The fact that people are surprised is a huge part of the problem. When people say over and over what they will do, and then do it, and then say that they will do it again… at some point it might behoove others to actually listen?
Some, like Jon Stewart, warned people for literally decades that allowing the fourth estate (news media as the external check that balances everything) to be bought out would seal the end. The only surprise there was the speed with which it all happened, and given the external events that helped bring it about, even that should not have been so surprising.
Because it’s happened before, see e.g. Brexit, and it’s happening again now in most places around the world, even supposed strongholds like Canada and Germany. Although almost universally nearly everything I see across the Threadiverse is the notion that everywhere else is immune - it’s like each commentor individually thinks that “yes it’s happening everywhere else, but not to ME, where I live”. Almost nobody wants to take responsibility to listen, learn, and own up to personal biases that could help to move forward intelligently.
To be clear though, I meant the for-profit media, which affects all both sides. Like everyone on MSNBC is constantly acting “shocked” and are “surprised” at every single new event that happens.
News is entertainment, not factual conveyance of information. And what information that does manage to make it through is heavily biased, which only makes it all the easier to disprove it.
e.g. the right talks about how cities are literally on fire and shops don’t even exist anymore as all the windows are boarded up. The left counters with how every single person in a city is so “safe” and crime basically never happens, as the stats show (they say). We all here know that both of those are bold-faced lies, but put yourself in the mind of a young person from a rural or suburban area that has barely or even never spent any time in a city environment: all it would take is one single trip to a city where their car window gets shattered (even while they are still in it?) and/or they get shot at or mugged and bam, instantly they no longer believe the leftist media bias, even if they also still aren’t ready to accept the full right-wing source either. But this being a 2-party system, NOT voting for the Democrats translates into allowing the Republicans to win.
But MSNBC will still act shocked, and Democrats will still write strongly written letters. It is performative acts all the way down (note I am not saying all the way through, but those in power at all levels i.e. of both media and actual governance).
Edit: also that >30 year old documentary would predate the actual and literal buyout of most media sources, which had heavily bet on the model of providing information free while served with ads, by not merely allies of but the literal individuals who are the elite. e.g. Musk purchasing Twitter, converting it into X, Bezos purchasing the Washington Post, and so on. I suppose they still do manufacture consent though:-D - but they now do it in a much more raw and naked form than 30+ years in the past, e.g. Musk not only censors posts on X but also posts directly there himself as well.
There is a line from the most recent album from Billy Talent saying they are tired of preaching to the choir. And I think that speaks to a lot of people who have seen the writing on the wall and spoken out. But not enough people take it to heart.
It’s hard to take it to heart when one person speaks the truth and two are paid to tell a lie. Your impression is forever going to be that the lie has more support than the truth.
The fact that people are surprised is a huge part of the problem. When people say over and over what they will do, and then do it, and then say that they will do it again… at some point it might behoove others to actually listen?
Some, like Jon Stewart, warned people for literally decades that allowing the fourth estate (news media as the external check that balances everything) to be bought out would seal the end. The only surprise there was the speed with which it all happened, and given the external events that helped bring it about, even that should not have been so surprising.
Because it’s happened before, see e.g. Brexit, and it’s happening again now in most places around the world, even supposed strongholds like Canada and Germany. Although almost universally nearly everything I see across the Threadiverse is the notion that everywhere else is immune - it’s like each commentor individually thinks that “yes it’s happening everywhere else, but not to ME, where I live”. Almost nobody wants to take responsibility to listen, learn, and own up to personal biases that could help to move forward intelligently.
Okay then. Fuck it, we ball I guess.
The media has been captured for decades. It’s literally the thesis of ‘Manufacturing Consent’.
To be clear though, I meant the for-profit media, which affects
allboth sides. Like everyone on MSNBC is constantly acting “shocked” and are “surprised” at every single new event that happens.News is entertainment, not factual conveyance of information. And what information that does manage to make it through is heavily biased, which only makes it all the easier to disprove it.
e.g. the right talks about how cities are literally on fire and shops don’t even exist anymore as all the windows are boarded up. The left counters with how every single person in a city is so “safe” and crime basically never happens, as the stats show (they say). We all here know that both of those are bold-faced lies, but put yourself in the mind of a young person from a rural or suburban area that has barely or even never spent any time in a city environment: all it would take is one single trip to a city where their car window gets shattered (even while they are still in it?) and/or they get shot at or mugged and bam, instantly they no longer believe the leftist media bias, even if they also still aren’t ready to accept the full right-wing source either. But this being a 2-party system, NOT voting for the Democrats translates into allowing the Republicans to win.
But MSNBC will still act shocked, and Democrats will still write strongly written letters. It is performative acts all the way down (note I am not saying all the way through, but those in power at all levels i.e. of both media and actual governance).
Edit: also that >30 year old documentary would predate the actual and literal buyout of most media sources, which had heavily bet on the model of providing information free while served with ads, by not merely allies of but the literal individuals who are the elite. e.g. Musk purchasing Twitter, converting it into X, Bezos purchasing the Washington Post, and so on. I suppose they still do manufacture consent though:-D - but they now do it in a much more raw and naked form than 30+ years in the past, e.g. Musk not only censors posts on X but also posts directly there himself as well.
I should really read that. It’s been sitting on my shelf forever.
You don’t even have to read it, there’s a movie: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manufacturing_Consent_(film/)
There is a line from the most recent album from Billy Talent saying they are tired of preaching to the choir. And I think that speaks to a lot of people who have seen the writing on the wall and spoken out. But not enough people take it to heart.
It’s hard to take it to heart when one person speaks the truth and two are paid to tell a lie. Your impression is forever going to be that the lie has more support than the truth.