I hate the media

Pastfinder

Platinum Member
Jul 2, 2000
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I've reached the point that I no longer can tolerate TV news or most of the newspaper. Why you ask?

1. Sensationalism: If it bleeds, it leads. All that ever seems to get covered are stories about death (murder, suicides, bombings, ect.), disasters (cheap thrills) and random events. All for ratings, little connection to the bigger picture.

2. Politics: Ever notice that you can identify more with how a candidate screwed up then with what they ever did right? No one seems to focus on the good points of someone's political career, only on the great blunders, the faults in character. During elections the issues always fall by the wayside as the media focuses on the strategy of the election. Shouldn't the issues matter more over who kisses more babies?

3. Power: With great power comes great responsibility (thanks SpiderMan). True statement. The media today can make or break an individual with ease. The media can do their usual spin on a speech to ensure that they get their way. If the President or a Senator angers someone or doesn't cuddle up with the media bigwigs, they will ride them out of town on a rail.

4. Money: Do the majority of articles on 60 Minutes I and II ever concern the bigger picture of America, or attempt to better one's knowledge on society? No, they are made for money. The cost to produce the shows is cheap, but the ad time is sold to the highest bidder. Even Larry King's show, Nightlineand many more are designed to profit the network.

5. Truth: If it's in the paper it's gotta be true. Ah, the power of printed word. How many errors can be found by reading the paper on just one day? How many editorial columns succeed in accomplishing nothing other than making stew out of recent events? Ever notice how historical figures can vary drastically over the course of the year? I get so darn tired of reading something concerning a local election or say the mideast conflict. One day the papers will say that twenty years ago, John Doe stepped in and resolved some conflict or issue. The next week, the paper might say that John Doe was involved in some conflict or issue, but it was actually Jane Doe who resolved it.

6. Propaganda: The great power of all, the power to control minds and actions. Man, those Palestinians seems like the worse people on earth, always blowing people up. The poor Israelis. True, blowing up people is not exactly something worth awarding the Nobel Peace Prize for, BUT how many times is the Balfour Declaration mentioned? Was it right to force Palestinians off land they have had for many generations? Maybe yes, maybe no, but rarely is this mentioned in detail. No, only that the Israelis are in the corner and the Palestinians are the aggressors.


Am I a crackpot? No, I'm just tired with the daily crap that blankets the country and world. The media I believe should clean up its act and return to presenting the news with the correct facts and history with both sides of the issue. Note the issue, not the strategy for winning, not the urgent implications, but the important implications.

Is this arguement/rant riddled with holes? Yes, beyond a doubt, but at least it will fan a few fires.


 
Aug 10, 2001
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I hate the media because they think that "the news" is all about scaring the crap out of the public. The media has not been the same since the Vietnam War.
 

navyrn

Member
Jul 13, 2000
112
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Welcome to enlightenment... now what are you going to do about it? The average American can't tell you who their state representative is but anyone can tell you who gave the former president oral sex. Which person has more influence on your pay, taxes, school system you interact with or send you kids to? You get the point.

I am in the military and trust me... We get a bad slant ALL the time by the media. The best i can do is not support the monster. They are paid my endorsements like everyone else. I refuse to let my kids watch sensationalized programs. Without an audience what do they have?
 
Aug 10, 2001
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We probably would have been defeated by the Japanese during WWII if this type of sensationalism existed 60 years ago. The American people would have been scared out of their minds.
 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
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You're right...it would be best to just be ignorant. All that stuff outside of my neighborhood is scary anyway :(
 

deftron

Lifer
Nov 17, 2000
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<< You're right...it would be best to just be ignorant. All that stuff outside of my neighborhood is scary anyway :( >>




Yeah... maybe he should just watch E!
 

Nefrodite

Banned
Feb 15, 2001
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example of sensationalism:

We probably would have been defeated by the Japanese during WWII if this type of sensationalism existed 60 years ago. The American people would have been scared out of their minds.




:D
 
Aug 10, 2001
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<< example of sensationalism:

We probably would have been defeated by the Japanese during WWII if this type of sensationalism existed 60 years ago. The American people would have been scared out of their minds.




:D
>>


I don't get it. I must be stupid.
 
Jul 1, 2000
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There is very little news and a lot of analysis (which is actually "opinion" dressed as analysis, given that the haircut delivering it has no background in what he is talking about mostly).

I am amazed what stories come out on the internet that are not picked up by the mainstream media, due to their obvious bias.
 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
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<< There is very little news and a lot of analysis >>


What are your thoughts on news as analysis/opinion?
 

IGBT

Lifer
Jul 16, 2001
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Fundamental operating principal of ANY news biz.is: BAD NEWS SELLS!! And they have the revenue numbers to prove it. So what does that say about us???
 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
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<< Fundamental operating principal of ANY news biz.is: BAD NEWS SELLS!! And they have the revenue numbers to prove it. So what does that say about us??? >>


As does news about sex...
 

kamiam

Banned
Dec 12, 1999
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<< attack dog ... bad dog! >>

armed intruder killed by armed homeowner...bad homeowner!
 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
29,470
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<< armed intruder killed by armed homeowner...bad homeowner! >>


Heh heh. Then pan to a shot of intruder's kids with sad music playing in the background...and star wipe, and we're out :)
 

Pastfinder

Platinum Member
Jul 2, 2000
2,352
0
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There is very little news and a lot of analysis (which is actually "opinion" dressed as analysis, given that the haircut delivering it has no background in what he is talking about mostly).


Very true, don't get me started on the "Journalists" who are technically "actors" because all they do is read a piece of paper. Kent Brockman is the perfect symbol of this. But yet these are "respected journalists"
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