I've been thinking how we all, but women especially, are brain-washed by popular culture and groomed to be easy targets for the personality disordered predator. Many of us were raised in highly dysfunctional families that ignored our needs and feelings and catered only to the pathological needs of one or both NarcoPathic parent(s).

Add to that a culture that demeans females- much of it in the name of 'entertainment'. (I could go on a RANT about misogynistic Rap lyrics and video games, etc, but I'll keep it brief).

This is what I mean by cognitive dissonance and double messages in popular culture (and feel free to add your own experience):

~When a glossy ad for bras or cosmetics is selling you a 'natural look' or a 'maiden form'.

~We extoll the virtues of living a sober life when so many Hollywood starlets are getting press for their bad-girl stunts- in between their rehab stays. What message does that send to our kids?

~That a highly sexed culture (sex is used to sell almost everything & casual sex is shown on prime time TV) would mock teenaged girls for getting pregnant. (I'm thinking about of society's scorn of 'welfare mothers' as if the girls have impregnated themselves!)

~That our culture reveres the thin figure on women, yet everywhere are ads of fattening, dripping cheeseburgers, gooey pizzas and microwaveable junk disguised to look like real food.

~We tell our kids to eat healthy and exercise, yet most public schools offer only 'quasi-food' and no recesses or gym classes.

There are many such examples but you get the idea. I also believe that art and music can shape a culture's attitudes and so many times I'll hear a song and go, "HUH?"

The lyrics below are not the worst example but probably one of the more recent. And I'm not saying that Mr. Clare is a Narc- only that his message is so confusing. Well, you be the judge:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYXjLbMZFmo

ALEX CLARE LYRICS

"Too Close"

"You know I'm not one to break promises
I don't want to hurt you but I need to breathe
At the end of it all, you're still my best friend
But there's something inside that I need to release
Which way is right, which way is wrong
How do I say that I need to move on
You know we're headed separate ways

And it feels like I am just too close to love you
There's nothing I can really say
I can't lie no more, I can't hide no more
Got to be true to myself
And it feels like I am just too close to love you
So I'll be on my way

You've given me more than I can return
Yet there's oh so much that you deserve
There's nothing to say, nothing to do,
I've nothing to give
I must live without you
You know we're headed separate ways

And it feels like I am just too close to love you
There's nothing I can really say
I can't lie no more, I can't hide no more
Got to be true to myself
And it feels like I am just too close to love you
So I'll be on my way

So I'll be on my way

And it feels like I am just too close to love you
There's nothing that I can really say
I can't lie no more, I can't hide no more
Got to be true to myself
And it feels like I am just too close to love you
So I'll be on my way

So I'll be on my way
So I'll be on my way."

HUH? So, he's dumping his lover but says: "at the end of it all, you're still my best friend"...WHAT?

And he's "just too close to love you"...WHAT the...What?

Well, double messages have always been my pet peeve. This song is on my sh*t list for now- next week it'll be other things.

Care to add your own?