I Feel Guilty

You know those magazines at the supermarket checkout? One of them had the curious headline in lurid, stand-out, knockout colours: “I feel guilty”. Presumably, the attractive, smiling person on the cover belonged to this headline, but they didn’t look as though they felt guilty. They looked positively radiant, which, of course, is how people on the front cover of magazines are supposed to look.

The quote ‘I feel guilty’ is called a ‘hook’. A tag line to arouse your curiosity and make you want to find out more. ie. To buy the magazine. What were they feeling guilty about? How long had this feeling of guilt persisted?

I found myself thinking Hmmpph and phooey. Over my little life, I have cultivated ways of dealing with my guilt. I’ve had to tell you, because I can muck up with the best of them. When deluged by guilt, you fess up, suffer the consequences, try to make amends where possible, say you’re sorry, mean it and then move on, always leaving the door open. It’s not a whole lot of fun or as pleasant as 2 scoops of chocolate ice cream, but it is necessary and important to do.

But there are other questions that this tagline stirred within me.

Like… Why is this even on the cover of a magazine in public view? Do people actually buy this stuff, and if so …why? I can think of nothing more intrusive or tedious than reading about someone else’s guilt journey.

Of course, I chose not to buy this magazine. Glamorous the front cover person looked, there is enough guilt, recrimination, retribution and shirking of responsibility. I don’t need to read about someone else's guilt journey. No matter how artfully this ‘hook’ was offered, I will get better value buying and devouring a mango.