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How the American Media Sees the World


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How the American Media Sees the World
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Moogs
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2009-07-16, 10:37

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/al..._the_news.html

Some of you have probably seen this, but is a pretty damning and too-the-point look at how our media operates, and where their focus is. Money, money, money. And the American news sources on the internet, don't help. We're creating a generation of 20-somethings and younger who understand the world less, not more, than those age groups used to. Even if the news coverage were to improve miraculously, how much time do you really have to dedicate to reading important stories when you're busy with critical stuff like texting, tweeting and facebooking. Aye Carumba. I hope something changes... drastically... and soon. We're becoming a nation of ignoramuses, one generation at a time.

Whether you agree or not I hope you'll share that link with some people you know and encourage them to do the same.

...into the light of a dark black night.
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Naderfan
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2009-07-16, 11:00

wow, that's pretty damn depressing. I'd hate to see what that map looks like after the death of Michael Jackson.

One of the professors I worked for while getting my MA would assign her undergrad students to read articles from foreign news sites about something other than the U.S. A lot of the kids grumbled (they then had to write a brief 1-2 page paper on what they read), but watching that clip made me realize how important those kinds of assignments really are.
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Moogs
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2009-07-16, 11:05

Quote:
Originally Posted by Naderfan View Post
wow, that's pretty damn depressing. I'd hate to see what that map looks like after the death of Michael Jackson.
Is there any question? The data will probably be twice as skewed in the wrong direction.
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Yontsey
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2009-07-16, 11:28

Not sticking up for this or anything, but I completely believe this, but I wonder what the ratios would look like from other countries perspective; ie: China, UK, France, Germany, Russia, ect.

I wonder how similar or different they are. There's no doubt our news here is ridiculous but the inquisitive person in me likes to see all the views of the story and not just one.

Die young and save yourself....
@yontsey
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@_@ Artman
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2009-07-16, 11:39

Quote:
Our history will be what we make it. And if there are any historians about fifty or a hundred years from now, and there should be preserved the kinescopes for one week of all three networks, they will there find recorded in black and white, or color, evidence of decadence, escapism and insulation from the realities of the world in which we live.

I invite your attention to the television schedules of all networks between the hours of 8 and 11 p.m., Eastern Time. Here you will find only fleeting and spasmodic reference to the fact that this nation is in mortal danger. There are, it is true, occasional informative programs presented in that intellectual ghetto on Sunday afternoons. But during the daily peak viewing periods, television in the main insulates us from the realities of the world in which we live. If this state of affairs continues, we may alter an advertising slogan to read: LOOK NOW, PAY LATER.
- Edward R. Murrow, RTNDA Convention, October 15, 1958
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scratt
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2009-07-16, 12:13

Quote:
Originally Posted by Yontsey View Post
Not sticking up for this or anything, but I completely believe this, but I wonder what the ratios would look like from other countries perspective; ie: China, UK, France, Germany, Russia, ect.
You make a good point.

Basically you could chart a scale based on the perceived Western level of "civilization" in any country as directly proportional to how many of their citizens are fscktards.
Where unfettered welfare and any of our current political systems driven by the media and big corporations exist the rot starts IMO.

The current younger generation in the UK and their immediate parents are possibly (overall) some of the dumbest misinformed people I have the displeasure to share a common ancestry with.

You are what you make of yourself, but as long as lazy thick as pig shit people exist and a welfare system and outrageously PC societal values persist, and what you wear or who you look like is more important that what you do with your life, people will only get dumber. I cut myself off a long time ago and am glad of it.

When you look at the average Essex girl, or Valley girl, or pill popping baby boomer, you wonder how we ever survived on the plains where we had to make fire and catch our own food....

IMO People should be reversibly sterilized at birth in the West until they pass a test that shows they know more than which beer tastes nicest and what Paris wore that week, and only after passing that should they get a license to breed.

'Remember, measure life by the moments that take your breath away, not by how many breaths you take'
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Last edited by scratt : 2009-07-16 at 12:54. Reason: @Swox : sneakily edited for relevance. :)
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alcimedes
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2009-07-16, 12:17

I love PRI. Seriously, I have no idea how anyone can stand news other than from them and the BBC world news. (and maybe now Al Jezera?)

Yikes, didn't think I'd be saying that, but I think there are less than half a dozen decent news sources (with a budget) left in the world.

Google is your frenemy.
Caveat Emptor - Latin for tough titty
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scratt
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2009-07-16, 12:21

Quote:
Originally Posted by alcimedes View Post
(and maybe now Al Jezera?)
I am so glad you said that.

