Social Manipulation Through Pop Culture? Anybody Else Notice This?

[Seraphim]

I do not think this is true, nor does it have any thing to do with the song. Besides, why would social programmers want people to get married? I thought their main objective was the degradation of society and to create a weak moral foundation.

I think any increase in my friends getting married is because as of last week I am 24 (woo!) and that's around what age your friends start getting married. It seems like everyone I used to hang out with in high school is either engaged or pregnant or has had a baby.

I'm almost 23 and I'm thinking....wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

24 with kids and married...


NO THANK YOU.

Married to the right woman? Sure. Kids...JEez

 

[Nate-ForLiberty]

people are getting married because with the economic downturn it is easier (so it seems) to live with two incomes. (not saying this is the only conscious choice, but it is there. People fear homelessness, so they make a "home")

Ironically, with the economic downturn, money becomes a problem in marriages causing an increase in divorce.

 

[nate895]

I'm almost 23 and I'm thinking....wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

24 with kids and married...


NO THANK YOU.

Married to the right woman? Sure. Kids...JEez

Oh...the humanity! We're having kids at approximately the same time as our ancestors! We can't possibly handle it, we're all gonna die!

 

[Nate-ForLiberty]

Oh...the humanity! We're having kids at approximately the same time as our ancestors! We can't possibly handle it, we're all gonna die!

look at the mess our ancestors left us

 

[nate895]

look at the mess our ancestors left us

I'm talking about the 19th century ones. The ones who had liberty. Pretty much every generation through the 20th century had kids starting in their late teens/early twenties. For the most part, the world was free. Strong families, in particular strong marriages are the bulwark against tyranny. Starting young (not too young) is the best way to maintain a strong marriage and healthy family relationships, I'm convinced.

 

[dannno]

Besides, why would social programmers want people to get married? I thought their main objective was the degradation of society and to create a weak moral foundation.

That was actually one of my main reasons for asking, because, if true, I'd also like to know why.

Another reason I asked is because the first couple I knew who got married, the bride listened to that song probably a couple thousands times before their wedding. She didn't say she did, I just know that she listens to pop music pretty much all day, especially Beyonce, Lady Gaga, etc... But the song came out probably 3-12 months before they got engaged. Then suddenly there was a flood of other weddings.. it was like it became 'popular' to get married, more social pressure or something.. even if not all these girls listened to the song, they can still get the social pressures reverberating.

 

[nate895]

That was actually one of my main reasons for asking, because, if true, I'd also like to know why.

Another reason I asked is because the first couple I knew who got married, the bride listened to that song probably a couple thousands times before their wedding. She didn't say she did, I just know that she listens to pop music pretty much all day, especially Beyonce, Lady Gaga, etc... But the song came out probably 3-12 months before they got engaged.

What a song could do is bring out feelings you already have to the forefront. So, if she listened to the song and already wanted to marry the guy, it is possible that the song brought out those feelings that led to her to pressure the guy into marriage. That's a possibility. I highly doubt a song could create a feeling you didn't already have.

 

[dannno]

What a song could do is bring out feelings you already have to the forefront. So, if she listened to the song and already wanted to marry the guy, it is possible that the song brought out those feelings that led to her to pressure the guy into marriage. That's a possibility. I highly doubt a song could create a feeling you didn't already have.

Well that would be social manipulation still, wouldn't it? Even if it is the 'good' kind?

 

[nate895]

Well that would be social manipulation still, wouldn't it? Even if it is the 'good' kind?

Nah. Social manipulation implies intent to do so. By the standard you are implying, all entertainment media could be considered social manipulation because it might bring out feelings you already hold. In that case, the term "social manipulation" loses any real meaning.

 

[specsaregood]

That was actually one of my main reasons for asking, because, if true, I'd also like to know why.

FWIW, I think you probably are correct. Maybe it wasn't a manipulation on purpose but an unexpected side-effect.

I seem to recall a country pop song with a similar message a decade or so ago...I wonder if it hadn't statistically similar result.

 

[dannno]

Nah. Social manipulation implies intent to do so. By the standard you are implying, all entertainment media could be considered social manipulation because it might bring out feelings you already hold. In that case, the term "social manipulation" loses any real meaning.

Ok, so it would then be social manipulation if the intent is there.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Oh...the humanity! We're having kids at approximately the same time as our ancestors! We can't possibly handle it, we're all gonna die!

