The Amplified Media |
August 19, 2012, 8:12PM |
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by: Masigno topic: Rants bookmark this article view bookmarked articles go to archives |
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| There is a disturbing trend of absolute Hyperbole on the part of news media and political speakers. What I'm talking about is the immediate use of top shelf words like dictator, fascist, communist, and this really has to stop. Anytime something goes wrong it's an immediate Watergate or Waterloo and when something goes right its reformation or salvation. These are powerful words and we use them to describe things that we've never experienced. Even under our worst presidents, Nixon and Bush we were very far from being under the thumb of a totalitarian dictator. That's a concept that's so far out of the mind of the average American they should have to have a class before given license to use it.
To juxtaposition our dissatisfaction for whatever reason to President Obama being Adolph Hitler is borderline insanity. It cheapens the holocaust, and true oppression which most of us have no right to comment on. It's also always the first person who comes to mind under brutal dictators. Hitler or Stalin. No one is ever compared to Pol Pot, Slobodan Milošević, Mao Ze Dong, and it's because it's rhetoric that's not used to illustrate fact, or make a real comparison; proof that it's only talk made to sway the opinions of those who'd have no idea who Pol Pot or Omar al-Bashir are. It isn’t a right or left problem it's both sides immediately running for the biggest guns just to make things interesting, to sell, because they have to yell at callers, speak down to people, not let anyone get a word to speak in, no one has respect for one another, and no one is able to make a compromise. I don't mean compromise on policies, I just mean on ideas. We always have to oppose all parts; there can never be any giving of ground for people on the other side of the argument. How can we expect to raise intelligent and thoughtful children when we scream bloody murder on the news because someone disagreed with your opinion? We're teaching to speak and not listen and just push the argument along until no one can hear what anyone else is saying. We also have to take into account what our use of hyperbole does when their trying to use their context clues to figure out what is going on, it’s to the point where we actually have to teach children not to take the news literally! You have to be intelligent to watch American news and understand what is going on considering you have to pull apart the facts and try and back away the perilously strong opinion of whoever they give a microphone to. It's all a ploy to get old people and soft headed young people stirred to madness by mentioning phrases and concepts guaranteed to evoke an emotional response, as though it's the appropriate way to respond. Even people I enjoy like Rachel Maddow are guilty of it from time to time and that's worse than nut bars like Glenn Beck and Michael Savage using it, because at least someone with a little bit of inductive reason could tell who the idiots are being they’re the only ones doing it. This makes us all look the same as one another and we're not. Someone intelligent enough to believe in Women's Rights or Gay/lesbian rights should be smart enough to present their point intelligently and respectfully and rely of the validity of their statement. It really boils down to strengthening our two party system and keeping it rigidly separate and ineffectively equal. We need to discuss and try and grow from one another but it seems like we're always trying to be the teacher as though someone else should be learning from us, or worse we're trying to make a point of saying something that offends their views. This also keeps them from conducting real news and getting to real answers or better yet, the real questions. |
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 SageX |
boo @ news! shame on them ------ If you love someone, let them go... October 3, 2012, 5:55PM |
 darknessoncelost |
very well said. I agree on all parts that you've mentioned (also I appreciate you pointing out to those that need some food for thought though the biggest genocide was beyond a shadow of a doubt Hitler's, That there were others (pol pot in Cambodia)
I would like to point out it's not just the media that's the problem though the people are the same, it's a problem with american society on a whole, not to say that it can't be fixed, anyone with a semblance of intelligence can see the problem, some of them can see it can be fixed, but the real question isn't can it be fixed, it's "How do we fix it?" and that is one that I don't have the answer to. One individual would be hard pressed to change the way out society views things, how the media portrays it (usually the same way the public see it anyways). The media generally is a reflection of the mass opinion and the mass opinion reflects the media, it's a cycle. Though I do agree with you on all points I think the problem is of a larger scale than this article of yours would indicate. good food for thought though. ------ You had it coming should be written on your headstone October 4, 2012, 8:02PM |
 JimWahl |
It's people like you who give me faith in humanity. Truly. You will go far if you stick to your beliefs. In fact you could be taking a Great Leap Forward into a new era of intelligence and productivity. Who knows what you could accomplish with a little Concentration. ------ It only takes one voice to start a revolution... October 13, 2012, 2:17PM |
 Johnny_2x4 |
I think that the media is there to keep us safe from fascism. Are you a fascist? ------ Johnny_2x4 October 15, 2012, 7:05AM |
 RYuOni |
blah.blah blah blah,blah. huh? shove all that angsty guilt up your...times up ------ If you get to the clearing at the end of the path before me, prepare me a bed of clover, because i will surely need rest at the end of my journey...oni-sensei October 15, 2012, 12:05PM |
JimWahl |
Fascists have media too. Therefore media doesn't prevent it at all. In todays media, nothing airs without government knowing. If they know everything the airs... they can control it if they wish. This is done through people paying big bucks to keep things off the news and what not. Do some research before you make a comment dude...
------ It only takes one voice to start a revolution... October 15, 2012, 12:08PM |
 Masigno |
I don't think the media has an overall fascist agenda. Nothing quite so blatantly sinister, I think their intended to keep an equal division between right and left ideologies, keeping us in an ineffective two party system. I don't really believe in a plot more sinister than that. Fascism isn't necessary for the powers at be to get their way. What they want to spread is complacency; construct systems where it doesn't matter who people vote for. ------ October 16, 2012, 11:42AM |
 Gestalt |
I couldn't agree with you more perfectly said and refreshing to see someone speak some sense on the matter, very good read. October 16, 2012, 1:48PM |
Johnny_2x4 |
Why should I do research when you seem to have done ALL THE RESEARCH? Furthermore, Media is there to keep us scared. Duh. ------ Johnny_2x4 October 17, 2012, 7:27AM |
JimWahl |
uhhh... johnny... media originated with the first printing presses in america by the free speech motivated public... The original intent was to inform. Now it is to CONform seemingly. No fear. Just lobbyists paying to keep the dangerous facts away from the public so they don't get too scared of what goes on where we can't see it. Not like government murder or anything, but like black ops missions and government mess ups. They want us to have a strong faith in our country, so they only push the stuff that can't hurt us too much. in a way... haha
------ It only takes one voice to start a revolution... October 18, 2012, 12:45AM |
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