Ever notice how people know about the private lives of celebrities, but they are ignorant about the ways of polititions and real national issues?
They are interested in the things that are none of their buisness, but they could care less of what they realy should know.
For example, thay would rather know who J-Lo is marrying this week than Bu$h's record or anything the White house or senate does.
Strange Huh?
This probably would have been more appropriate for the Free thoughts on Serious Subjects (
http://lucasforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=147162) thread, but I'm forced to agree that in general people are more interested in unimportant crap than stuff that should really matter.
But I guess it's all relative, to some people it's not important that 5 million children starve to death every year.
I agree.
For some reason CNN thinks it's all-important to film the house of a murder victim, get interviews with the family, and generally make idiots out of themselves, but they don't care less about filming the coffins coming home from Iraq because they "want to respect the dead". My butt... The media hasn't respected privacy for decades.
The media is run by money-hungry idiots. The founding fathers must be weeping in their graves.
Magazine covers ask:
"Should Jessica leave him?"
"Is Britney Preagnant?"
Who cares? They should ask:
"Is our dependence on middle eastern oil a national threat?" or "Could declining wages and rising prices destroy our economy?"
Ever notice how people know about the private lives of celebrities, but they are ignorant about the ways of polititions and real national issues?
Yes.
I have noticed this to be the case, in my own nation as well as in yours. I have wondered at the time whether humanity has ALWAYS been pathetically easy to manipulate as our generations are... Or whether our modern society is particularly rich in stupid when compared to previous societies.
Originally posted by Spider AL
I have noticed this to be the case, in my own nation as well as in yours. I have wondered at the time whether humanity has ALWAYS been pathetically easy to manipulate as our generations are... Or whether our modern society is particularly rich in stupid when compared to previous societies.
I think when it comes to our primal instincts, we are rather easily manipulated. Before, the only reason why the previous generations weren't so stupid was because if you were manipulated, you'd end up dead or in slavery. But since we're relatively safer from those pains since the late 19th century, we've grown lax in our mental defenses.
(Why do I feel that what I said would belong well in an entry to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe?)
Originally posted by Tyrion
Before, the only reason why the previous generations weren't so stupid was because if you were manipulated, you'd end up dead or in slavery.
I Think we will ALL be dead or in slavery real soon.
Besides, My dad told me IBM and other companies are laying off. You know what that means. when companies start laying off, folks loose their jobs, less products are being bought, more companies lay off, more people are out of work, and it snowballs.
Bin Laden still has his job... Do you still have yours?
Originally posted by kipperthefrog
Bin Laden still has his job... Do you still have yours?
I don't know what you're trying to state when you say that...Bin Laden's job is brainwashing religous fanatics to do his will. Last I heard, that isn't a job most governments want thier citizens to have.
somehow i think that if the terrorists would've nuked hollywood instead of the WTC, nobody would be bitching about us being over in iraq.
the only reason why the previous generations weren't so stupid was because if you were manipulated, you'd end up dead or in slavery. But since we're relatively safer from those pains since the late 19th century, we've grown lax in our mental defenses. Bloody good point, tbh. Modern government is based around controlling their populace psychologically, whereas governments of the past were based on controlling their populace through physical violence.
I'm not sure which I'd rather live in: A society where my mind is being controlled, or a society where my physical form's being controlled.
I Think we will ALL be dead or in slavery real soon.People are already slaves. Mentally enslaved, they are. Mmm, yes.
Bin Laden's job is brainwashing religous fanatics to do his will. Last I heard, that isn't a job most governments want thier citizens to have.Yeah, they want to save all the brainwashing jobs for themselves. :D
nobody would be bitching about us being over in iraq.What a loaded comment. Save it for threads about the blatant illegality of the war, mate. :p
you could always not read tabloids or not watch poor quality news broadcasts if youre unhappy with them, i dont, i tend to stick to better news sources.
Originally posted by Leper Messiah
you could always not read tabloids or not watch poor quality news broadcasts if youre unhappy with them, i dont, i tend to stick to better news sources.
Except this is all american news.
