Are Subliminal Messages Being Used On UK TV?

As many of you will know, I am a huge fan of comedy and a fascinated by how they are able to build what appears to be instant rapport with an entire audience and how they are shear masters of RE-FRAMING how we view common tasks and everyday occurrences.

So whilst viewing the UK Comedy Central TV channel for both entertainment and research reasons I have noticed that over the past couple of months or so there have been what can only be described as 'fleeting images' appear on screen JUST BEFORE the adverts and lasting for no more that half a second.

These images aren't pictures but a long paragraph of words where a small selection are a different coloured text to the main body.

What Do These Messages Say?

Using Sky+ I decided to rewind and pause what one of the messages said... here it is.

BUS DRIVERS ARE A STRANGE BREED. WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR LIVES AND MINDS THAT MAKES THEM BEHAVE THAT WAY? YOU'D THINK BEING ENTRUSTED WITH SEVERAL TONNES OF METAL AND GLASS WOULD MAKE THEM DRIVE WITH DILIGENCE AND CAUTION. BUT NO. THEY PLOUGH THROUGH STREETS IN THEIR HULKING STEEL BEASTS AND ENOUGH SPEED TO RIP A HOLE IN THE SPACE TIME CONTINUUM, WHICH IS IRONIC AS SPACE AND TIME ARE THINGS TO WHICH THEY SEEM OBLIVIOUS. AS THE OLD SAYING GOES, YOU WAIT FOR A BUS FOR AGES THEN THREE TURN UP AT ONCE - AND RUN YOU OVER. BUT DON'T PANIC. LIVE FOR TODAY. YOU MAY BE HIT BY A BUS FOR TOMORROW.

Nothing to see right?

Well now take a look at the words they coloured RED whilst all others were in BLACK.

BUS DRIVERS ARE A STRANGE BREED. WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR LIVES AND MINDS THAT MAKES THEM BEHAVE THAT WAY? YOU'D THINK BEING ENTRUSTED WITH SEVERAL TONNES OF METAL AND GLASS WOULD MAKE THEM DRIVE WITH DILIGENCE AND CAUTION. BUT NO. THEY PLOUGH THROUGH STREETS IN THEIR HULKING STEEL BEASTS AND ENOUGH SPEED TO RIP A HOLE IN THE SPACE TIME CONTINUUM, WHICH IS IRONIC AS SPACE AND TIME ARE THINGS TO WHICH THEY SEEM OBLIVIOUS. AS THE OLD SAYING GOES, YOU WAIT FOR A BUS FOR AGES THEN THREE TURN UP AT ONCE - AND RUN YOU OVER. BUT DON'T PANIC. LIVE FOR TODAY. YOU MAY BE HIT BY A BUS FOR TOMORROW.

Yep... You are reading that right.

BREED WITH CAUTION TIME TO PANIC

What the heck does this mean? What is the covert subliminal message?

Here's another...

“If you are reading this then you have passed. You are now part of the cultural ELITE. You have transcended the shadowy world of the FLESH, rising from the ashes of society like a shimmering phoenix: beautiful, irridescent and EMPOWERED. This is not about creed, religion nor cult. Merely that you have seen past the gossamer veil of the superficial and uncovered the TRUTH. Now the world is yours for the taking. Grip it, squeeze it for all it’s worth and let the juices drip down your throat. There is NOTHING you cannot achieve in your luminous radiance. Except fly. You cannot fly. Don’t even try. It’ll end in tears.”

Again you have read that right...

ELITE FLESH EMPOWERED TRUTH NOTHING

And another...

According to the internet, the first recorded use of MIND control was in 1950 during the Korean War. Since then some people blame organised religionfor BRAINWASHING the vulnerable. Others claim governments are responsible, using SUBLIMINAL language to influence your subconscious brain. Well we say cobblers. Ultimately if you want to go down the pub, buy a new hat or eat a lovely chicken, this is all down to you. You are in CONTROL and no-one else is. You are a free-thinking individual. Or is that just what they want you to think? After all just because you're PARANOID. Doesn't mean they're not after you.

MIND BRAINWASHING SUBLIMINAL CONTROL PARANOID

And just to put it into context here are a couple of videos of them appearing on screen

The content of some of them I found a little strange!

Want to know my opinion on it?

I'm not convinced that there is any subliminal power in these messages at all because for one, there are just too many words within the message and secondly, they're not really subliminal if we can see them quite clearly [if only for 0.5 sec] and therefore they are conscious and not sub-conscious messages.

However...

What do you think and how do they make you feel? Having asked a number of people about these then the general feeling amongst people seems to one of 'slight concern'. This tends to be for two reasons:

1: The 'hidden' messages are a bit strange and slightly sinister in their reading

2: What if it really is having an effect on people?

To be honest I have no idea what the Comedy Central Channel are trying to do other than to get people to notice them, comment on them and then start writing about various theories on websites and blogs!

Oh NO They Got ME!!!... but then I kind of knew that.

So there is my take on what are some interesting statements however, personally I believe it is all a game on behalf of the channel and if it raises awareness of the channel and more people are watching, commenting and spotting the messages then I guess their motives were justified.

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