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We see, on average over 5,000 (yes, 3 0's) ads each day of our lives. Most equate 'ads' as commercials, newspaper or magazine advertisements, billboards. But that coffee cup from 7-11 is an ad. Those running shoes you're wearing with the logo on the sides? An ad.
We think we are free because we are told that.(propaganda through use of political agendas??) But there are prices to be paid, deals to be met, so nothing comes to us freely and what we think as being 'free' is really being allowed choices from different sources to fulfill our needs.
We don't have to explain every detail to our kids-we need to simply let them know what is generally acceptable or right and guide them in their early decision making. I was the pariah of moms for letting my kids watch The Simpsons when they were little-but I know they know what's entertainment and I know they aren't going to be imitation "Bart"s. Yes, they fall for the "I want's" of commercialism-luckily we are not financially able to spoil them with honoring their requests and let them know it is not necessary to have just because others do. I think that, as young as they are, they are pretty confident in themselves and the choices they make, even if we do have to bring them back to reality every now and then when one gets the urge to "have the Converses like my friend".
Even if the choices were endless and we were not bombarded with subliminal messages written on the sides of coffee cups, would we be 'free'? Probably not. But we do need to reinforce in our children the idea that the loudest is not always the best and that even if 100,000 people make a choice, it doesn't mean that is the choice they should make as well. It is truly hard to do with all the media bombardment they are exposed to. It becomes a sea of confusion for them-I just try to guide them to trust their OWN judgement and not fall for the hype behind the cardboard smiles.
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