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The media is stupid

Page history last edited by Mike 7 months, 4 weeks ago

The media has a tendency to prioritize conflict and sensationalism over more constructive discourse, like conflict-resolution or cost-benefit analysis. 

Reasons to agree:

  1. The press often breeds division and cynicism rather than fostering understanding and progress. 
  2. The attention economy of social media platforms (like Twitter and Facebook) rewards outrage, polarization, and misinformation over nuance, common ground, and truth.
  3. "The press is the enemy of the people." - Donald Trump, illustrating how media polarization can erode trust in democratic institutions. 
  4. The media gives us what we want (+1) and Americans are stupid (+9).
  5. Fox news lies when they say we report you decide. (+2)
  6. Limited Educational Value: The reluctance to link to comprehensive sources like Wikipedia suggests a preference for keeping users on-site for ad revenue rather than educating them.
  7. Sensationalism over Substance: The media often prioritizes entertainment value over in-depth analysis, reflecting and perpetuating a cycle of low-information content consumption.
  8. Misrepresentation and Bias: Instances where media outlets claim impartiality (e.g., "We report, you decide") but exhibit clear bias or selective reporting undermine their credibility.
  9. Neglect of Comprehensive Analysis: The lack of effort to provide context or detailed examination of issues like gun control policies indicates a disinterest in conveying the full truth, favoring sensationalism instead.
  10. I have compiled the truth on Mitt Romney's Gun Policy. I don't mean to sound arrogant. It wasn't that hard. I just found all of Romney's quotes and actions on the issue of Gun Control and put them in context. I will let you read the record from the raw press releases and make your own decisions. It is boring, but the truth is often boring. That is why it doesn't sell as well, as people calling each other names and yelling at each other. If the media was interested in finding the truth, they would link to this information. But they are not interested in finding the truth. They want to create a boxing match and charge admission to see the fights. I have seen about 5 talking heads on Fox News say that Mitt Romney has flip-flopped on guns. I thought they reported it, so let us decide. But no. They have chosen for us. We are too stupid to think for ourselves. Why not check out his gun control policy and determine if he has flip-flopped.

 

Key Resources (required reading to be knowledgeable in this subject):

  • "Amusing Ourselves to Death" by Neil Postman: Critiques the impact of television and entertainment media on public discourse.
  • "Manufacturing Consent" by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky: Analyzes the economic and political factors shaping media content.

 

Top-rated Solutions:

  • Media Literacy Education: Teaching audiences to critically evaluate media content.
  • Support for Public and Independent Media: Encouraging models that are less dependent on commercial advertising.

 

Shared and Opposing Interests:

  • Shared: A desire for media that engages, informs, and benefits society.
  • Opposing: The balance between profit-driven content creation and the societal responsibility to provide quality, informative, and diverse content.

 

Underlying Issues:

  • Commercialization of Media: The impact of advertising and profit motives on content creation.
  • Audience Fragmentation: The challenge of serving increasingly niche audiences in a fragmented media landscape.
  • Quality vs. Engagement: The tension between producing high-quality content and content designed for maximum engagement.

 

Potential Costs of This Belief:

  • Cynicism Towards Information Sources: General distrust in media can lead to skepticism towards all sources of information, including credible ones.
  • Polarization: Dismissal of media as "stupid" may reinforce echo chambers, where individuals only seek out information that aligns with their preconceived notions.
  • Undermining Press Freedom: Broad-brush criticism of media can contribute to an environment hostile to press freedom, essential for a functioning democracy.

Potential Benefits:

  • Demand for Higher Standards: Criticism might push media outlets to strive for higher quality reporting and more ethical journalistic practices.
  • Promotion of Alternative Media: Encourages exploration of diverse and perhaps more reliable sources of information outside mainstream media channels.
  • Increased Media Literacy: Awareness of media flaws could lead to a more discerning audience capable of critical analysis of information sources.

 

Objective Criteria for Evaluating the Belief:

  • Quality of Reporting: Measure the depth, accuracy, and impartiality of media reporting across various outlets.
  • Audience Engagement: Analyze engagement metrics to determine if sensational content truly dominates consumer preferences.
  • Diversity of Sources: Evaluate the range of sources and viewpoints represented in media reporting.
  • Impact on Public Discourse: Assess how media practices influence public knowledge, opinions, and discourse on important issues.

 

Score: +5 (reasons to agree),  +12/2 = 6 (reasons to agree with reasons to agree = 11

 

Videos that agree:

 

Quotes that agree

  1. Edward R. Murrow: Highlights the thin line between thorough investigation and targeted persecution by the media. “The line between investigating and persecuting is a very fine one.” - Edward R. Murrow
  2. Thomas Jefferson: Expresses skepticism towards newspapers' reliability, suggesting they corrupt the truth. "Nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle." - Thomas Jefferson
  3. Aleister Crowley: Criticizes newspapers as unworthy of attention, advocating for more meaningful intellectual engagement. "To read a newspaper is to refrain from reading something worthwhile. The first discipline of education must therefore be to refuse resolutely to feed the mind with canned chatter". - Aleister Crowley
  4. H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956) has said; "All successful newspapers are ceaselessly querulous and bellicose. They never defend anyone or anything if they can help it; if the job is forced on them, they tackle it by denouncing someone or something else." 

 

Essays that agree:

  • The News vs. the Truth? - Or - McCarthy Is Dead, So Get Him Back Into His Grave Already! 11-06-05
  • Whom Can You Trust in the Media? 01-04-04
  • Reporting Out of Context 11-14-04
  • The Fanatics Who Tell Us the News 05-30-04
  • Fair and Balanced: Who Else But Dennis Miller? 05-23-04

 

Movies that agree:

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Movies that disagree:

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Interest of those who agree

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Interest of those who disagree

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Books that agree

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Books that agree

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Web pages that agree

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Web pages that disagree

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