Stop trying to make Halloween a thing.
I get that Americans love it, but it is pretty silly to have it spread throughout the world just because it gets seen in movies. Because pretty much, that is what drives it so it can be commercialised globally.
Why does everything have to be commercialised?
I think it a good indicator of how we are driven by monetary incentives, when so much tradition ends up being a consumer product. It can be argued that the attraction to the tradition provides a market, but I think that a lot of the traditions are actually kept alive because they have been commercialised. Take Christmas for example, which is alive and well despite nowhere near as many people going to church or caring about religion. The tradition survives because there is money to be made from it. Religion survives because there is money to be made too, I assume.
Similarly, the traditional industries that should be replaced like fossil fuel, are kept alive and well because there is money to be made. If there were no money to be made from it, it would disappear. Same for cigarettes and elicit drugs. If there is money to be made, someone will make it.
Demand drives supply.
No matter the harm.
In recent years, we have all been encouraged to commercialise ourselves, to sell ourselves as if that is a desirable outcome for our species. The problem with selling is it requires marketing and product positioning, to give the appearance of value, even if it is not actually present. The perspectives can be skewed in numerous ways to fool the buyer, whether they are paying for a product directly, or with clicks, shares and follows. The purchase is made on impression, not proof.
Don't sell yourself, prove yourself.
Imagine if you had a chance to view the reality of the person for the top paid influencers. How many would live up to their marketing? How many would be able to prove their value? I think that for many of them, even their looks aren't close to what they sell of themselves and if we were actually to get to know them, they are unlikely to be very attractive as people - no matter how good they look. To be at the level of self-absorption required, I don't think many people would want to actually have one as a partner. The idea of one, yes - but not the reality.
We demand the fantasy, which means fantasy gets paid.
It is a pity we don't demand the things that would make us healthier, happier, and the world more peaceful. If we did, most of the current commercial offering would change, as would all of the types of roles available. The average person would have a far more meaningful job by default, and the influencers would be those who can prove valuable.
Quite a different world.
But not the one we live in.
Taraz
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