Pastfinder
Platinum Member
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.
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.
