Humans are in interesting group.  Once they have a belief system ingrained, it is almost impossible to change that system, even when it is clear that the belief system is wrong or even harmful.  Corporations have found that if you can convince a person that something is wrong with them, and your product can 'fix' it, then they will buy the product.  That's what commercials do; convince you of a need and promise to fill that need.  I never knew I needed so many things until I watched those commercials.  My life must have been so empty before.  But when you create then take advantage of inferiority complexes,  that inferiority complex may never quite be satisfied, and the customer could continue to try and fill that void.

The image above is from an ad for Hanes underwear.  The impossibly thin model frolics behind the words, "Be light as air. Be you."  They seem to be selling underwear, but in reality they are selling an image.  Maybe if you wear our product, you can be thin and happy like this person.   That's not what I think when I see this model, besides, I am sure they don't use photoshop to manipulate those images. 

The problem is that commercials have found that defining what a person should be is very easy and very profitable.  But that definition is getting downright harmful.  Teen girls today think that who they are revolves around popularity, beauty, and sexuality.  Their parents who have relented to the allow the TV to substitute for the babysitter, have no idea what is happening.

If we are not careful, our children are going to grow up like the freaks we see in reality TV shows.  Where do you think they get those nut-jobs?  Those are their viewers.  Think about that next time you are watching the latest installment of Survivor or Big Brother.  That's going to be you someday.  Oh, joy.