Thread: Good article on why americans will believe anything

I skimmed the article. I agree with much of what's stated there, but I doubt they are exclusive to Americans... I'd say most of the industrialized world suffers from similar issues.

As far as "news" is concerned, there's almost no way to get objective news anymore. Maybe there never was, but it's becoming even more obvious lately.

Investigative journalism is almost non existent in America. There's so much corruption and payola going on that the reporters should be having a field day... but they don't. Ever wonder why? Ever wonder why they're spending their time reporting on the opening of a new car wash when they could be writing about corruption in the local or state government? Or blowing the whistle of some corporate fraud? Or lack of discipline in schools?... geeze, the list is endless... as easy as picking cherries.

Media goes for the flash... not the substance. And they seldom follow through. Eg, for a couple days we heard the incessant drone on the media about Steve Fossett's disappearance. Then nothing. I read somewhere later that people are volunteering via the internet to compare slices of old satellite photos to recent ones. and then... silence.

Worse than this, however is the prevalence of accusatory journalism/hype... you know... so and so indicted for rape or murder or fraud or any number of despicable crimes.... maybe 6-months later the person is acquitted, but we never hear about that... the majority of us go merrily through life thinking the guys guilty.

I stopped listening to US news years ago (well, sometimes I do listen to NPR) and switched to Canadian and BBC. But then my satellite provided dumped them. I now sometimes enjoy listening to the news on the LINK network, but it's so sporadic that it hardly gives a good picture of world news. I gave up on any truths in local newspapers... they're mostly nothing but ads and human interest pieces anymore... and I just don't much care about the opening of a new pizza parlor or that ladies hats are coming back in fashion when I'm looking for real news.

The article itself is interesting. The information about advertising is essentially true.

If I were ever to take the time to write a book I would write it on the evolution of mass communication and entertainment.

Ponder that entertainment went from stories around the fire (usually with a lesson to be taught) and word of mouth, to the written word (if I remember correctly religious texts were some of the first things to be mass produced) into radio and eventually television.

Somewhere in between it went from sharing lessons, information, parables and whatnot to an advertising blitz that you can't easily avoid.

I always thought that if you are paying for cable television that it should be advertisement free! Same with the premium satellite radio stations.


if I wandered off topic I apologize I do that sometimes

I agree though, The cable and satellite should be commercial free. they get paid twice, and we still get the media blitz. As for news, I don't remember TV crews in pictures when they hit the beaches on D-Day.

Phil

So you mean to tell me that a person can't actually engage in a 15 minute fist fight, and end up looking like they only had their hair messed up? The guys in the movies do it all the time.

I have lost my way. IS NOTHING SACRED ANYMORE????????

I like the non-reloading clips in movies....or the pistol round that sounds like a howitzer.

I think the issue applies to anyone exposed to modern media....I hardly watch the news anymore, preferring to research topics of interest and get all sides....a reporter's worst nightmare - someone who will check the facts. Madison Avenue hates me as well...I can't remember the last time I bought something base on a commercial.

Maybe I'm weird....

The sad fact is the world today is based on Hype.

Of course as straight shavers we are different and that hopefully makes all of us the type of people who accept nothing and question everything.

...why americans will believe anything








.....I believe I'll have another beer!

(....thank you very much!...)

-whatever

-Lou

Originally Posted by floridaboy

I agree though, The cable and satellite should be commercial free. they get paid twice, and we still get the media blitz. As for news, I don't remember TV crews in pictures when they hit the beaches on D-Day.

Phil

Actually when cable started thats how they got permission from the FCC to broadcast, they were able to charge money from consumers and in return they would provide a public service such as local station, national news rebroadcasting, and public access channels. They were also required to provide all political parties with equal time during the same time of day. The reasoning with the government to charge money was so that they wouldnt have to air commercials. Somewhere along the lines that fell a part and now they do get paid twice.

I think you mean the FCC. The FAA does planes n stuff

I largely agree. American news is so horribly biased toward one way or another that it's hard to find just straight facts. For instance, I've been reading about the "Jena 6" to decide my opinion on it, and I had to dig at the BBC to get it. All the American news outlets were like a political rant.

No one today thinks to question what is told to them, either by the government or the media. It's taken as fact, no questions asked.

I have a big problem with our affinity for flavors of the week. Like someone mentioned, all you heard about was Steve Fosset for a week, now you don't hear anything about him. It's all just flashy atrocity- what's the newest mishap in the world we can focus on?

Originally Posted by Quick Orange

I think you mean the FCC. The FAA does planes n stuff

I largely agree. American news is so horribly biased toward one way or another that it's hard to find just straight facts. For instance, I've been reading about the "Jena 6" to decide my opinion on it, and I had to dig at the BBC to get it. All the American news outlets were like a political rant.

No one today thinks to question what is told to them, either by the government or the media. It's taken as fact, no questions asked.

I have a big problem with our affinity for flavors of the week. Like someone mentioned, all you heard about was Steve Fosset for a week, now you don't hear anything about him. It's all just flashy atrocity- what's the newest mishap in the world we can focus on?

LMAO lol sorry I am so used to talking about flying since Im always on planes...I'll go change that.