# How easy of a mark are? How easily emotionally manipulated by movies/tv? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 17, 2020, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-of-a-mark-are-how-easily-emotionally-manipulated-by-movies-tv/846550 "2020-01-17T04:53:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-of-a-mark-are-how-easily-emotionally-manipulated-by-movies-tv/846550/1 "2020-01-17T04:53:19Z")
On a scale of 1-10…I’m an 11. If you hook me, I’m along for the ride. Just stay consistent. Finales? Stay even the slightest bit consistent and I’m yours. BSG? I’ll defend it vociferously. Game of Thrones? I had no problem with it. I didn’t need it to slow down. I didn’t watch Lost but saw parts of the finale and it seemed cool to me. Voyager? I could have used MORE emotional manipulation. But Return of the Jedi??? YUUUUCkkkKKKK. Too jarring a shift in tone. Ewoks…etc etc… But once you hook me, I’m the worlds easiest mark. I cried right through Avengers Endgame. Hawkeyes family…Ant-Man in San Francisco…Christ, Tony meeting his dad, me getting the exact final shot i wanted…wAHHHHHHH Shit, I’m afraid to go see 1917. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-of-a-mark-are-how-easily-emotionally-manipulated-by-movies-tv/846550/2 "2020-01-17T06:09:23Z")
I’m about -1 on your scale, as I don’t subject myself to TV or cinema anymore. Keeping up with XKCD is enough for me. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-of-a-mark-are-how-easily-emotionally-manipulated-by-movies-tv/846550/3 "2020-01-17T06:20:26Z")
I choke up on the telephone ads. I’m a 9 or 10 ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-of-a-mark-are-how-easily-emotionally-manipulated-by-movies-tv/846550/4 "2020-01-17T06:43:32Z")
Pretty high up there. I’m cognizant of it in real time and sometimes resent it. I was watching a late night show a little while ago and some country act came on and sang about his dead dad and I lost it. Not only do I not like country, but my dad’s still alive! I was cursing at them though the screen while bawling. Cheap ass emotionally manipulative bitches! ---
**Author:** ![Periwinkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Periwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Periwinkle)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-of-a-mark-are-how-easily-emotionally-manipulated-by-movies-tv/846550/5 "2020-01-17T06:43:33Z")
I am a pretty easy mark, probably at least an 8. Helpless tears if it’s a dog, that would be where I hit 11+. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-of-a-mark-are-how-easily-emotionally-manipulated-by-movies-tv/846550/6 "2020-01-17T09:13:49Z")
I’ve often wondered if I’m emotionally stunted or something, because I’m about a 2 or 3 on that scale. I can just about count on one hand the number of movies that have caused me to shed a tear. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-of-a-mark-are-how-easily-emotionally-manipulated-by-movies-tv/846550/7 "2020-01-17T13:00:35Z")
I’m way up there. If there’s no emotional manipulation, what’s the point? ---
**Author:** ![BeagleJesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5daacb/32.png) [@BeagleJesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeagleJesus)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-of-a-mark-are-how-easily-emotionally-manipulated-by-movies-tv/846550/8 "2020-01-17T14:08:02Z")
Anything having to do with people and I’m a 3 or 4 max. Anything having to do with animals and I’m a 17 so long as the animal in question isn’t a snake or snake-like thing ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-of-a-mark-are-how-easily-emotionally-manipulated-by-movies-tv/846550/9 "2020-01-17T14:21:45Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I’m way up there. If there’s no emotional manipulation, what’s the point? I guess it depends on what we’re calling “emotional manipulation”. I can enjoy a good story. I can get excited over cool things happening on screen or feel the tension from a good drama. But I very rarely get weepy or sad over stuff on the screen and actually notice myself hardening against the attempt to force me into that state. Superheroes fighting stuff and making big booms? Exciting and fun. Superheroes having tear-jerky death scenes? Meh. I expect the “feel a sad” aspect is what the OP is asking about so I’ll say a 2 or 3. It’s pretty rare but I’m not entirely made of stone (looking at you, “The Iron Giant”). ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-of-a-mark-are-how-easily-emotionally-manipulated-by-movies-tv/846550/10 "2020-01-17T14:29:15Z")
I’m a big ol’ mooshy 10, especially when it comes to animals or old people. My most recent crying jag was while watching the new comedy _Zoey’s Incredible Play List_. Peter Gallagher plays the father who is suffering from some disease that leaves him in a catatonic state. Did I mention the show is a comedy? So I’m watching it and I “know” it’s just a show and I “know” Mr. Gallagher and his eyebrows are alive and well, yet every scene with him makes me start to blub. Then we get to the climactic scene where Zoey is talking to him, telling him how much she needs him and he stands up and bursts into song (_True Colors)_ This is supposed to be uplifting and hopeful and I was a quivering sobbing mess :o ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-of-a-mark-are-how-easily-emotionally-manipulated-by-movies-tv/846550/11 "2020-01-17T14:36:13Z")
