Hello to all today:
I would like to talk today about the little thing we call media. In today's world we can not only find anything in a blink of the eye via the Internet, we also are seeing things in real time. Think of September 11th. How many of us actually watched the second tower be hit? How many of us saw the people on the street as they were on the street?
Mass media
Now, let us think about the impact of this media. For this topic I would like to look at schools and violence. During a conversation in my class, I realized this is a hot topic and many people have an opinion on it. So here we go...would school violence be as prevalent in our school systems without this instant gratification of media? When a school is under attack by student or just any random person, we as a nation are instantly aware of the situation.
On the negative side of this we are exposing ourselves to the idea that there are some really messed up people out there. We are also exposing this idea to our children. We are learning and teaching fear. We are exposing ourselves to the finality of death.
On the positive side of this we are exposing ourselves to the idea that there are some really messed up people out there. We are also exposing.....ok you get the point?
School shootings are scary. They frighten us because our children should not have to walk through metal detectors on their way to ninth grade English, nor should they have to be confronted with the death process at such a young age. Ask a child or the parent of a child if they feel safer now.
Mass media
Many people blame the media for the war in Iraq...I know follow me here. Some say that the negative spin on the war has caused American's to reject the war altogether.
I applaud the media for finally bringing this footage to the American people. It's really easy to support a war that you don't know anything about. For example, it's easy to support a war when you always think we are winning, and have no idea there is a civil war blazing away where our troops are stationed. It's really easy to support a war when you don't see American soldiers on their third stay in Iraq. It's really easy to support a war when you don't see the heartache and the pain in children who's parents have been gone for over a year. (PLEASE NOTICE I SAID SUPPORT A WAR AND NOT SUPPORT OUR TROOPS)
Mass media
Shall we look at mass media in politics? Do we really need to? Okay-sure not a problem. How simple is it turn off the radio, the TV, or the Internet when you start to hear something you don't agree with? I know at least one person who has not watched the first political debate, news conference, or politician this term and will vote for the republican in her area...because that's what she believes.
Hopefully, through mass media some of us have seen or heard something that made us not only think for ourselves, but question the things we have believed for so long...that may have been a lie -- flat out and simple.
Give me your thoughts.
How do you guys view mass media and its impact on your life and those around you?
Would you like to see changes within the media industry?
Thanks for stopping in today:
Nik
always a pleasure to see you around!
Nik
I don't like guns at all, and would never own one. But a gun can be used for "good" and bad. A gun can be used to kill someone in cold blood. It can be used to protect yourself (ideally) or it can be used to hunt for food.
The media can be used for both good and evil. It depends on who the gunman is and their intentions. Just like any tool, we can choose to use it as such, or turn it into a weapon that can hurt people.
Miss Nikki, have you heard the one about Clinton, Dubyah and the Devil? No, you say . . . ?
Dubyah upond dieing was sent to hell, and for his punishment, the Devil allowed him to look behind three doors, and then choose which punishment he would take.
Well behind door #1, was a man forced to continually swim laps in a pool. Well Dubyah told the Devil he couldn't do that because he was not a good swimmer.
Behind door #2, was a man that had to continusly work in a field in the swealtering heat. Dubyah said that he may be from Texas, but he didn't like the heat.
Now behind door #3 was Bill Clinton laying a behind, spread eagle, reciving oral sex from Monica Lewinsky. So Dubyah, thought that can't be all that bad. So he told the Devil, he'd take this punishment. So upon Dubyah's compliance, the Devil told Monica that her punishment was over, she could leave.
8-)
{laughing laughing laughing}{takes deep breath}{laughs some more}
Hey there...I really liked your analogy on the media...it brought things into perspective...gosh I hoped I spelled that right (oh yea we have spell check now!)
Anyway I think you for your comments!
Nik
fly a little higher expand your perspective, follow me here.
The mass media, let us take tv here. These operate using what is by definition public airways. These corporations are granted a liscence to make money, does the public receive anything in return? Certainily, no usage fee or lease payment. This is a bigger giveaway than even the oil companies receive.
It is a symbiotic relationship, for this money the media keeps the masses entertained and controls what we hear and see. Take pro-football on Sunday, it doesn't take a big jump to look at this in the context of the Roman style of entertainment. Can you imagine if the amount of testosterone and passion that is exhibited in front of tvs and in stadiums was turned loose. News magazines, a chance to go in depth on a issue, and what do we get, some teenager disappears on spring break or the latest celebrity trial.
I think that despite the best efforts of dedicated serious journalist, that the synergy of money and power into this symbiotic relationship is the way the system is designed. It leaves with a big problem that no one who has gotten to a position of influence over the problem is going to address, they might lose their spot at the trough. It is probably the contributing factor that makes PBS the choice of thinking people.
wingfire
Love ya
Lucy