Talk Radio Nation: TURN IT OFF

[substitute]

I have become hyper-sensitive to a particular kind of bullshit: repeated broadcasting of some organization's talking points.

I don't listen to right-wing talk radio or watch FOX News, or deal with any of the "news personalities" on CNN or MSNBC. I don't even listen to the Bland Liberals on NPR. All of those things frustrate me, and yelling back at broadcast media does no good.

But I don't have to read or listen to or watch any of this crap because my regular Internet reading will turn up ten in a row of the things those organizations have instructed their followers to repeat. It's like that phenomenon where a row of magazines at a newsstand will all have the same actor on the cover, because the publicity machine works so well.

It's worse than pyramid schemes or spam or religion, even. None of these things make any sense, and they're all dispensed by people who don't care about anything, least of all you! Don't repeat everything. If you haven't got something of your own to say, just be quiet.

And if you're going to rebroadcast your clan's speeches, at least apply a dab of critical thinking first. Intelligent people cut-and-pasting bullshit make us sad.

Comments

[jpeace.livejournal.com]

obama

[jpeace.livejournal.com]

(is the new what)

[chthonicsiren.livejournal.com]

Word.

[bobby isosceles (from livejournal.com)]

"And if you agree with this sentiment copy it into your own journal!"

[planetdracula.livejournal.com]

yelling back at broadcast media does no good.

Now you tell me

[substitute.livejournal.com]

Dude I didn't say it wasn't FUN! GO NUTS!

[pbd.livejournal.com]

so using the John and Ken show voting guide was a bad idea?

[marieoroumania.livejournal.com]

A+++++++++++++++++++

But you try telling that to all the fucking NPR-heads who latched onto me during my brief tenure as a public radio reporter. They won't hear it, they're even worse than the Fox-clones at this point. "I was listening to this commentator on Marketplace and he said.. what do you mean fuck all those guys? Why are you so negative about this great news source America has?" Yadda yadda yadda. No wonder I never leave the house now.

[handstil.livejournal.com]

Please, somebody tell Derek! Seriously and not j/k, he said "I am going to call 'Handel on the Law' before I sign anything!" when we were discussing visitation papers.

[substitute.livejournal.com]

That's just sad, is what that is.

GASP

[mcpino.livejournal.com]

You... you mean Larry King isn't real?!?!?

Re: GASP

[substitute.livejournal.com]

He's real. And he's behind you RIGHT NOW.

[steph99.livejournal.com]

Annoying phenomenon (to which I'm not immune), for sure. But let's call a spade a Clinton...The recycling, reposting, and regurgitating of the same news item is a side-effect of dying traditional media. Let's remember that the embarrassing shrinkage that professional--as opposed to citizen--journalism has experienced over the past 10-odd years has everything to do with media consolidation, which, like NAFTA, was a disease we caught before Dubya. Respectfully posit that religion may in fact be worser! In conclusion, Rachel Maddow is the best thing to happen to news, ever. She reminds me of how it used to feel to watch 60 Minutes and 20/20, and listen to All Things Considered, before they became insipid, shiny-flashy, and soupy, respectively. Speaking of devastatingly smart and snarky, that reminds me: why don't I read more Maureen Dowd?

++++++

[kafkateer.livejournal.com]

fuck yes this is awesome

--m.