So you're watching a movie, listening to a song, or reading the newspaper. Sounds pretty harmless and safe, right? NO. YOU ARE NEVER SAFE!
Don't you know that the media is FULL of subliminal messages promoting Satanism, communism, Oprahism and hundreds of other 'isms' out there?
Don't you know that the media is FULL of subliminal messages promoting Satanism, communism, Oprahism and hundreds of other 'isms' out there?
No? Ok maybe you're not insane then.
Turns out there's a lot of people who believe that there are hidden messages in pop songs, movies, advertisements and art. These crackpots commonly claim that playing certain songs backwards reveal lyrics that promote Satanism, sodomy, and other taboo suggestions. The reason? They don't even know.
So how does this work? The idea is that messages can be given to someone 'below the limits of the smallest detectable sensation'... Now wait a minute. Those of you who are slightly brighter than a spark in a furnace are now thinking "but if it's below the smallest detectable sensation, how can it even be perceived in any meaningful way?" Well, it can't.
Until of course, the crackpots chime in with their amendment to their ramblings. This is when they claim that subliminal messages 'are received below the threshold of conscious detection'. Now this is where it gets interesting. This is why thousands of subliminal 'learn while you sleep' tapes are out there, and it's also the reason why precisely none of them actually work.
How do we know this? Well there have been tests, people. Countless tests. In particular, there has been experiments performed where two groups of people listened to a popular song backwards. One group was told prior to hearing the song that they were to expect satanic lyrics. The other group was told nothing. Both groups were told to write down what they hear.
The result? Turns out the group that was conditioned to hear the satanic lyrics did so, whilst the group that was told nothing heard incoherent sentences and random words. Furthermore, it turns out upon repeated listening that the people who were pre-conditioned into hearing something talked amongst themselves, told each other exactly what they could hear, and eventually they all unanimously agreed on what the backwards recording was saying. What's interesting here is that different groups convince themselves that they hear different things. So chances are, if you watch one of the many hundreds of YouTube 'subliminal messages in pop music' videos, the freakin genius who created it will most likely tell you what you should hear before you hear it. Science FAIL.
Despite all this, there is still a very wide belief that subliminal messages are out there, and invading your skull at this very minute. In fact, consumers spend an estimated $50 Million a year on subliminal tapes and 'self-help' music. Ironically, a good chunk of these are supposed to improve your financial success. Anyone else laughing?
The brain is a very sly organ, and we can't trust it. This is why optical illusions are possible, because the brain often shows you what you are told to see or hear. It tricks you.
Smug bastard.
If it were possible to receive information 'subconsciously', then it would be possible to learn anything in your sleep. Universities would be redundant, entire libraries would be replaced by podcasts, and Ke$ha's music could be 'injected' with a lecture on the principles of advanced calculus and actually contribute something useful to the human race for once.
It would be super-awesome, and the effects would definitely, beyond a doubt, be noticeable worldwide in every case.
However, short of becoming a superhero by microwaving your head (don't try this at home), there is no way of sending information to the brain without the source being consciously noticeable. There's a reason why studying is a pain in the ass. It requires concentration.
If you liked this, check out the following links.
Subliminal Messages
Mind Control and Brain-washing