Al Jazera is probably the only tv news channel that does not have a goldfish memory when it comes to news stories.
They make BBC, CNN and just about every other news channel look like Fox or Sky News.

wrt to MJ, Al Jazera was the only news channel that was bearable to watch at that time.

'Remember, measure life by the moments that take your breath away, not by how many breaths you take'
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Kickaha
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2009-07-16, 12:24

Quote:
Originally Posted by scratt View Post
You make a good point.

Basically you could chart a scale based on the perceived Western level of "civilization" in any country as directly proportional to how many of their citizens are fscktards.
Oh don't tell me you buy into the noble savage myth... :P

Quote:
Where unfettered welfare and any of our current political systems exist the rot starts IMO.
As opposed to feudal societies of course...

I don't think this is an American, or even a Western, issue. Frankly, I think people spend way too MUCH time worrying about what's going on halfway around the world, and way too LITTLE time worrying about what's going on in their backyard. Take care of local shit first. If everyone did that, there wouldn't *BE* as much large-scale shit to worry about!

But the obsession with celebutards is just mind-numbingly stupid IMO. Unfortunately, most politicians see themselves as immeasurably necessary rockstars to society, when in actuality they're disposable barriers to actual progress in most cases.
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@_@ Artman
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2009-07-16, 12:35

Quote:
Basically you could chart a scale based on the perceived Western level of "civilization" in any country as directly proportional to how many of their citizens are fscktards.
One could blame one man for this, there are others, but the list of them are shrinking as they take over more and more outlets of news, entertainment and information.

I would pick Rupert Murdoch owner of News Corporation.

I was going to list all his assets, but that would finish off the first page of this thread.

Once you see what he owns alone, you see what many of them provide (infotainment), you realize that this Idiocracy* is global.

* Ironic that that movie was from Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation, they weren't too happy with it and gave distribution to someone else.

"I always question the received reality. The consensus reality is often intentionally misleading." - George Carlin
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scratt
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2009-07-16, 12:37

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kickaha View Post
As opposed to feudal societies of course...
Personally I prefer the idea of benevolent dictatorships.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kickaha View Post
I don't think this is an American, or even a Western, issue.
I think it is.. Sorry.

Just one really bizarre example that springs to mind. McDonalds and obesity in the younger generation in Japan.
You can put them on a parallel time line. I am not saying it's all down to McDonalds, but they could be seen as a catalyst in many ways.. Or an icon of that change.

The popularity and the spread of western wants, needs and products, the majority coming from the US have altered the cultural face of the planet for good... I am not saying all of it is bad either.

Unfortunately neither are drugs or alcohol IMO. But they really shouldn't be given to everyone.
Just colour me elitist!

'Remember, measure life by the moments that take your breath away, not by how many breaths you take'
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scratt
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2009-07-16, 12:40

Quote:
Originally Posted by @_@ Artman View Post
One could blame one man for this, there are others, but the list of them are shrinking as they take over more and more outlets of news, entertainment and information.

I would pick Rupert Murdoch owner of News Corporation.

I was going to list all his assets, but that would finish off the first page of this thread.

Once you see what he owns alone, you see what many of them provide (infotainment), you realize that this Idiocracy* is global.

* Ironic that that movie was from Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation, they weren't too happy with it and gave distribution to someone else.
Oh for sure. Fox. Sky. They could possibly bring down modern civilization all by themselves.
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@_@ Artman
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2009-07-16, 12:44

Quote:
Originally Posted by alcimedes View Post
I love PRI. Seriously, I have no idea how anyone can stand news other than from them and the BBC world news. (and maybe now Al Jezera?)

Yikes, didn't think I'd be saying that, but I think there are less than half a dozen decent news sources (with a budget) left in the world.
NPR is another more national/local station I listen to. PBS has Bill Moyers and Frontline (60 Minutes on steroids). Also Frontline World for in depth international reporting. Plus the countless science, history and cultural content.

Also, content online such as TED and others are duly bookmarked in my browser too.

Another interesting quote:

Quote:
"When you're young, you look at television and think, There's a conspiracy. The networks have conspired to dumb us down. But when you get a little older, you realize that's not true. The networks are in business to give people exactly what they want. That's a far more depressing thought. Conspiracy is optimistic! You can shoot the bastards! We can have a revolution! But the networks are really in business to give people what they want. It's the truth."
- Steve Jobs, Wired (April 2002)

"I always question the received reality. The consensus reality is often intentionally misleading." - George Carlin
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scratt
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2009-07-16, 12:46

I'd agree with that quote from Steve Jobs, with the exclusion of Fox! But then again...

The depressing thing is it tells me so much about the human beings around me that I end up despising them.