Me, I watch the daily show.
you could always not read tabloids or not watch poor quality news broadcasts if youre unhappy with themAs Insane says, that's American news in its entirety. There IS no other news.
As for the UK, it's going the same way. Besides, tabloid culture is part of the working class culture now. Yes, they're ignorant fools for reading the filth and believing it, but they were BROUGHT UP to be ignorant fools. Yes, they must take much of the responsibility for not bettering themselves, but not ALL of it.
My dad gets digital cable. It gets International news, or so he says. He says It is news without the American spin on things.
I didn't watch it mostly. I only watched it once. It doesn't portay the Iraqi ocupation as the noble patriotic cuase Fox says it is. it apears to have a balanced analisys.
As Insane says, that's American news in its entirety. There IS no other news.
If that is news in it's entairety, how come WE don't think like the others do? Where do WE get our info? my best guess is that we pay attention to what is going on rather than if Britney is pregnant or not, or the health of the Olsen twins, or the Michel Jackson trial. Probably meant to distract us? people pay more attention to them celebrities than what might actualy effect us.
If that is news in it's entairety, how come WE don't think like the others do?I ask myself that question every day Kipper.
I ask myself: "Why am I not a complete tabloid-reading tard like the majority of the UK's citizens? Why am I not full enough of stupid(tm) to believe the crap the politicos peddle? Why God, oh why?"
And then I say to myself: "Stop talking to yourself you fool, everyone will think you're insane. And you're not insane, are you?"
"No sir, I'm not."
"Good."
I haven't found an answer to my question yet though. Maybe we're just better than the rest of the muppets. Who knows.
I don't pay attention to the media jargon, I just pay attention to the little bits here and there, and basically just use common sense to piece things together. Usually I'm more correct than the jackass journalist.
Remember that doll that was said to be a hostage? I knew it was a doll, you could tell by looking at it's face. I saw it on a forum thought someone was messing around doing a "War Hostage" thing, then I later saw a clip on the news and said to myself "... why are they showing that doll on the news"
Later on they came on and said "it turns out it's a doll made by blah blah blah". So I figure if people didn't just buy into everything that's said to them, they wouldn't be so retarded as to actually think a doll is a soldier being held hostage.
Originally posted by InsaneSith
Remember that doll that was said to be a hostage? I knew it was a doll, you could tell by looking at it's face. I saw it on a forum thought someone was messing around doing a "War Hostage" thing, then I later saw a clip on the news and said to myself "... why are they showing that doll on the news"
Later on they came on and said "it turns out it's a doll made by blah blah blah". So I figure if people didn't just buy into everything that's said to them, they wouldn't be so retarded as to actually think a doll is a soldier being held hostage.
Where did you see THAT?:p I didn't see it! It sounds KOOL! post a link if you ever find it again!:D that would proove our case!
Edit: nevermind I found it!Doll Hostage (
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/bliraqtoyhostage.htm)
Originally posted by kipperthefrog
If that is news in it's entairety, how come WE don't think like the others do? Where do WE get our info? my best guess is that we pay attention to what is going on rather than if Britney is pregnant or not, or the health of the Olsen twins, or the Michel Jackson trial. Probably meant to distract us? people pay more attention to them celebrities than what might actualy effect us.
While I agree with you on what you mean, the Micheal Jackson Trial is comedy disguised as serious news, duh.
Anyway, the reason why there aren't any tabloid-reading muppets in this thread is because tabloid-reading muppets would stay far far away from the Senate Chambers in the first place.
Yes, but what MAKES us non-tabloid-readers.
Why am I not a tabloid-reading monkeymind?
Why are you not?
Is it merely that we're clevararar than they are?
Is that just arrogance on my part?
Originally posted by Spider AL
Yes, but what MAKES us non-tabloid-readers.
Why am I not a tabloid-reading monkeymind?
Why are you not?
Is it merely that we're clevararar than they are?
Is that just arrogance on my part?
I think it's that we're so arrogant that we believe we know better than the tabloids, and so we're non-tabloid-readers.
