Friday, 20 September 2024

Under The Influence

Do other people shout at their radios? I'm sure it is not just me. I cannot bear it when people murder the language on the air. I was standing in the kitchen making a ham sandwich, and Bob stuck his head in and said "do you mind if I close this door, its a bit loud in here...?"
I was yelling at a woman being interviewed on Radio 4. I ignored the fact that every sentence started with "So..." [a habit which really winds me up] But when asked why her company, which started in 2017, had succeeded she said it was because it was "really organic and really raw and really real". Really, really ?!? 
I listened a little longer, and she explained that back in 2017 she became an influencer. And that was new back then, nobody had heard of influencers before 2017, she was one of the first. She continued to mangle her words and spout cliches. I doubt that this granny will buy any"raw, organic, real clothing" from her company.
I switched over to Classic FM.
Later on in the day I did a bit of research. In fact the term influencer started to take off in around 2014, and spiked in 2016, entering the dictionary in 2017. But that was in the 'marketing' sense. [one who influences people's decisions about goods or services]  

It has been in the dictionaries much, much longer than that. The original definition simply refers to 'one who influences', and first appeared in print in 1660 in a theological treatise by philosopher Henry More**, who referred to the king as 'head and influencer of the church'.
[**not to be confused with Henry Moore, 20C sculptor, or Thomas More, Tudor statesman]

I do find it alarming that so many people follow 'influencers' on Instagram and TikTok and wherever. Are they making their decisions just by looking what these 'celebs' do and say? I looked at the UGov Poll of the 50 most famous influencers in the UK. I must be getting old - I recognised very few of the names. I knew Joe Wicks [#2] and Mrs Hinch [#6] and Marie Kondo [way down at #22] but the majority of the names meant nothing - many seemed to be Celebrities who wanted to get out, or Loose Women. I don't watch either of those shows. They clearly do not influence my purchasing decisions.

Back in the 70s, I remember there was some fuss about Gordon Jackson the actor, appearing in a TV ad for the TSB [Trustee Savings Bank] At the time, he played "Mr Hudson" the impeccably moral, unbelievably wise and trustworthy butler 'Mr Hudson' in the series Upstairs Downstairs [the precursor of Downton Abbey] Many felt that people would be influenced to bank with TSB 'because that nice Mr Hudson does, and we trust him'
Nowadays anybody and everybody advertises products on TV - some I know, others I couldn't name. 
Surely Angela Rippon and Judi Dench can enjoy a comfortable retirement without telling us to get smart meters or use MoneySupermarket ? I get the impression that  'influencers' promote products because they get rich doing so. At least Gary Lineker grew up in Leicester, eating locally made Walkers Crisps for many years before fame and fortune came along. 
These influencers boast of how many followers they have. I'm not one of them - I prefer to follow the man from Galilee, who first said 'follow me' to some fishermen 2000 years ago. The one who said "anyone who hears my words and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on a rock". 


30 comments:

  1. Well said!!!
    The majority of them seem to embrace single use plastic and decorations for every occasion and just don't have many brains!
    I find it deeply frustrating.
    E.g. I like Stacey Soloman, for example, but she was papiermacheting massive pumpkins black the other day and I was thinking, "But now you can't compost that when it's finished because of the PVA!!!

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    1. She did at least pass on all her wedding reception decorations to charity, rather than binning them. It is very hard to be consistent. Especially when crafting! [trying to be charitable here- but yes, there is still SO much single use plastic around]

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    2. To be fair, Stacey is clever and tries to be eco-friendly in some ways but there's just a lot of seasonal 'stuff' which I think people like to emulate! Like having Halloween china!!

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  2. I too hate every sentence started with "So", grrr! I also shout at the radio and tv, it makes my husband annoyed. Regards Sue H

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    1. Is it to do with our age? turning into grumpy OAPs

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  3. What’s scary is these influencers have such power over people’s minds and actions. I have always paddled my own canoe so am a dead loss to influencers. PS I also shout at household appliances mainly the dishwasher and washing machine-both seem to need an instant response to their bleeping to tell me they have completed their cycle! Catriona

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    1. My washing machine plays a little tune, which is somehow less annoying than the bleeps from the microwave and the cooker

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  4. Well said Ang. This thing of 'So....'drives me wild too. They all seem to do it. And as for influencers!!! Whenever you see a TV programme headed 'Celebrity...' (ie Masterchef) you know you arent going to recognise one of the so called 'celebs'.

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    1. Most of them are completely unknown to me. "Pointless Celebrities" seems to live up to its name just lately.

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  5. So, I really, really, find this post interesting. :D

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  6. It's when young children say they want to be "influencers" when they are older...that worries me. Love FD xx

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    1. I remember one little ten year old girl in a class I taught wanting to be a footballer's wife or a 'butishan'. That was maybe 20 years ago, I wonder if she achieved her ambitions.

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    2. An 8 year old in my Girls Brigade company in the 1980s had to have major eye surgery. Afterwards she declared that she wanted to become an eye surgeon - and she did!

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  7. Snap, I also shout at the radio and TV, but often use the off button and then just listen to the peaceful quiet. Hugs Xx

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  8. So ... I watch quite a few YouTubers, but the second they try and sell me something I fast forward.

    Nope I can't stand 'So' either ... sorry I used it I couldn't resist... I also can't stand 'you guys', something influencers use all the time to clump their watchers together.

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  9. Over here in Canada I notice that a lot of statements on radio are prefaced, "I mean....." I've no idea where this came from and I hope I don't inadvertently pick it up!
    As for influencers, it appals me that people would take the advice of unqualified "experts" simply because they do a good job of pushing their views on the internet and are famous. What a strange world this has become!

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  10. 'Absolutely' and 'that's a very good question ' as answers to questions and the 'Australian interrogation intonation ' have me lurching towards the off button...

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  11. Can't stand 'so', it's like so stupid to start a sentence with it when there are like so many other alternatives, like 'like', which I can't stand either.
    I have also been known to shout loudly at the tv when a certain presenter uses 'amazing' umpteen times in a simple link.
    As for 'influencers', every time I hear that word I think of a certain prince and his wife who are very keen to tell everyone that they are very important global influencers/leaders/philanthropists and jump on anyone who points out that the emperor isn't actually wearing any clothes!
    I am now off for a little lie down...

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  12. I was thinking similarly to Bless. So, how about: Lo! I love, love, love this post! I couldn't begin to name an "influencer."

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