The Tactics of the Devil. . . .?

NOTE: THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS BLOG IS CONTROVERSIAL AND PROVOCATIVE. IF THE SUBJECT OF PORNOGRAPHY TEMPTS or HURTS YOU TO A DEGREE THAT IS NOT HEALTHY, DO NOT READ THIS BLOG.

All cultures have had mass media of some type. Ancient Rome had coins that could communicate the decrees of the emperor and serve as a public mouthpiece. During the Middle Ages, the Church had decrees, written on parchment scrolls that communicated the wishes of the pope. The list goes on and on. In our culture we are especially exposed to media. This is partly because of the nature of capitalism. Everyone wants a voice, and if you have enough money, you can have a voice. We all know what we like. We have our favorite shows, movies, music, news, etc. What we don't know however is how complicated and manipulative the process of getting us to like those shows actually is.


To indicate my point I'd like to use an extreme example. In our age of the internet, it is becoming increasingly more commonplace to hear about people's addictions to pornography. People don't get addicted to pornography overnight. It happens in a gradual cycle. The pornography companies spend millions of dollars researching new ways of making this happen.

1. First they lure you in- People are aware that porn exists. Forms of pornography have existed as long as man has existed in the sin nature. The new way that porn companies are luring customers is through the taste. They will put up "free galleries" for potential customers to view. They appear to be free, not making any money for the companies, but in reality they are raking in the dough. It's a lot like the way drug dealers who offer a "first taste". They know that if they can get you to get that first taste, there's a high likelyhood that you'll come back for more.

2. Then there's the bait- As you delve deeper and deeper into their "free galleries", they use certain techniques to make you want more. They only allow you access to certain things. They only let you see a small amount of the "product", but it's usually enough to get you to want more.

3. Then they catch you- As you become more and more enamored with what they offer, you want more. Eventually you cave in. You pay the subscription fee that allows you access to all of the content on that company's "product". You are now able to see everything that you couldn't see before.

4. Then lastly there's the sinkhole- The companies consolidate. They realize that as you become more and more addicted, you move on to different things. They anticipate those desires and tailor new content in that way. Their products, at first appearing as innocent young girls, eventually start taking more things off, start doing different things. They keep you hooked, all the while paying for their "service". If you get bored with that "product" they will point you in the way of new "entertainment". In this way, they get you to pay for their services. This is how the porn industry has been able to maintain revenues of billions, and they are climbing.

I hope you see how dehumanizing this is. To both parties. The products referred to are women. Women who have been caught in a snare. In a lot of cases, it is nearly impossible to get out of these. They are used, viewed as objects not humans who are loved by God and valued. It is detrimental to the viewer, who becomes a slave to something that he was never intended to become a slave to. Addiction can be a very powerful force, and once you have delved into her ways, it is hard to get out.

But these tactics are not just used in pornography. They are found in virtually all mediums of mass media. Encouraging a pornographic reading of texts that keeps you coming back

and back

and back

for more

and more

.. .. .. .. . .


As a point of discussion, what are some other ways that you think that these tactics are used in other mediums to encourage a viewer's pornographic reading of a certain text?