Sunday Scribblings prompts: what scares you? Follow the link to play along or to read the scary things others know.
The ability/willingness of news sources to source opinions instead of news scares me. The titillation factor, cameras closing in on suffering families and full coverage of celebs in slight clothing has replaced the news that people should scream to know.
How can people become educated when they spend so many hours watching TV and surfing the Internet where the preponderance of articles makes light of reality? Reality shows aren't. They are scripted, for the most part, by marketing writers.
Locating facts takes time and energy and yet facts should be the easiest to find.
Few take advantage of facts but base their beliefs on the hot air that explodes from kneejerkers and those who earn their money by subterfuge and vitriol.
This a scary part of the times, to me.
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The image was created in Fractal Explorer. It might be a self-portrait. Or not.
~~~♥~~~♥~~~
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18 comments:
As a working print journalist, your post really hit home. Even if I have to bang out a story for the next day's paper, I still over-gather facts and information. I (try) and tell a balanced, non-titillating story that is fair - and above all, accurate.
And I still, for the life of me, can't figure out why my profession is dying in the midst of 24-hour talking heads who don't care about the truth, just ratings.
This is really scary. Don't get me wrong - I write speculative pieces all the time. But I make clear they're speculative - my opinions. When news and opinion mix, as they are in main media today, news becomes gossip, tailored to meet the requirements of the richest advertisers.
Phew, these really are scary times we live in and your fractal is scary too! (but I like it!).
Trouble is, there is so much bad news about that it is only natural to take more notice of trivial matters as a form of release.Interesting take.
Good post I totally agree. There is so much rubbish reported on in the media.And from living in small town until recently, saw very well just how incorrect and biased that that reporting can be. What I find scary about the media is their ability to influence the public's opinion and therefore affect change in the direction of their choice.
I quit TV; I quit search engines with phony front pages as well. What could I expect from people who think the world is going to end in Armageddon? Keeping up the good pace, they might just get what they want…
Hugs, Sue.
i knew that. some 'reality shows' look so unreal.
i feel the same fear. that's why i tell my kids not to see those either
Oh how true, so eloquently said, a resounding yes, yes, yes ... your 'scary' is above all else. Brilliant!
yes, we must constantly be the guardians of maintaining our own reality. thanks for a thought provoking post!
It is as if some elements of the press want to keep us in a state of fear or dependence. The titillating news feeds our addiction for gossip but also makes us more fearful. As I always say to my son: 'Don't believe everything you read on the internet.'
Do I ever agree! Often with lack of compassion. It's no wonder there are generations of desensitized folks! Great post!
Hugs Giggles
Even more worrisome is the fact that if the "news" is ratings driven then aren't "we" (the public) getting exactly what we want? What does that say about us?
Most of us are living in illusion. I think we prefer it that way.
as discussed in a writer's workshop
Another hear, hear! from this side of the States. I consider TV a pied piper of the lemming mind. Give me PBS, Discovery, History channels and the like. And when we get the facts on any channel, let them be divided equally between both sides of issues. Amen : )
I agree 100%. It is scary to see so many people influenced by opinion rather than fact. It is also scary that critical thinking is becoming increasingly rare. Good, thought-provoking post.
hi sue... life is scary only when i watch tv, what it sez, the images and the cost some pay to watch... turned off cable long ago and now thrz only a few channels to mezmerize my mind... now that fractal is awesome!!!
Oh, I do agree with you! The way they cover 'news' these days is very scary. It's almost as if there's a conspiracy to keep the 'real' news well away from the public. With the advent of 24 hour news channels, we really hoped that we'd start to get fuller news coverage, but no, we just get the same sensationalised stories churned out over and over and over again.
Where are the smaller but more important stories? Where are the things we need to know? It is indeed scary.
very true...specially the TV media, they get crazy sometines, just looking out for some hot topic to sell...
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