Impersonal Influence

As a young student, I read the classic, Personal Influence (PI) , which explained the power of interpersonal relationships on individual preferences and choices. Mostly though, it explained the power of sitting, standing, walking next to someone who was paying full attention to you. I remember the power of impersonal influence (ii) all too well. Watching my mother spend hours happily talking to friends on the telephone, I felt unimportant until I was old enough to have a phone of my own. So I ran to the tv where all my tv friends seemed happy to "see" me. Or to tv family shows where everyone cared about one another--especially "I Remember Mama".
Personal influence has, in my humble opinion, devolved to the point where any entertainer has power over us. Teachers, doctors, police, lawyers, all have to compete with their scripted counterparts, most of whom SEEM to care more for us than their real life counterparts. Impersonal influences have great personal influence. Even if a child has had a nanny or daycare most of their lives, a tv show has filled the parental void. Later, everyone learns that their real home is in their workplace, surrounded by real friends.
Uber-capitalist Donald Trump instills the love of capitalism and fear of failure in us all; while young folk desperately compete for jobs at coffee shops. Grey's Anatomy (public hospital chaos) is followed by Private Practice (duh..) in a not so subtle anti public health care partnership. TV as pseudo-personal influence. So I think I can dance? I used to. That was before Tara Jean put me to shame. On the other hand, if you can dance like Vincent, please contact me immediately.