Yes, but divorce and unwed motherhood rates are much higher than it was for our ancestors (depending on how many generations you go back), and life in general is more complex (especially post-industrial revolution). Perhaps we need to rethink having kids so young and wait a little longer before popping out babies so as to provide a more stable life for the youngins. :o

 

[eOs]

I don't know, I find more social manipulation with regards to race. It seems it is ever so popular to make the white male, the goofy, idiotic funny guy, and to have a black counterpart as the serious, alpha dog. It's not always like this, but I find them pushing these roles often.

 

[nate895]

Yes, but divorce and unwed motherhood rates are much higher than it was for our ancestors (depending on how many generations you go back), and life in general is more complex (especially post-industrial revolution). Perhaps we need to rethink having kids so young and wait a little longer before popping out babies so as to provide a more stable life for the youngins. :o

Or, maybe we should rethink our low-view of marriage, the most important relationship we have in our whole lives. Is anybody else disgusted by the fact that it is just as easy (if not easier) to get out of a marriage as a car lease?

 

[Mach]

Or, maybe we should rethink our low-view of marriage, the most important relationship we have in our whole lives. Is anybody else disgusted by the fact that it is just as easy (if not easier) to get out of a marriage as a car lease?

HALF!........................

http://www.divorcerate.org/

Does anyone think that the divorce rates have risen and continue to rise because of purposeful societal manipulation. :o

 

[Mach]

If you believe in instinctual drive then you have to know that the ones that are the least conscious of that drive, are the easiest to manipulate.... or are just pretending to be that unconscious while weaving you into their web...... what?

The Century Of Self Part 1 (of 4) Happiness Machines

 

[nate895]

HALF!........................

http://www.divorcerate.org/

Does anyone think that the divorce rates have risen and continue to rise because of purposeful societal manipulation. :o

If I read those statistics properly, it seems that divorces happen for older men marrying significantly younger woman, given that one of the lower divorce rates is for men who marry before 20. I think these stats seem to indicate that the reason for the high divorce rate is that men are less responsible than they used to be.

There is one group in there that is almost certainly getting married because they felt some sort of responsibility to do so: 20 and younger men. I'm willing to bet that the vast majority of those marriages are from boys who impregnated their girlfriends and felt the responsibility to marry them. The responsibility they felt continued for the life of the marriage, resulting in a relatively low divorce rate. That isn't to say the entire divorce rate is caused by irresponsible men. There are multiple factors involved, but I really do think irresponsible men are the primary cause for the high divorce rate.

 

[Mach]

I'm willing to bet that the vast majority of those marriages are from boys who impregnated their girlfriends and felt the responsibility to marry them.

I instantly seen the same thing.

So, females try to trap young men with pregnancy, then, they get older, look around, and want their personal freedom that was stolen from them when they were younger and lash out with a divorce.... I see.

 

[nate895]

I instantly seen the same thing.

So, females try to trap young men with pregnancy, then, they get older, look around, and want their personal freedom that was stolen from them when they were younger and lash out with a divorce.... I see.

I don't think that's it. If you noticed, the age that they present is the age at marriage. Young girls who get married are much more likely to get divorced than young guys who get married. Over a third of all divorced women are from the younger than 20 at marriage category, contrasted with 10% of divorced males are from the under 20 crowd. So, I think it is older men marrying significantly younger women that is the big problem. Of course, I would need to see the stats for the percentage of marriages from each group. If 25% of marriages involve younger than 20 males, that shows that getting married younger to another young person is a good idea (if you're ready, that is). If only 15% of marriages involve younger than 20 males, then that's another story.

P.S. I should note that this assumes that there aren't that many younger men marrying older women.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

Ever since the following song came out, I've had friends suddenly getting married ALL over the place.. before that, NOBODY was getting married..

Weddings are contagious. People who know each other have a greater effect than anything else. One couple gets married, the next couple decides it's time, and so on, and so on. The same happens with children. One couple has a baby, and the race is on.

Starting young (not too young) is the best way to maintain a strong marriage and healthy family relationships, I'm convinced.

One social manipulation that has been effective on the past couple of generations is telling them to wait to have children. The truth is, best to have children before 30, especially for women. Stick with the best partner you can find in your early 20s, get married mid-20s, pop out the puppies by 30. (If you want to have kids).

30 is the Finish Line, not the Starting Line.