I'm not sure the marketing people are deliberately selling despair. That would be spectacular foot marksmanship. As Bill Hicks said (of AC/DC or Spooky Tooth) -

I'm not sure the marketing people are deliberately selling despair. That would be spectacular foot marksmanship. As Bill Hicks said (of AC/DC or Spooky Tooth) - "what rock band wants their fans to actually kill themselves?" Despair may be a late onset symptom, but on the whole it's joyous self-invention, instant gratification, ephemeral experience, and other kinds of microwavable self-stroking that's being pushed. Nice as they are, convenient, zero-effort mind candies give a quick rush but no lasting sustenance. Hence Adam Phillips's comment, I guess.