Autonomy is the capacity to make an informed uncoerced decision. Strangely, the T.V. or media can easily influence the most intelligent species on the planet.
Capacity to make decisions
We humans can be easily misled by the media. We were lead to believe Sadam Hussain had chemical weapons of mass destruction or did he? Colonel Gaddafi was a tyrant to the people of Libya, or was he? All the hundreds of cartons or ‘Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice’ that sit in chillers, stocked in our supermarkets, come straight from oranges. Really?
The way I see it, unless you are there, if you can witness it, with your own eyes, or have undeniably defiant proof from unprecedented evidence, you can never be 100% sure. I truly believe there is a Pandemic. In which we need to be careful of and learn to live with. The media may have scared many people by bringing manipulated statistics of the full impact of the plague that is ravishing society. I don’t want to mention the Anti-vaxxers – are these people who don’t believe in it? Autonomy is the capacity to make an informed uncoerced decision.
Incubus
Incubus are a band from Calabasas, California. They were formed in 1991 by vocalist Brandon Boyd, lead guitarist Mike Einziger, and drummer José Pasillas while enrolled in Calabasas High School and grew to include bassist Ben Kenney and DJ Kilmore, respectively.
S.C.I.E.N.C.E
The title of this second album from Incubus, released in September 1997, is an acronym that may mean ‘Sailing Catamarans Is Every Nautical Captain’s Ecstasy’. But it might not be?
This album marked a stylistic departure from the band’s early material, featuring heavy guitar riffs, slap bass and turntables to create their most nu metal album.
Idiot Box
On the album S.C.I.E.N.C.E, there is a song called Idiot Box. I recently listened to it in more detail, absorbing the lyrics and thought I’d decipher them for myself.
The lyrics – intorducing Autonomy
You keep your riches, and I’ll sew my stitches,
You can’t make me think like you, mundane.
I’ve got a message for all those who think that
They can etch his words inside my brain
T.V. what do I need?
Tell me who to believe!
What’s the use of autonomy
When a button does it all?
So listen up,
Glisten up closely all,
Who’ve seen the fuckin eye ache too?
It’s time to step away from cable train
And when we finally see the subtle light,
This quirk in evolution will begin
To let us live and recreate
T.V. what do I need?
Tell me who to believe!
What’s the use of autonomy
When a button does it all?
T.V. what should I see?
Tell me, who should I be?
Let’s do our mom a favour and drop
A new god off a wall.
Let me see past the fatuous knocks.
I’ve gotta rid myself of this idiot box!
Let you see past the feathers and flocks,
And help me plant a bomb in this idiot box!
From the depths of the sea
To the tops of the trees
To the seat of a lazy boy
Staring at a silver screen!
Tell me who to believe!
What’s the use of autonomy
When a button does it all?
T.V. what should I see?
Tell me, who should I be?
Let’s do our mom a favour and drop
A new god off a wall.
My interpritation
You stay rich; I’ll look after myself,
I am going to think for myself,
I’ll tell you you can’t make me believe.
I don’t need the TV to tell me what I need,
Or tell me who to believe,
Why do we make are our own choices,
When control of the media can make it for us.
Come here, gather round.
You have been witness to it as well?
Now is the time to remove it from your life
Be independent and start afresh
I don’t need the TV to tell me what I need,
Or tell me who to believe,
Why do we make are our own choices,
When control of the media can make it for us.
Let us make a dramatic change
I want to see past the silly effects,
Dispose of the influence,
So people can see the truth,
From down deep to up high,
Or the comfy seat,
Transfixed on the TV.
The round up
Autonomy is the capacity to make an informed uncoerced decision.
I’m not letting the media’s capacity to make an informed, uncoerced decision for me.
I take the lyrics to tell us, that we can’t take everything that we see and hear on T.V to be truthful. The wealthy that have control can’t tell us what to think.
When I’m doing one of my fitness pushes, I regularly listen to the band. Idiot Box is just one awesome track on the album. When I heard Anti-Gravity (Summer Romance) and A Certain Shade of Green, I just knew I had to be on the lookout for more work by the band. I just hope they can tour the UK soon!
The word Procrastinate fits well in A Certain Shade of Green. On hearing this new, strange word I had to look it up.
Procrastination is the action of unnecessarily and voluntarily delaying or postponing something despite knowing that there will be negative consequences for doing so.
If you are interested in listening to the Idiot Box, it can be found here – https://youtu.be/O0faaOKA8P8
Autonomy – is it decision making? Let’s stand strong and make our own minds up!