You know, I like that explanation. It means I'm speshul. :)
For all your national and international news in the United States, I recommend only these three sources: National Public Radio (
http://www.npr.org/), Public Radio International (
http://www.theworld.org/) (the geo-quiz on The World is always one of my favorites), and the BBC. (
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-perl/whatson/search/grid.cgi?MEDIUM=radio)
Conservative nutters think NPR is a "liberal" news outlet, but the reality is that they simply don't put the right-wing/facist spin on their news.... as near as I can see they tell it like it is.
But "telling it like it is" -like it really is- is considered a "liberal" view point by those nutjobs.
Originally posted by Spider Al
Yes, but what MAKES us non-tabloid-readers.
Why am I not a tabloid-reading monkeymind?
Why are you not?
Is it merely that we're clevararar than they are?
Is that just arrogance on my part?
We think for ourselves.
Great minds think for themselves. Weak minds follow the TV like the Pied Piper. The media would take over uor minds if we let them. We don't let them.
Most people WANT to beleive that the news media is true. Most people WANT to beleive Their leaders are the "Good Guys". They WANT to beleive the debate between Shialvo and the Shindlers are the most important debate. They WANT to debate Jacko's guilt rather than debate somthing complicated like Social Security.
Originally posted by kipperthefrog
We think for ourselves.
Great minds think for themselves. Weak minds follow the TV like the Pied Piper. The media would take over uor minds if we let them. We don't let them.
Naturally, you, of course, fall under the independant thinker part, right? We can't assume that we truly are great or that we're stronger in mind than everyone else, because that's how the manipulative will be able to entrap us. Truth is, we may be like those we call weak-minded more than we would be content to be.
Most people WANT to beleive that the news media is true. Most people WANT to beleive Their leaders are the "Good Guys". They WANT to beleive the debate between Shialvo and the Shindlers are the most important debate. They WANT to debate Jacko's guilt rather than debate somthing complicated like Social Security.
And the rest want to believe that what they feel is important matters. They feel that Senate hearings or the newest information of the Middle East matters. That it's better to feel depressed but in knowledge of the world happenings, than to be blissful within our pointless worlds.
It's all very grey...so very gray.
Originally posted by Tyrion
Truth is, we may be like those we call weak-minded more than we would be content to be.
Exactly. What keeps us from falling into that whole mess of celebrity worry is that we're cynical pricks that like to masturbate furiously to our own self-education.
Figuratively speaking of course. :p
Originally posted by Tyrion
(people) want to believe that what they feel is important matters.
:) It's the human condition.
Originally posted by Tyrion
It's all very grey...so very gray.
Indeed. The world is never as black and white as many people, including us from time to time, think.
Its something that has me permanently intruiged as well.
I'm sure that psychologists could find some deep psychological reason why the Cult of Celebrity has become so important in people's lives. (If all the psychologists weren't on tv analysing big-brother contestants).
It all seems wrapped up in the extreme capitalist, high-speed, self-interest driven society we have these days.
People are lead by tv and movies to want more from life, to be like the "perfect" people they see on the screen. But they are also led by today's high-speed, disposable society to want it quickly and without too much effort. They soon find that not everyone can be a brad pitt or a jennifer aniston... so they fullfil their dreams vicariously (?) by absorbing as much information about these people's lives as possible. I guess if they are reading about these people's great lives then they can forget about their own mediocre ones. Or even better, wait until those people's lives go wrong so they can feel better about their own.
And i'm constantly disturbed by the fac that "celebrity" seems to have become a goal in itself. To the point that people will humiliate themselves for their 15 seconds of fame... or are even happy to be famous for nothing, or even famous for being ugly/stupid/easy etc... (see big brother, jordan, abi titmus, etc...)
----------
I think the issue of people's interest in "real issues" is a slightly different one though. Its partly down to the short attention spans people have today. They don't want to have to think about or understand an issue... they want to be told what to think. Which is why biased tabloid style news is more popular than balanced serious news... and why simple "black and white" political messages are more popular than realistic ones.
I'm not sure if there is anything that can be done now to reverse the trend... unless people start thinking more as part of a community and less about just themselves. :(
Originally posted by toms
Its something that has me permanently intruiged as well.
