Is it really because of the media.....?

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Is it really because of the media.....? - 9/24/2007 6:11:56 AM

Aneirin

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From: Tamaris
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So many things seem to be getting worse than they were, the weather, climate, crime, interpersonal relationships etc etc etc.Anything one cares to think about in our daily lives according to the media,news etc ,it is all doom and gloom,we appear to be heading for catastrophe.

But, are we really, could it be the world is much the same as it has ever been.The only thing that has changed is communications and the businesses that depend on it?

Could it really be about communications? Without modern communication advances,television, radio, internet etc Life would just go on, we would live our lives from day to day.

Could it also be that communication networks are largely purveyors of doom and gloom and they are the cause of the paranoia in the world, the effect is our what could be called morbid hunger to worry.

What do others think?

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RE: Is it really because of the media.....? - 9/24/2007 6:27:23 AM

ChicagoSwitchMal

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I think so. There's a comercial out, I wish I remembered what it was for, that shows people doing responsible things. Stopping someone from walking into traffic. Picking up a baby toy that feel out of a stroller and giving it back to the mother who didn't know it fell, etc. For every malicious act there are a million well intentioned acts that don't make the news. The news isn't about informing people anymore. It's about 'hooking' you with something controversial so you watch the commericals until they get back to the next story. Overall I think life is better than it ever has been but since we are fiberoptically connected to every bad thing happening it's just seems worse.

I kind of wish news was like it was when I was a kid. Its was boring as hell. There were no 'on site' reports. They told you about a hurricane without feeling the need to stand in one. It was some old guy with a monitor over his shoulder drying speaking of facts. They didn't try to 'entertain' then. That's when things went wrong. When the news became entertainment.

< Message edited by ChicagoSwitchMal -- 9/24/2007 6:28:42 AM >

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RE: Is it really because of the media.....? - 9/24/2007 6:30:02 AM

greyarcher315

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i refuse to lay everything at any one groups feet, but the media does add to the perception of the world going down the tubes. Bad news sells better for one, and a lot of papers stories are slanted to reflect their editors personal politics. Between the two, it makes the world seem darker than it really is.

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RE: Is it really because of the media.....? - 9/24/2007 6:47:48 AM

Owner59

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Nope."Things" are not going downhill.But there are issues that need to be dealt with.

Don`t shoot the messenger....

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RE: Is it really because of the media.....? - 9/24/2007 6:53:15 AM

Alumbrado

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The media hasn't been just the messenger for centuries. They manipulate events, and make things worse, in order to profit.

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RE: Is it really because of the media.....? - 9/24/2007 10:03:52 AM

toservez

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Oh my Mom, who is a sociologist, would talk to you for roughly a week straight on this topic as it is her passion area.

To paraphrase her, throughout history society, whether government, religion or basic human groups or all together use paranoia and fear mongering to self promote and behavior encouragement so modern communication has not caused or added anything. Just talk to any group who will gross generalize that the Middle East is out to get us mentality when you can read a bunch of books and magazine, view a ton of programs and read on the Internet the actual details and the differences in Islam and all the other things.

On the other hand she also believes that all the modern conveniences has hurt relationships within families, friends and community as we grow more isolated we grow less dependent or want to be around others. So in some ways what people say the world has become smaller our own personal worlds have also shrunk instead of expanded.

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RE: Is it really because of the media.....? - 9/24/2007 10:13:58 AM

came4U

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Fear promotes followership. The basic emotional reaction to watch such 'bad news' and endure events in awe thinking it will help us react in a more productive and effective means. It actually has the reverse effect-feelings of hopelessness.

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