"If you don't control your mind, somenone else will" (John Allston)

 Hi Everyone!

Today I would like to concentrate on psychology. To be precise, I bring up the subject of manipulation and, obviously, brainwashing (also known as mind control). 

 (http://quotesgram.com/quotes-about-brainwashing/)

First of all, do you know what does manipulate mean? According to Cambridge Dictionaries Online, it stands for "control someone or something in a clever way so that they do what you want them to do" (http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-polish/manipulate?q=manipulation). 
To my mind, this is a sophisticated concept which evokes a lot of negative and unpleasant associations. Manipulators are everywhere these days. There are not only people who  take up a senior positions but also men in the street. And what is really important in this stuff is that they have no scruples: other people have to dance to their tune. Nowadays, there are numerous trainings which allow us to learn how influence other people. In my point of view, it is worth devoting not only time but also effort to our family or leisure activities. 
What about brainwashing? This is a very widespread phenomenon: we have to deal with it in every area of life. What is this for? If we want to influence on someone's views or feelings we use one of brainwashing techniques. There are a large amount of possibilities, for example indignity, isolation or threats. One thing is certain: it is necessary to defend yourself from it. 

Something about soap operas

Hi Everyone!

How are you today? Unfortunately, I caught a cold and I have the snuffles. I should drink a cup of tea with ginger: it always helps get better.

Do you like spend your free time watching soap operas? These days a large number of series, TV shows and soap operas are available to stream. Due to really rapid development of technology you can watch TV on the Internet.

Recently I have read an article published in The Guardian entitled: "Soap operas: has the bubble burst?". According to the author, "Soaps have hardly been popular because they have their finger on the pulse of the nation. In their heyday, they were immersive experiences that took their own sweet time developing stories and characters, and thereby made themselves convincing and seductive to mass audiences" (http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/oct/01/soap-operas-has-the-bubble-burst). Do you agree?

(http://comm439fa10.csulb.wikispaces.net/Soap+Operas)

Nowadays, more and more people are watching soap operas habitually. I would like to know what is the trick that makes them so popular?

My friend told me that soap operas help chill out and stop thinking about how to solve some burning issue. I agree with her: watching soap operas, you have an opportunity to fill your mind with simple thoughts. As is known, soap operas are full of love interests and people identify with their favourite characters: quite often viewers dream that one day they would meet somebody like she or he.

In soap operas there are many ups and downs just like in our life. In my point if view, we not only long for some excitement but also desire to be like a film star. First and foremost, it is easier to mind other people's business.

Curiosity killed the cat?

Hi Everyone!

According to Oscar Wilde, “The public have an insatiable curiosity to know everything, except what is worth knowing". Do you agree?

I must admit that our life without curiosity would not be intriguing. It is worth pointing out that I have not noxious nosiness in mind. I know many people who have a lot of free time and, obviously, they are unable to put it to good use. As a result, they are bored to tears and in order to pass the time they like peeking from behind not only the door but also the window.

(http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3smc2o)

Do you know how one may arouse intense interest in something which is unknown? In my point of view, curiosity is, in other words, inquisitiveness and, above all, courage. Haruki Murakami in "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle", one of my favorite books, writes:

“Curiosity can bring guts out of hiding at times, maybe even get them going. But curiosity usually evaporates. Gust have to go for the long haul. Curiosity's like a fun friend you can't really trust. It turns you on and then it leaves you to make it on your own - with whatever guts you can muster”.

I think that when we lose our natural curiosity for exploring the world and learning we divest ourselves of a crucial element.