Curiosity killed the cat. Our susceptibility to suggestibility
Have you ever seen the movie “Dude Where’s My Car?” specifically the scene where they pull up to order some Chinese Takeaways. The hilarity ensues as one of the characters, Jesse (played by Ashton Kutcher) places his order. The Chinese woman on the other end of the intercom simply says: “And then”.
Agreeably he adds rice to his order of garlic chicken. She then continues with another: “And then”. Looking up at the menu he sheepishly suggests to his companions: “Want some wonton soup?” They all agree and with a look of determination and finality in his eyes, he adds the soup to his order. Unfazed, she simply continues with: “And then”. The fun continues again and again until eventually he destroys the intercom.
Where am I going with this? Nowhere really! I was just reminiscing about a funny movie scene that I watched some 20 odd years ago. But hey! It is the morning! And the morning is when I like to simply write whatever is on my mind. I afford myself the freedom of just flowing. I let my thoughts spill onto the keyboard, simply seeing where it all ends up. It just so happens that “And then” is currently on my mind.
So in the noble effort of redeeming the time. What can we learn from “And Then”? What nuggets of gold or pearls of wisdom can we extract from this tiny slice of the collective consciousness of populist culture?
Perseverance perhaps?
Yes, that’s a good start! The literary flatulence I could exhaust about that! No, no, no! It’s far too early in the morning for motivational diatribe.
Hmm, let’s see, less obvious, but far more consequential in its impact, might be the whole suggestibility of “And then”. Yes! That’s it!
Suggestibility! Now there is an interesting topic.
Just how suggestible are we really? How open are we to being influenced to buy things we didn’t initially want? To do things we didn’t initially intend to do? Say things we didn’t intend to say? Write things we didn’t intend to write?
I never intended to write this article, yet here I am. Was I influenced to write this article? Perhaps you could say I was influenced by a movie 20 odd years ago. But more importantly, what suggested the current remembrance of it? What triggered my brain to regurgitate the amusing memory of “And then”?
It’s a known phenomenon, that hanging a portrait behind an honesty jar, increases the rate of honest payers. It’s the psychological effect of knowing those eyes are watching. Regardless of whether they are alive or just printed on photo paper. Either way those eyes are watching, piercing the would-be thieves dishonest soul.
There it is right there. The suggestion that someone is watching, reminds the would-be thief that they might get caught. This in turn causes their return to morality and the restoration of their honesty. Its classic cause and effect.
Ohh the power of suggestion! It’s the power of the upsell, the downsell, the sideways sell. I’m tempted to grab a sound bite of “And then” and add it to my add to cart buttons, so that whenever someone clicks add to cart, it simply plays in the background. What a hoot that would be! Funny. Yes! But it most likely would result in a flurry of abandoned carts. Sorry, I digress. Back to the topic at hand. Suggestibility!
What did you want when you drove up at my window and clicked on the title of my article? You’ve placed your order of curiosity. But now I’m asking you “And then”?
What else will you order from my menu?
“And then”.
Perhaps a like?
“And then”.
Ohh yes! A follow.
“And then”.
Perhaps a few reads of my articles?
“And then”.
Maybe a purchase or two from my affiliate links.
“And then”.
And then what? What else do I want from you? And then, And then, And then, And then, And then!” Gosh I think it’s time for my morning coffee. Sorry to seem so cynical, but isn’t that just what society has become. A neverending treadmill of consumerism. Where we are all being collectively used for our purchasing power, our clicks, our attention and views.
Can I suggest this morning that you unplug from the suggestibility matrix for just a few moments. Simply go out of your way today to make someone else’s day. Send the “I love you” message. Order the flowers. When ordering your coffee, pay for the next person in line and leave enough change to tip the barista. Book the restaurant. Schedule the focused quality time. Call your Mom. And then?