The influence and manipulation we turn a blind eye to.

Dhruba Baishya
Aug 24, 2017 · 3 min read

We are being brainwashed

The society we live in is driven by information. Information we receive in various forms. But little do we realize that information is what shapes us into who we are. This gives the distributors of information the ability to shape the way we think. It gives them a way to influence the choices we make. It is not even about making the right choices — its about what choices are made available to us.

There is always an agenda behind the influence. Be it monetary or political. These agencies or distributors of information use this power to manipulate and mold our realities, making us adjust our beliefs, opinions and perceptions. It destroys our ability to reason out and question. We are brainwashed. This is threatening, because our actions are based on our perceptions and if our perceptions are being controlled and manipulated by someone else then that someone also has the ability to manipulate our actions.

We live in a time where information is distributed mostly by media and social network systems. Whenever we switch on to any news channel, what do we get to hear mostly? All the negativity around us. This may seem legit and we will be made to belief that the world is getting worse day by day. But reality is not what they say it is. Our psychological behavior is being taken advantage of by the media. What we do not know about this is that our brain pays more attention to the negative things. This is one way the brain tells us to be alive. How is this being taken advantage of by the media? They will particularly address all the negative news so that we are completely engaged in it. And then comes the advertisements in between, which is how they make money. These days they also help clout the likeness of a particular government by endlessly flashing the ads to us.

Talking about the advertisements, we may think they are silly. But there are a large group of people who really do believe in the promises that these products make in the advertisements, even if it is a fairness cream promising fairness in just two weeks. What is shocking here is that celebrities who may have never used these products will endorse it. These celebrities are very influential. It should have been their responsibility to create awareness among people. Instead, as long as their pockets are filled, they will continue to use this power into making us belief in things which are completely a load of baloney. How are we influenced by such silliness? The media and the companies manipulate us into thinking that having a dark complexion is a curse, that society will put us down, that we will not have a successful career without being fair and that fairness is the only thing between us and our success. This manipulation molds our perception and hence controls our actions into putting our money on such nonsense.

Also by the actions of the government, it seems that people are not to be happy. Being happy clears our mind and it gives us the sort of mentality where we would question whatever is happening around us which is what they do not want us to do. Hence the need for manipulation and influence comes into picture.

What is to be suggested here is that we refuse to be influenced by information which we think is wrong, that we think with a clear mind and question things which are misguiding. We should be more close to nature. Nature helps us clear our mind and bring the control to our life back to us. Traveling is a great way to connect with ourselves and correct the damages done by the wrong influences. This is what gives us exposure to the world around us giving us an opportunity to know and be aware.

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