I think the issue of people's interest in "real issues" is a slightly different one though. Its partly down to the short attention spans people have today. They don't want to have to think about or understand an issue... they want to be told what to think. Which is why biased tabloid style news is more popular than balanced serious news... and why simple "black and white" political messages are more popular than realistic ones.
I'm not sure if there is anything that can be done now to reverse the trend... unless people start thinking more as part of a community and less about just themselves. :(
I'm sure people's attention spans and interest will change when people loose their jobs andeverything else. Just like in the depresiion, people won't take it lightly when their families are too poor to live decently.
I wouldn't count on it. In general people in the west are much better off than they were back then.
Even the poor these days are much better off than they used to be (eg: not starving), its just that the gap between rich and poor has gotten much bigger.
That and the fact that the media constantly tells everyone about all these wonderful things that they "need"... so even poor people want/have tvs, playstations etc..., or feel deprived if they don't have them.
So they spend all their time "consuming" , lapping up a diet of celebrities and then only later wondering how to pay for it, and why they ddn't do anything with their lives.
At the moment, most of the west's affluent living is based on the REAL poor people in the third world who work for far less than even the poorest in the west... and, currently, don't have the expectations of things like tvs that people in the west have.
The interesting thing is going to be when people in those countries start demanding the same standards and lifestyles as people in the west (its already begining to happen) and suddenly there is no-one willing to do the cheap labour that our economies are based on.
I suspect that then either the western economies are going to fall/get overtaken.... or the poor in the west are suddenly going to find that they are screwed. Then you might get a real depression type scenario. But only for the poor, the rich will be so isolated by then that it won't affect them.
but if it does happen, people will be too busy watching the latest Celebrity Xtreme Plastic Surgery Makover Detox to notice until it is too late... :D
Originally posted by toms
I wouldn't count on it. In general people in the west are much better off than they were back then.
Even the poor these days are much better off than they used to be (eg: not starving),
I mean when people loose their jobs people will be starving.
Just thought I'd interject with the point that a certain proportion of people I know who read tabloids, watch cheap reality TV etc... are fairly intelligent.
The reason they watch them? As far as I can tell, it's not that they don't care about larger issues, it's just that these vile papers are merely... entertaining to them. Just as we might play a game to while away half an hour, they read the Sun. Or watch Big Brother.
But why do they find such tosh entertaining at all? I always find it insulting to my intelligence.
Maybe that's the key. Maybe it's an issue of pride. Perhaps I have too much self-regard and pride in my own good taste to be caught watching what everyone knows is retarded rubbish. Perhaps as Sith implied, our best defences against the dumbing down of society are our egos.
I will admit i used to get a certain pleasure from reading the daily mail (my housemate got it on some sort of student offer) because i didn't agree with ANYTHING they wrote. Not sure why getting irritated was fun, but it was.
I'd never actually BUY it though.
Personally, I've never found tabloids the slightest bit interesting. Everything on the covers are always either so obviously fake or deal with something I have no interest in (the lives of the stars, etc). I'll use the internet if I want something like that - at least people here will lie to me for free. :p
Originally posted by Samuel Dravis
I'll use the internet if I want something like that - at least people here will lie to me for free. :p And we make it more interesting. :)
Not long ago, I saw on the front page of USA Today that Britney Spears was pregnant. It is a shame they print crap like that.
Celebrities don't really interest me. I've never been awestruck by the sight of one (and I've been in the presence of several), nor have I become so consumed with one that I just had to know everything about them.
The tabloids have always seemed ridiculous to me. They are obviously false in the majority of what they say, yet people buy it because they can't wait to find out what the 'stars' are doing now. FAH! :xp:
I seriously don't understand why some people consider it to be so imprtant to know so much about stars, who, in reality, are just people. Just because they are famous, doesn't make them another species...with the exception of Michael Jackson of course. :D
Originally posted by Lady Jedi
Just because they are famous, doesn't make them another species...with the exception of Michael Jackson of course. :D
you said It:D