I’m tired of breaking my back to please
Critics who can’t be pleased
It’s time I looked out for number one
Time I looked out for me
I’ve got to face the reality of living in the real world
Before I end up an old man feeding peanuts to the squirrels
– Sell Out, Sell Out
Klaatu (John Woloschuk)
(More lyrics at http://www.klaatu.org)
While doing dishes, James and I were pondering why it seems that you can create a good product and basically do good work and still struggle. It begs the question, "okay, so what DO people want?"
If you start looking around to find out what’s popular these days, the answers are depressing. Today’s pop culture shows us that if you are a terrible singer on a reality TV show like American Idol and are practically booed off the stage, you’ll get a recording contract.
The TV show itself is really a study in humiliating people. Clearly, if you do a TV show these days, you have to appeal to negative emotions because at some point, being mean to people became cool. The guy didn’t get a recording contract because he’s a good singer. He got it because people like to see him humiliate himself.
Survivor is another example. It is basically the Lord of the Flies revisited, minus the cannibalism. (Of course, if the contestants did start eating each other, I’m sure they’d televise it to increase ratings.)
Although few people admit to watching this video drek, the ratings for "reality TV" are always skyrocketing. Am I the only person who boycotts this stuff because the concepts are completely stupid and sickening?
The sad thing is that meanness sells. Throwing people off islands and booing them off the stage has shock value. And it’s not just reality TV. I mean, I can’t be the only person cynical enough to think that the Paris Hilton tape "scandal" was really a stunt pulled by some PR hack to increase viewership of her pathetic TV show and non-existent acting talent. Or that Janet Jackson’s "wardrobe malfunction" was no malfunction at all. A few days of looking contrite and weepy and suddenly your name is the number one search online. That means money for all concerned.
So after traveling these depressing mental pathways, James and I found ourselves asking ourselves: are we an anachronism? Is there still room for ethical business? Does anyone care about or reward someone who’s just being a decent human being anymore? Can you be successful in business and not sell out?
I don’t know. But I hope so because my conscience won’t let me do business any other way.