'Remember, measure life by the moments that take your breath away, not by how many breaths you take'
Extreme Sports Cafe | ESC's blog | scratt's blog | @thescratt
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Swox
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2009-07-16, 12:52

WTF does welfare have to do with this? Please tell me you're joking scratt.

I personally think it's much closer to what Noam Chomsky presents in Manufacturing Consent. There are all sorts of very wealthy and powerful people who benefit a whole lot from having a general population that doesn't know what's going on in their country, or in the rest of the world. If they did, they might not like it, and they might even take the drastic step of doing something about it! Keep them dumb, poorly educated ("education is a system of imposed ignorance"), get them to care exclusively about completely superficial issues like sports, preventing gay marriage, ridiculous and unimportant scandals, the lives/deaths of celebrities, etc. (not that all of this is a complete waste of time, but when it's all we care about, there's a serious problem!), and they won't question why there is such an uneven distribution of wealth (in fact, they've brainwashed people so well that even many of the poor will defend the system that keep them impoverished), etc.

The media is a huge part of perpetuating this crap, especially in the States (and more obviously in places like China, etc.), where the news channels are mouth pieces for the political elite, based on ratings, etc. If we got better educations in school and university, the ratings for the pablum we call news would plummet because none of us could stand it. We've been conditioned from a young age to be stupid, trite consumers so big corporations and the political elite can keep running the show.

But god forbid we introduce any ideas outside of that narrow spectrum of acceptable discourse! We'd be labelled "outside the mainstream", or "lunatics", or, worst of all, "socialists" or "communists"!


There. I haven't had a good old rant like that here for a while.

Do not be oppressed by the forces of ignorance and delusion! But rise up now with resolve and courage! Entranced by ignorance, from beginningless time until now, You have had more than enough time to sleep. So do not slumber any longer, but strive after virtue with body, speech, and mind!
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scratt
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2009-07-16, 12:52

Good grief.. As I sit here typing this my wife is berating the news for cutting "Todays best web clips." for a real news story.. She wanted to see the cute bunny that can walk on two legs... *sigh*

'Remember, measure life by the moments that take your breath away, not by how many breaths you take'
Extreme Sports Cafe | ESC's blog | scratt's blog | @thescratt
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scratt
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2009-07-16, 12:54

Quote:
Originally Posted by Swox View Post
WTF does welfare have to do with this? Please tell me you're joking.
There. I haven't had a good old rant like that here for a while.
If you scroll back you'll see I sneakily edited my post for relevance.

But actually I do think it plays a big part, and I needed a rant too!

And I agree with a lot you say. There.

'Remember, measure life by the moments that take your breath away, not by how many breaths you take'
Extreme Sports Cafe | ESC's blog | scratt's blog | @thescratt
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Swox
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2009-07-16, 13:04

Quote:
Originally Posted by scratt View Post
If you scroll back you'll see I sneakily edited my post for relevance.

But actually I do think it plays a big part, and I needed a rant too!
Except that you'd probably find a much better educated general population in countries with better welfare systems - Norway, Sweden, etc. Believe it or not, it's a very small minority of people who just want to sit around, do nothing and collect welfare cheques. Most people need a bit more to get a feeling of satisfaction and meaning from their lives.

Quote:
And I agree with a lot you say. There.
That's more like it!

Do not be oppressed by the forces of ignorance and delusion! But rise up now with resolve and courage! Entranced by ignorance, from beginningless time until now, You have had more than enough time to sleep. So do not slumber any longer, but strive after virtue with body, speech, and mind!
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Kickaha
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2009-07-16, 13:06

Quote:
Originally Posted by scratt View Post
Personally I prefer the idea of benevolent dictatorships.
Well of course! Put me in charge, and you'd all be better off!

Quote:
I think it is.. Sorry.
Well you're a poopyhead.

Quote:
Just one really bizarre example that springs to mind.
Which doesn't have jack squat to do with a myopic view of the world via media consumption... which I thought was the topic...

People, anywhere, are (or *should be*) rightfully more concerned with local issues than global ones. Be *aware* of what's going on globally, sure, but I can't really say that the latest plunge in grain prices in Backwardistan is going to affect me very much. Our cognizance is spread too *thin* IMO, worrying about every little thing that happens globally. When we do that we're not effective at managing our local lives.

Think globally, *act locally*. Everyone forgets that last part, and we've become a culture of CNN/BBC/NPR/Fox/insertNetworkHere-whingers, wringing hands over every little news story for god knows where, worrying about what the President of France said in last week's minor speech, when we don't even know who our mayor is in our own town.

Our attention is being diverted, people.

