How the media has affected our minds...

[staxxy]

Just something I have noticed recently...



So it has occurred to me on several occasions that the media is all about sensationalism. If a storm is coming it get a name, and more coverage than it warrants. If the president picks his nose it gets more coverage than it warrants. Things in our media (meaning America, and yes in other countries too, but less so in my experience) are blown way out of proportion, or covered far too much.

Looking at how various online communities have responded to each other lately makes me think that perhaps it is the subconscious expectation that everything must be sensationalized and over documented that causes so much of the drama that always seems to rampant at the end of summer. Perhaps it is simply my take on it. It just seems to me that people are a bit more prone to make things into emotional issues that are simply matters of logic, and really not about feelings at all. Until you use those lovely emotivally reactive words and suddenly it becomes more of a powerplay and attention fest than anything else.

And, for those of you watching... This isn't about any one person, conversation, thread, circumstance, or even social group (oddly enough). This is something I have observed happening around me for years, and especially towards the end of summer. Perhaps it is because everyone is exhausted from doing too much in the warmer times and is therefore more prone to be emotionally reactive than during the winter when things are slower.

What do you guys think?



Color me Curious..

Comments

[inanna.livejournal.com]

i must say i agree. What hits me with this is the current rash of nationally covered kidnapping/rape cases. Yes, it is terrible that it happens... and as a parent i would want to do everything to find my child. BUT, stranger abduction is DOWN - the statistics don't merit the obsessive media coverage. A few years ago it was something else - next week it'll be another thing entirely. The fact that the media is the only determining factor in whether a story is "newsworthy" or not... and that is influenced dramatically by several factors including:

advertising sales - gotta have that "breaking news" constantly to get people to watch to increase your ratings to increase your sales rates

emotional/visual appeal - the more dramatic, gorey, or heartwrenching the photos (or descriptive copy), the more likely it is to make headlines

the political climate/orientation of the station - gotta keep focusing on what G.W. (or whatever politician in power) wants us to look at, rather than on the issues he is trying to hide.

Wouldn't it be nice to find out what is really going on - and perhaps find a news outlet that reports as many (if not more) positive and uplifting stories as gorey and violent ones?

Re:

[staxxy.livejournal.com]

this is why I want to learn to speak Finnish. THey have the least biased News of the world anywhere...

*sigh*

[lisamouse.livejournal.com]

simply, i think the majority of people who get themselves into sqwabbly online stuff are bored. or fall upon something while tired or cranky. an opportunity to feel passionate about something... even something that you normally wouldn't care about affords you the opportunity to feel alert in an otherwise mundane life.

i had to make a choice a couple of years ago. my decision was to stay clear of arguing opinion as much as possible... it sucks up brain cells just as bad as watching too much television. a whole life could just be sucked away in meaningless sensationalism (as you call it)... even my recreation is rarely "community" based anymore... large groups always tend to cater to the lowest denominator. and often times these squeeky wheels who eat up most of the attention are squeeky and loud because they ought to be lubed up and or tossed/out anyway. people who believe they are possesed with an intense character and excuse their pigheadedness because they believe that being opinionated makes you popular by appearing strong and unmoving... are often times really just the same version of the asshole who plays his stereo really loud in his car... cause he thinks everyone believes its bad ass or just gets a kick out of disgusting and manipulating people (its all about getting the wrong kind of attention). i can't respect that at all.

but... well, i'd rather encounter those folks on a BBS than interrupting me while i'm out and about, cramming opinions and heat down on me. i avoid people who always start an ecounter with a "why the world or so and so sucks" rant.

honestly, i don't own a tv connected to cable, and i won't watch tv news unless i believe i ought to be informed about something very specific. i don't watch sitcoms because i find them insulting to my intelligence... and i don't want to be manipulated by advertising. even the really horrible advertising has the ability to manipulate you... just the fact that you feel disgust about a certain product or campaign means you allowed the idiots some kind of power over you. when i realized this many years ago... i also realized there are some people out there (even ones i like) who don't care that they're being manipulated... i'll go a ahead and let them take a bullet for the team... they can let me know about an important current event. part of living a less stressful life is about knowing how to avoid stress... the less you have to deal with, the more likely you're going to see benefits from the efforts you do make to relax. the fastest way to ridding yourself of illness and disatisfaction is to "simplify".

Re: Hallaluejah Sister!!

[staxxy.livejournal.com]

ok, so I admit I have a television and it is connected to cable. BUT... I watch the History Channel if it is about something interesting and fun (secret passages is one of the shows I like, all about hidden rooms and underground tunnels), I watch lots (LOTS) of cartoons, cause I like cartoons, I watch Max Headroom (cause it's still a good show), and I watch a couple of shows on the gaming network (cinematech (movies from video games), and Cheat (cause they tell you how to find the easter eggs)). I haven't watched news since I was a child, unless there has been something HUGE happening. (Desert Storm, WTO, the Terrorist attack last fall). Sometimes I watch the weather channel. And sometimes I watch Music Videos (cause you know, I am all about the pretty visuals).

I don't read the news, I don't watch the news, and I don't like the drama in my own life. Sometimes I respond to the drama, but when I do I am generally trying to be the rational voice and add a little calm to the situation.

I miss you lady. You should call me sometime so we can have coffee or popsicles or something.

Media...

[lawst.livejournal.com]

I've had my own beefs with the media since I was young...mostly stemming from how they rag on cops and prior to September 11, soldiers. I do watch the news, maybe out of force of habit, but I keep my eye on what's going on in the world then I shut it off for the day. When I do watch, I keep a salt shaker next to me so I have a few grains handy. I don't allw myself to react to every horror story and bit of "breaking news" that appears, otherwise I'd be a mess, or like one of my neighbors...September 11, she kept her kids home and managed to have them convinced they werent' safe anywhere. Now with the kidnapping coverage, they can't leave the yard or driveway, even if there's 20 other kids out riding their bikes. I refuse to jump sideways at every shadow the media throws at me because one of those leaps could end me up in real trouble.

[imflying.livejournal.com]

I've noticed that too, that as the summer winds down people tend to get either over-emotional or emotionally drained. Personally, I can't wait for Autumn to get here and Fall to begin. It's always been my favorite time of year. People going back to school, jobs opening up, less traffic...

They say that 70% of all pregnancies occur during the fall and winter months.... just thought I'd point that out.

Re:

[staxxy.livejournal.com]

heh. Fall and Winter are lovely and loving times for people.

*sigh*

I too am looking forward to the cooler weather...