Are You Brainwashed?

[sharon]

Are we brainwashed? This is interesting and true.

http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/ar ... hop-fastco

[BirdbyBird]

Having been paid a few times to be part of "focus" groups and having a son working in Branding I know the length of effort and monies that are spent researching ideas and "visions." I have also done more in depth reading in the area of brain research particularly in the area of perception, processing, memory. (Working with individuals and reading about Autism can lead you to reading nonfiction, what can I say ) It is all a bit scary but know that there are millions of dollars being spent to predict how we "see" things.......and not just in grocery stores. I particularly gets me thinking regarding our views of history, the political process, the foods we eat, the clothes we wear, the medical care we seek....ask Sharon....there is research on the effects of the sounds and lights of casino machines on customers. (I kept telling her on the cruise I was only interested in exploring the research.... and well that was half true.

Then Mitch will remember that Sarah worked in some related fields... for the government....she just can't tell us about them even now. But Mitch sure did try to ply the secrets out with great foods and fine company back in July....

[Bethers]

And, yes, we are all brainwashed. But I really wish that those blackboards were at least real ones. I must admit that disappointed me more than most of the rest. (Read this late last night and was glad to see someone else had thought about it, too.)

[WickedLady]

I guess my brain works to a different drum beat. I prefer to buy green bananas and I grow my own apples

[JoanE]

I really dislike shopping but I do occasionally shop at Whole Foods. I also buy the still-green bananas and I hate those misting machines in produce as my arm is usually under it when it sprays! I only buy their fish that is on sale but they often have great sales on wine that I cannot find elsewhere (and which I really like). I am usually somewhat aware of the brainwashing but it does give me a chuckle especially when I give in.

[Getupngo]

Yes ... but my brain needed washing.

[sharon]

Yes ... but my brain needed washing.

I have to say I'm pretty much a "list" shopper, don't buy much fruit except in the summer and if a peach doesn't smell like a peach I don't buy it, I don't care how good it looks. But Safeway is really sneaky...they almost always have bread baking....or cinnamon rolls...and for the most part I'm really good about walking on thru without sucumbing to the lure of fresh baked white bread. But, there are those times...sigh. But in my defense, I know what they are doing and even if I buy it I only eat a portion of it and take the rest over to the BF's house and let him finish it off. Sometimes I've just gotta have a couple of pieces of warm white crispy crust french bread smothered in butter. OK, not real butter, Mitch, I use Smart Balance margarine. (Mitch gave me heck for saying butter thinking I used it)

[mtngal]

Interesting article mainly promoting the guy's book. I love to go
to Whole Foods in Austin. Do I shop there? Nope, way out if my
budget. But it is a visual feast! Not to mention the fresh bread.

BTW for me, no complaints about 14 month old apples as I
clearly remember the mealy ones stored over the winter in
the cellar.

We truly can have the best of everything (with alittle careful
planning). What a wonderful world!

[Excel]

When watching Diane Sawyer's news program last night, they had a segment about this practice & how it really does entice people to buy things they normally wouldn't....Like Sharon I go with a list...and I really try to stick with it....

[Getupngo]

I usually go with a list ... but I'm not prone to "impulse" buying because I don't eat sugar (one year and counting ...). Sweet stuff used to whistle and wave ("yoo-hoo! buy me! buy me!") as I walked by. Now they shrug, roll their eyes and sigh.

So today I mostly shop the "margins" of the store (produce, dairy and meat counters). I venture into the middle aisles for soaps, rice, pasta & stuff.