By Tom Interval
Staff Writer
You shouldn’t shop at a grocery store when you’re hungry.
At least, that’s what the “don’t-shop-when-you’re-hungry” experts have to say.
These experts may not be referring to a hunger for food but rather a hunger for sensational tabloid dirt that is prevalent at checkouts across America.
I was reading the September 1993 issue of the American Journalism Review (AJR), which published a short feature: “Who Reads Supermarket Tabs?”
AJR mentioned Elizabeth Bird, an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, who wrote: “For Inquiring Minds: A Cultural Study of Supermarket Tabloids.” Bird’s book outlines just who makes up the “Inquiring Minds” population.
A freelance writer interviewed Bird about her research into supermarket sensationalism and submitted an outline of the results to the AJR. The question-and-answer format of the article included a question regarding tabloid reader gullibility.
Bird says in the interview, “People think these readers are uneducated and gullible and dumb, but...”
But nothing.
People are not necessarily dumb or uneducated; however, gullible comes to mind. It amazes me how some people can instantly accept certain things as true (i.e., psychics, UFOs, ghosts and more). Many Americans are educated, critical thinkers. Right?
Wrong.
Why is it that we can be such a technologically and scientifically oriented society, yet still believe in little green goblins and things that go bump in the night?
Has it occurred to anyone that there is not one shred of scientific evidence backing up ANY supernatural phenomena?
And why aren’t there credible witnesses to any of these “magical” occurrences?
Do people know there are scientists out there willing to pay thousands of dollars to anyone who can prove, under scientific conditions, that paranormal phenomena exist? Rewards have been offered for hundreds of years. Still no takers.
Though the word gullible comes to mind, there may be another reason people are infatuated with incredible goings-on.
“The tabloids do fill a void of excitement people have in their lives. Most people live lives that are mundane, not thrilling.”
This is the bottom line. The need to fill in this “void” makes people susceptible to gullibility. And gullible people are hungry people. Hmm, I think I’m getting a little hungry myself. For food, that is.