But above all... knock off the celebutard worship. Talk about empty mental calories.
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@_@ Artman
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2009-07-16, 13:08

Quote:
Originally Posted by Swox View Post
I personally think it's much closer to what Noam Chomsky presents in Manufacturing Consent. There are all sorts of very wealthy and powerful people who benefit a whole lot from having a general population that doesn't know what's going on in their country, or in the rest of the world. If they did, they might not like it, and they might even take the drastic step of doing something about it! Keep them dumb, poorly educated ("education is a system of imposed ignorance"), get them to care exclusively about completely superficial issues like sports, preventing gay marriage, ridiculous and unimportant scandals, the lives/deaths of celebrities, etc. (not that all of this is a complete waste of time, but when it's all we care about, there's a serious problem!), and they won't question why there is such an uneven distribution of wealth (in fact, they've brainwashed people so well that even many of the poor will defend the system that keep them impoverished), etc.
Edit: Bullshit Part I

"Bullshit is the glue, that binds us as a nation."
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scratt
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2009-07-16, 13:16

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kickaha View Post
Well you're a poopyhead.
I lurve it when you talk dirty.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kickaha View Post
Which doesn't have jack squat to do with a myopic view of the world via media consumption... which I thought was the topic...
Since when have I ever been able to stay on topic anyway!!?!

But actually I think it's relevant when you consider the way that "light" products, be it entertainment, fashion, food, whatever etc. are all far more important to people than the world overheating and killing us all, or people and animals and plants dieing from preventable situations...

Oh, and educashun.. Which also plays into people not knowing that washing their hands is a good idea, or eating well (and not too much) is what stops you getting fat... because like J-Lo has a new man... and that's sooo much more important and ting. And politics in the west these days seems more about which team you support and less about the issues.. It's a modern form of tribal warfare. No sense, just bigotry.

We're all too busy rushing around worrying about the wrong things to even eat properly anymore!

Anyways...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kickaha View Post
People, anywhere, are (or *should be*) rightfully more concerned with local issues than global ones. Be *aware* of what's going on globally, sure, but I can't really say that the latest plunge in grain prices in Backwardistan is going to affect me very much. Our cognizance is spread too *thin* IMO, worrying about every little thing that happens globally. When we do that we're not effective at managing our local lives.

Think globally, *act locally*. Everyone forgets that last part, and we've become a culture of CNN/BBC/NPR/Fox/insertNetworkHere-whingers, wringing hands over every little news story for god knows where, worrying about what the President of France said in last week's minor speech, when we don't even know who our mayor is in our own town.

Our attention is being diverted, people.

But above all... knock off the celebutard worship. Talk about empty mental calories.
Agreed. Mkay?

'Remember, measure life by the moments that take your breath away, not by how many breaths you take'
Extreme Sports Cafe | ESC's blog | scratt's blog | @thescratt

Last edited by scratt : 2009-07-16 at 13:43.
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Swox
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2009-07-16, 13:38

Quote:
Originally Posted by @_@ Artman View Post
Amen brother!
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scratt
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2009-07-16, 13:42

Quote:
Originally Posted by Swox View Post
Except that you'd probably find a much better educated general population in countries with better welfare systems - Norway, Sweden, etc. Believe it or not, it's a very small minority of people who just want to sit around, do nothing and collect welfare cheques. Most people need a bit more to get a feeling of satisfaction and meaning from their lives.
The interesting thing is I don't see countries like Norway and Sweden fanatically embracing the same social imperatives or values that we do in say the US, or the UK.

France is another example. They are very self-centric. Have their own problems, but don't seem to be going down the same fat and dumb route that the US and UK do.

'Remember, measure life by the moments that take your breath away, not by how many breaths you take'
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stratotom
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2009-07-18, 05:28

And I thought only I had this point of view! One of the worst parts of this new culture (at least here in the UK) is that a scary proportion of people seem to recognise their ignorance and either really don't care, or turn it into something that can be joked about.

How many times have I heard young people (and bear in mind, I fall into this 'young people' age group) saying something along the lines of "Oh yeah I really don't know much about the world affairs, it's really bad... LOL". They seem to think that as long as they say it and find someone else to agree with them, it's purged them of any guilt for lack of self-improvement and it becomes something minor to laugh about.

I read an article about the attitude towards numeracy skills in the UK population, mostly because I'm heading off for a degree in Maths & Philosophy so 'real world' ties with the subject always warrant a look. Anyway, the journalist was commenting on the number of adults who admitted that they were terrible with numbers (this is stuff like basic arithmetic, not even 'real' maths) and saying that this should be akin to telling someone "I'm stupid", yet for some reason this sample confessed to joking about it with their friends.

