless, and reader can note that for themselves.
When I see so called celebrities/cricketers faces on TV, Newspapers, Magazines, roadside hoarding, I literally get a feeling as if they are talking to me, cunningly, and are teasing me/inviting me to believe them and be fooled, with that sheepish smile on their faces. I wonder, why we human beings tend to give credibility to a product or service where a celebrity is a brand ambassador, whereas such person in real life is only an entertainer (film hero/heroine) or a cricketer.
Nonetheless, no matter whatever be your level of awareness, it's very difficult to not get swayed by the tempting visuals unleashed on TV/Media. I remember, In school days, we were taught about 'centripetal force' in Physics class. It meant, "a force that acts on a body moving in circular path and is directed towards the center around which the body is moving". Somehow, I feel that we are all trapped and keep drawing ourselves, by centripetal force, to that rut game even when we know it is not right. We all are thus hooked to befooling, day in and day out, and are unable to help ourselves out.
In fact, I feel shiver under my spine whenever I see a full page Ad in a daily newspaper or a new commercial on TV/Youtube to see if a new beast is unleashed to have a share from my wallet. Though I know that not all such new companies are ' fly by night' operators, but issue is how an ordinary citizen separates the wheat from the chaff.
In fact, I consider every attempt at a sale transaction, though entrepreneurial, but somewhere to outsmart the consumer.
So, the crux is..... be aware of what you hear and what you see. What you hear could be misleading and what you see could be painted.
Be on guard, don't fall pray to spoken/visual temptations, don't get carried away by media blitz, and spend where you want, and not where the hawks want.
Rumi said, " Silence is the language of GOD, all else is poor translation."