The Optics of Exploitation

by G. Murphy Donovan (June 2013)

I received another online opinion survey the other day and clicked it into that bottomless pit of cyber trash. Unsolicited surveys remind me not to join social networks or give out my e-mail address.

families might be the real culprit for the banalities that pass for content; news and entertainment on the American airwaves.

demographic that ranks bad habits over privacy. Silence ensued. 

meter. She claimed not to have that information. Then I tried negotiation. I said that I would be happy to assist the 34,000 salaried data soldiers at Nielsen – for free; if she would allow her troops to cut my grass once a week – for free. She was certain that Nielsen didn’t do lawns.

Calhoun nor his employees are curious about curiosity.

voters a while later. At first, I thought the phrase was another example of media diffidence, implying poorly educated or ignorant without actually saying ‘stupid.’ Then I recalled the recent controversy about “vote buying” in American presidential politics. The dependent 47% of political voters, those folks who don’t pay much in taxes, yet collect a government check, have more political clout than the private, tax paying, productive demographic. I was fairly certain that the Nielsen family and the low infos might be the same crowd; indeed, the Nielsen family would surely flourish as a subset of a larger inert audience.

Among five media options (TV, internet, radio, magazine, and newspapers), time spent watching television dominates with a 37% share. Cartoons like Family Guy and The Simpsons rule the under 11 years of age crowd. Feature length comics, adult animation, now receive Academy Awards.

viewing per week – a time investment fast approaching a work week. Television is also America’s favorite babysitter and tutor. Little wonder then that women are the real ‘family’ targets.

Eighty five percent of household viewing and purchasing decisions are made by women.

PIX magazine is an example.

wasteland,” I will be fairly certain about who tilled the trash. Or as a cartoon character from another day put it; “We have met the enemy and he is us!”

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