I know this example isn't *exactly* what we're discussing here, but it all smacks of the same attitude that it's easier to just not be bothered and instead find someone who is equally ignorant and make some perverse positive feedback loop of self comfort. And don't get me started on celebutards...
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PB PM
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2009-07-18, 06:03

I think the reality of the situation, as stratotom pointed out, is that many just do not care about anyone, or anything, besides themselves. So the problem is obvious, and we can sit here and debate about it all week, but the bigger question is, what will we do about it? Cut our selves off, as some have, or do we take action, and if so what kind of action?
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@_@ Artman
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2009-07-18, 09:02

Bill Maher New Rules, 7/17/09

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It's sad that your peak was a moonwalk that occurred decades ago...
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Swox
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2009-07-18, 15:43

Quote:
Originally Posted by PB PM View Post
I think the reality of the situation, as stratotom pointed out, is that many just do not care about anyone, or anything, besides themselves. So the problem is obvious, and we can sit here and debate about it all week, but the bigger question is, what will we do about it? Cut our selves off, as some have, or do we take action, and if so what kind of action?
I'm going into education (aka academia) in what is probably a futile bid to get college age young-adults to think about something other than the crap that seems to occupy their attention most of the time. I personally think that getting people interested in other cultures and points of view is one of the cures to everything we're discussing here.

I don't think that I'm going to solve world ignorance, but if I can help to turn on a couple of minds here and there, then it's worth it. Of course, most students are fucking around on their laptops instead of paying attention in class, and it's probably the people who are already engaged who are actually engaged with the material, but even fostering that interest is important.

Or so I tell myself

Do not be oppressed by the forces of ignorance and delusion! But rise up now with resolve and courage! Entranced by ignorance, from beginningless time until now, You have had more than enough time to sleep. So do not slumber any longer, but strive after virtue with body, speech, and mind!
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Banana
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2009-07-18, 17:12

Its funny because XKCD recently had a cartoon of people silently thinking to themselves about how the rest of people are being sheep and needs to be awoke.

I'm with Kickaha. We just don't have the capability to fully appreciate the events that are distant to us. A while ago, we had a thread about monkeysphere and I think its pretty spot on.

If we consiciously decided to focus on matters right at home and not on a fucked up celebutard in a distant city wed be all the better for it.
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@_@ Artman
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2009-07-18, 17:16

@ Swox:

Two documentaries that you may want to watch (and maybe your students)...

The three part BBC series The Century of Self.

Quote:
"This series is about how those in power have used Freud's theories to try and control the dangerous crowd in an age of mass democracy." - Adam Curtis' introduction to the first episode.
Link to videos on the Internet Archive.

A shorter, but more concise online video documentary is Sludge Is Good For You - Media Manipulates

Public relations may be benign in most usage, but corporate, industrial and political public relations has more hidden dangers.

We've been duped. For over a hundred years.

"I always question the received reality. The consensus reality is often intentionally misleading." - George Carlin
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Swox
OK Mr. Sunshine!
 
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2009-07-19, 02:49

Quote:
Originally Posted by @_@ Artman View Post
@ Swox:

Two documentaries that you may want to watch (and maybe your students)...

Link to videos on the Internet Archive.
Great link - I've just watched part 1, but it's just fantastic. It confirms everything I've thought, and even gave me a new person to shake my first at - Damn you Bernays!!!

I don't have students yet (I'm in my MA program), but I've forwarded it to a bunch of people who will be interested - thanks!

Quote:
Public relations may be benign in most usage, but corporate, industrial and political public relations has more hidden dangers.

We've been duped. For over a hundred years.
I've always been suspicious or outright hostile toward these people, and this has absolutely confirmed these feelings. I love the ideals of J.S. Mill, but he was, sadly, way off base.

It was fascinating to see that there was a PR battle between the Roosevelt government and big business over the role of free market capitalism and democracy, and the big corporations won.

Also fascinating to see how we are sold the line that the media is there to keep government accountable, yet it was and is the primary means of controlling the masses for the elite.

Now the link between democracy, capitalism, "freedom", and American identity has been firmly established (and to a lesser but still significant extent, Canadian as well). They got us to totally internalize this so that most cannot even fathom questioning it. The big corporations have bought out and/or brainwashed enough of the government to keep control, and we sit here all but powerless to fight them.

Anyway, enough tired ranting...

Do not be oppressed by the forces of ignorance and delusion! But rise up now with resolve and courage! Entranced by ignorance, from beginningless time until now, You have had more than enough time to sleep. So do not slumber any longer, but strive after virtue with body, speech, and mind!
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