My ex wife used to tease me for crying over watching Little House on The Prairie. For her, it was a constant rolleyes moment. Ironically, she cried her but off at the end of Titanic, and I didn’t shed a tear (it just seemed too implausible to me). So IDK where I rate. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-of-a-mark-are-how-easily-emotionally-manipulated-by-movies-tv/846550/12 "2020-01-17T15:27:20Z")
Maybe about two. I can spot the manipulation. OTOH, I can appreciate it objectively. But I usually don’t get emotionally involved with fictional characters. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-of-a-mark-are-how-easily-emotionally-manipulated-by-movies-tv/846550/13 "2020-01-17T16:06:33Z")
I bawled when I watched Pixar’s _Up_. (If you’ve seen it – it’s about 15 minutes into the film, and you can guess which scene.) I cried three times when I watched _The Rise of Skywalker_ last month: [spoiler]- When Leia dies - A few moments later, when Ben hugs Han, and Han says “I know” - During the big space battle at the end, when Snap (one of the X-wing pilots) dies[/spoiler] As I’m getting older, I think I cry more easily. ---
**Author:** ![Airk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Airk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airk)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-of-a-mark-are-how-easily-emotionally-manipulated-by-movies-tv/846550/14 "2020-01-17T16:21:40Z")
I feel like I’m really easy, but some material still misses the mark; Avengers: Endgame, for example didn’t really hit any nerves. But I cried at the end of Azumanga Daioh, so… uh. I have no idea. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-of-a-mark-are-how-easily-emotionally-manipulated-by-movies-tv/846550/15 "2020-01-17T16:59:24Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I’m way up there. If there’s no emotional manipulation, what’s the point? > [@Jophiel](#): > > I guess it depends on what we’re calling “emotional manipulation”. I can enjoy a good story. I can get excited over cool things happening on screen or feel the tension from a good drama. But I very rarely get weepy or sad over stuff on the screen and actually notice myself hardening against the attempt to force me into that state… Yeah, it is all emotional manipulation, obviously, but I still remain resentful about being manipulated. I think what matters to me is whether there is great sadness in the story, without a great song-and-dance being made about it ( **Shadowlands** , is my obvious example - sometimes I’ll tear up just thinking about it); whereas **1917** - nah. Laid on with a trowel. Out of 10? No idea how you score that. j ---
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-of-a-mark-are-how-easily-emotionally-manipulated-by-movies-tv/846550/16 "2020-01-17T19:29:23Z")
My daughter is a sucker for dog movies. She watched “Eight Below” (the movie about the sled dogs left in Antarctica) and her husband told me that it turned out to be a seven kleenex movie. She has a teeshirt that says “I don’t care who dies in the movie, as long as the dog lives” ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-of-a-mark-are-how-easily-emotionally-manipulated-by-movies-tv/846550/17 "2020-01-17T19:58:00Z")
I’m probably a 2 or 3, I tend to over-analyze plot devices and common tropes, and recognize manipulation of the audience, whether it be music or whatever. The only recent movie I remember getting choked up over is Christopher Robin. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-of-a-mark-are-how-easily-emotionally-manipulated-by-movies-tv/846550/18 "2020-01-17T22:16:44Z")
I’ve never cried at a film or TV. Not once. I’ve choked up and felt the emotional force but never any tears and the choking up happens very rarely to the point where I can’t remember the last time. So very close to a zero on the scale. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-of-a-mark-are-how-easily-emotionally-manipulated-by-movies-tv/846550/19 "2020-01-17T22:27:44Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I bawled when I watched Pixar’s _Up_. (If you’ve seen it – it’s about 15 minutes into the film, and you can guess which scene.) > > I cried three times when I watched _The Rise of Skywalker_ last month:[spoiler] > > [/spoiler] > > As I’m getting older, I think I cry more easily. Lol, I had to laugh at that third item you listed since I rejoiced when that moment happened because (a) that character was absolutely negligible in importance (except for exposition) (b) that particular actor–who is gratuitously included in many of that director’s projects–is not very good at all. So I was glad when he bit the dust. He had it coming. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-of-a-mark-are-how-easily-emotionally-manipulated-by-movies-tv/846550/20 "2020-01-17T23:03:06Z")
I’d rate myself as below 5 most of the time. Exceptions: if it touches my one or two sore points; or for no particular reason. Example: I completely lost it when, in season 1 or 2 of Star Trek TNG Tasha Yar was killed and they showed her video goodbye to her crewmates.(I’m spoilering it just in case, even though it was over 30 years ago). Anyway, I can’t think of a reason why I lost it, I guess saying goodbye posthumously to loved ones is one of my sore points. Other than that, usually I’m just too aware of everything going on and how manipulative people are in general to allow myself to be sucked in. That’s what I tell myself, anyway.