Motivation by fear?

[Nyden]

Evening all, just thought I would open a discussion on a technique that seems to be used quite frequently in the media - fear.

Whilst at the train station today; I was quite shocked as to find new campaign posters about how understaffed the stations were. The images depicted in the posters were designed to instill fear, such as the lonesome young lady sitting at the station at night - with a rather unsavory character looking over at her.

This new campaign got me thinking; is the use of fear in the media ethical, moral - or simply right? TAC commercials for speeding - a mere 5kmph over the limit results in a child's death ... Cigarettes, alcohol, you name it; they're trying to make us afraid of it.

... I mean, gosh - life is hard enough for those of us with anxiety! Without the irrational fears being validated by government organizations.

Please share your thoughts.

 

[communique]

Evening all, just thought I would open a discussion on a technique that seems to be used quite frequently in the media - fear.

... I mean, gosh - life is hard enough for those of us with anxiety! Without the irrational fears being validated by government organizations.

Please share your thoughts.

Who needs the media, I get terrified just reading this forum.

 

[noident]

They say that many moons ago we evolved from monkeys.
Those days there were two kinds of monkeys - those who knew no fear and those who were afraid.
Rumour has it that the fearless monkeys fought like lions and died bravely, the scared monkeys ran for the hills and survived. It's from those monkeys that we've descended.

 

[LM]

Awareness of fear, within and without, is a step to enlightenment. As is taking 100% personal responsibility and the absence of blame in IMHO.

 

[mayk]

Great observation Nyden.

Fear and greed are two of the primal emotions to which people respond. Because of fear you can do anything, for greed you will do far less.

Study of human behavior and more importantly its exploitation via mass media in the last and current century is amazing to read and observe. Propaganda is a new name for news.

Reminds me of some of the commercials, where doctors smoke and promote cigarettes, and tell the public it is safe for you! (1940-1950). They can be googled.

 

[white_crane]

Fear is what the US is founded on. And we (Australia) are sheep...

 

[Green08]

Fear to me is allowing things to over ride your process to reason. You can let it consume you ending up in therapy, medication or traumatising yourself into becoming afflicted with sickness and disease or you can face it head on.

The ability to decompartmentaize the reality and possible outcomes is a learnt process of being objective.

Fear obvious has a place in life threatening situations - flight or fight again depends of circumstance and the individual's ability in it.

I had a massive fear of flying- I could not pin point a reason (and it wasn't Qantas So one day when taking off I just slowed my breathing and realised that the bumps etc are part of the process, just talking my way through the rational of getting to my destination. The out come was amazing I have no fear now of flying and enjoy it. I would like to take it a step further and parachute - I asked family and friends and the answer was always "I don't want to die" ! Well I will just go with the instructor and have fun.

 

[Czech]

They say that many moons ago we evolved from monkeys.
Those days there were two kinds of monkeys - those who knew no fear and those who were afraid.
Rumour has it that the fearless monkeys fought like lions and died bravely, the scared monkeys ran for the hills and survived. It's from those monkeys that we've descended.

Well Darwin got that one wrong.

We are definitely descended from sheep.

 

[nioka]

There is nothing at all wrong with being afraid. It is fear that helps us survive. It is only a problem if you let fear have the upper hand and win over reason.

 

[xyzedarteerf]

Originally Posted by noident.
They say that many moons ago we evolved from monkeys.
Those days there were two kinds of monkeys - those who knew no fear and those who were afraid.
Rumour has it that the fearless monkeys fought like lions and died bravely, the scared monkeys ran for the hills and survived. It's from those monkeys that we've descended.

Well Darwin got that one wrong.

We are definitely descended from sheep.

your all wrong, we all came from this guy.