“You subconsciously blame your mother.”

“I think your subconscious already knows.”

“I don’t think I like him, maybe I’m subconsciously attracted.”

The word subconsciously is often used while describing the influence of something we don’t quite understand. Something unknown, but powerful enough to control everyday life.

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We consider the subconscious extremely powerful for a legit reason. Like a copying machine, it blueprints all the impulses, emotions, impressions and beliefs as you receive them.

Then, it takes that soup of information and builds your character, and consequently, your destiny.

You become a product of your surroundings, people you choose as friends, products you buy and contents you watch, listen or read.

So, how that works?

Simply, we remember and believe in emotions aroused in us, and the final result depends on the presentation of the fact.

For example, if you go to dinner and order steak by just saying “Steak, please,” there are very slim chances somebody will order one too. But use your best sensual voice to say: “You know what would I truly enjoy tonight? One soft and juicy steak, please!” and watch what happens. I guarantee somebody will quickly feel an unusual craving for steak and order one too.

It’s that easy to manipulate the subconscious, and of course, marketing experts know it.

The tobacco industry exploits this fact by spending billions of dollars on “brainwashing.” We may not register influence of commercials on our choices on a conscious level, but there’s silent watcher who records every message given to him.

In 2015, cigarette and smokeless tobacco companies spent 8.9 billion on advertising and promotional expenses in the United States alone, although cigarette advertising is banned.

How do they do that?

Cigarette marketing is indeed a place to develop creativity while cunningly creating impressions on the buyer.

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The effect of “brainwashing” is enhanced if a person already experiences nicotine dependence. The bad news is you only need one single cigarette to get hooked (again). Nicotine is an extremely high-powered drug that leaves body shortly after consumption, so smoker quickly seeks a new dose.

While in that condition, pretty little pictures about burning a new cigarette in his subconscious block every message mind is trying to deliver. And now he just wants to smoke to feel happy again.

What “truths” about smoking we bought?

For example, I’ll use just one episode of world-famous TV show Stranger Things. It’s set in the fictional rural town of Hawkins, Indiana, during the early 1980s. Smoking fits perfectly in the fable because, well, everybody was smoking then!

Showing pleasurable emotions or pure physical need for smoking in stressful situations is so skillfully embedded in the tension of the story that nothing seems suspicious at all. But silent watcher remembers.

May contain spoilers, but it’s second episode of the first season so just go and watch it if you already didn’t.

Let’s proceed.

1. Smoking will help you in a most stressful situation — even when all others systems shut down.

The worst has happened — a mother lost her child. Literally lost, he’s missing, and she’s falling apart. She can’t eat, she can’t think and doesn’t know how the world works, but holds a cigarette like the last straw.

2. Smoking makes you look tough.

Big strong and capable man who will resolve sticky situation has a cigarette in his mouth. So should I if I want to be like him, right?

3. Smoking will help you stand up for yourself.

Let’s go back to the grieving mother. Her boy is still lost, but she got her shit together, and now she acts. She stands up for herself and gets what she needs. Of course, a pack of Camels is one of those things.

4. Smoking makes dealing with death easier.

A man’s friend just died, leaving shock and disbelief behind. And once again, a cigarette is helping a confused and grieving individual to accept unpleasant facts.

5. You are never alone with a cigarette.

It’s even better than a naked woman in warm bed.

6. Smoking makes you look cool.

Especially if you’re a teenager.

7. Bonus message

This scene didn’t happen in S01E02, but it’s such a gem it had to make it to the list. Just watch.

Conclusion

Be careful what contents you consume because ultimately they’ll consume you. The subconscious remembers everything, and it’s challenging to install a new program over the last given information we accepted as the ultimate truth.

Hell, I’m a smoker who loves Stranger Things, go figure!