Is an indictment of the irrationality of capitalism
Aren’t we all deeply irrational, though? Capitalism has turned itself into the most powerful religion on earth. Of course it preys on our emotions….
Well indeed, but you’d think they’d… be better at it, I suppose, instead of relying on nonsense to try to sell things.
I would kindly disagree. Nonsense makes this whole machine go. “Drapetomania” was sold to Americans by the scientific community to argue the slaves wanting their freedom was the result of mental illness.
This kind of bullshit eased americans’ conscious while further painting black folk as diseased/unwell/unfit to take care of themselves.
How is that not brilliant?
Well of course, I mean obviously they sell everyone on nonsense, but I meant more that like… you’d think they’d have a better theoretical understanding of persuasion because their getting their way depends on it. Like being good at persuading people to buy their things is really important to them doing their shitty thing.
It makes perfect sense that they’d support racist pseudo-science because white-supremacy is in their interests (it’s obviously obscene and evil but it’s the ruling class supporting their best interests).
Also I realized I may have been unclear, I meant literature on the science of doing marketing, not in like ads themselves, so like I just feel like them having no real idea of what makes an effective ad and seemingly little interest in finding out makes the whole thing even more strange and irrational. Like they base everything on weird truisms.
Thoughts From The Peacock Angel 