Friday, January 4, 2008

The Oprah Effect

Friday is Lumpy Day for Little Guy and myself. After running all week to school, activities and errands, we try to just stay home to play. I savor our Lumpy Days together because when September rolls around Little Guy will be in Kindergarten and we won't have as much alone time together.

This morning we were flipping through the TV listings and today's Oprah episode caught my eye. "Going Green 101" is a repeat, but I have yet to see it. I will be DVRing it so I don't miss a minute while I'm at Brownie pick-up.

It got me thinking about what I have heard called "the Oprah effect." Basically, when Oprah endorses something everyone (like all of America everyone) listens.

Take last night's Iowa Causes. Oprah said "Obama" and Iowa voted for Obama. Even I have succumbed to the Oprah effect during a sports bra shopping trip. Oprah endorsed a specific bra, so I did what any American woman would do and bought that sports bra.

If Oprah gets behind the idea that every one of us can make a difference to the earth and then takes it a step further to show America how to make changes for the better...can you imagine?

I predict that if Oprah keeps the environment in the forefront of America's consciousness then she may be what saves us from ourselves.

6 comments:

Akkire said...

did I already tell you my boyfriend predicted Oprah in 2012? (or whenever the next election would happen)

she is going to be president some day.

weird.

did the sports bra turn out to be the best ever as she claimed? if not, hm....

Akkire said...

ps. please email me at smadaakkire at yahoo dot com, so we can get you your prize!

Anonymous said...

You are so right - the masses flock to whatever store/product/new idea/candidate that Oprah puts her name behind.

It's a good thing and a bad thing, in my mind. Good that she's getting the green message out there, but bad that so many people hang on her every word without really thinking things through for themselves.

For any changes to "stick", people have to do it because they think it's the right thing to do. For those that are doing it only because it's "oprah-hip", the fad will pass as soon as she stops talking about it.

Let's hope it sticks.

I haven't seen the show, but I sure hope she doesn't make it all about "green products". It would be great if she could/did stress the consume less/change your behaviour aspects of being "green".

Now, off I go to check it out. Thanks for the tip!

Gruppie Girl said...

The sports bra was realatively good. I'm just not a fan of wearing a bra in general...

Oprah 2012? That would totally make sense. Hey, Ronald Regan was president too.

Oprah's green show wasn't as great as I wished that it would be. Interesting guests (Including hubby #2 AKA Matt Damon). But Oprah really didn't seem to care and even made fun of a few of the green sugesstions.

Shelley Sargent said...

But I do have to say, I am part of the Oprah Book club, and I haven't yet read a book I didn't LOVE! LOL!

Mama said...

I too agree that people get a little crazy when Oprah puts her stamp of approval on something, but.....I did get Shaklee's Get Clean kit, and I've never been happier, and my house has never been cleaner!
www.shaklee.net/mamagoesgreen