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The media: what a bunch of vultures.

The media: what a bunch of vultures.

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e

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I am sick to death of the media's coverage of any given topic. Terri Schiavo, Michael Jackson, the Pope: it makes no difference. The media "covers" the story to death. They are crawling all over the scene lookin for the twist on the action, looking for someone new to interview. I am obsessed with watching the news, and I find it fascinating to watch and see how many times they will say the same thing over and over and over. Look how they made Princess Diana's life a living hell, how they stick to the famous non-stop. It is just so perverse and disgusting.

C
W.P. Extraordinaire

State of Franklin

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Originally posted by elvendreamgirl
I am sick to death of the media's coverage of any given topic. Terri Schiavo, Michael Jackson, the Pope: it makes no difference. The media "covers" the story to death. They are crawling all over the scene lookin for the twist on the action, looking for someone new to interview. I am obsessed with watching the news, and I find it fascinating to watc ...[text shortened]... ife a living hell, how they stick to the famous non-stop. It is just so perverse and disgusting.
There's a German word for it - something about the please we get from observing the pain of others. Schadenfreude?

D

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Originally posted by elvendreamgirl
I am sick to death of the media's coverage of any given topic. Terri Schiavo, Michael Jackson, the Pope: it makes no difference. The media "covers" the story to death. They are crawling all over the scene lookin for the twist on the action, looking for someone new to interview. I am obsessed with watching the news, and I find it fascinating to watc ...[text shortened]... ife a living hell, how they stick to the famous non-stop. It is just so perverse and disgusting.
Parasites, leeches, scavengers living off of other people's lives without their consent. Hit someone with bright lights, stick a microphone in their face and ask "Can you tell us what you are feeling as the firemen are bringing the charred bodies of your children from your burning home?" TV reporters are always prima donnas playing a role in front of the camera and the people experiencing tragedy are just their supporting cast, bit players, expendable. I lived off other peoples lives for 30 years but never without their consent and they always had the right to approve the finished copy before print. I have absolutely no use for TV reporters.

e

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Originally posted by Delmer
Parasites, leeches, scavengers living off of other people's lives without their consent. Hit someone with bright lights, stick a microphone in their face and ask "Can you tell us what you are feeling as the firemen are bringing the charred bodies of your children from your burning home?" TV reporters are always prima donnas playing a role in front of the c ...[text shortened]... e right to approve the finished copy before print. I have absolutely no use for TV reporters.
I agree. I am not saying that all reporters are like that, but in our modern world of 24 hour television it has become a disgusting circus.

A
Dog Companion

Rain Forest

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Although, I like a good scapegoat from time to time.....

In truth, we as consumers of media get what we want....Yes, reporters hounded Princess Di. However, there was a greedy public that still watches those shows about her, even now magazines with pictures of her during her life sell....

If it weren't profitable, the reporters would not have jobs, the networks would have different programming......

Endless repition of the same material must be what most of the public wants otherwise the alternative new sources would have a greater audience.

Nemesio
Ursulakantor

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Originally posted by elvendreamgirl
I am sick to death of the media's coverage of any given topic...The media "covers" the story to death. ... I am obsessed with watching the news, and I find it fascinating to watch and see how many times they will say the same thing over and over and over... It is just so perverse and disgusting.

If you find it disgusting, turn it off. By continuing to watch it, you are contributing
to the 'rubbernecking-at-the-scene-of-an-accident' mentality which dominates the
news. Pick up a book, bake cookies with the radio on.

Just turn it off.

In the words of the late, great Frank Zappa:

I'm the Slime

I am gross and perverted
I'm obsessed 'n deranged
I have existed for years
But very little had changed
I am the tool of the Government
And industry too
For I am destined to rule
And regulate you
I may be vile and pernicious
But you can't look away
I make you think I'm delicious
With the stuff that I say
I am the best you can get
Have you guessed me yet?
I am the slime oozin' out
From your TV set
You will obey me while I lead you
And eat the garbage that I feed you
Until the day that we don't need you
Don't go for help...no one will heed you
Your mind is totally controlled
It has been stuffed into my mold
And you will do as you are told
Until the rights to you are sold
That's right, folks.. Don't touch that dial
Well, I am the slime from your video
Oozin' along on your livingroom floor
I am the slime from your video
Can't stop the slime, people, lookit me go

T

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Or as concisely expressed in a little ditty from The Jam:
"...and the public gets what the public wants..."

D

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Originally posted by Toe
Or as concisely expressed in a little ditty from The Jam:
"...and the public gets what the public wants..."
Aren't Zappa and Jam saying two different things?

e

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Originally posted by Nemesio
Originally posted by elvendreamgirl
[b]I am sick to death of the media's coverage of any given topic...The media "covers" the story to death. ... I am obsessed with watching the news, and I find it fascinating to watch and see how many times they will say the same thing over and over and over... It is just so perverse and disgusting.

...[text shortened]... livingroom floor
I am the slime from your video
Can't stop the slime, people, lookit me go
[/b]
I do read all the time, and I bake, and ride horses, and I even play chess, though my opponents might tell you otherwise. I do like to know what is going on in the world, but I like my news delivered with intelligence and respect.

D

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Originally posted by elvendreamgirl
I do read all the time, and I bake, and ride horses, and I even play chess, though my opponents might tell you otherwise. I do like to know what is going on in the world, but I like my news delivered with intelligence and respect.
Bravo, Sarah! And I also like my news to be "news", not a litany of everything that's supposedly wrong in the universe interspersed with canned medical info-commercials claiming all my favorite things will kill me and implying that I will live forever without them.




WM

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Originally posted by elvendreamgirl
I do read all the time, and I bake, and ride horses, and I even play chess, though my opponents might tell you otherwise. I do like to know what is going on in the world, but I like my news delivered with intelligence and respect.
Try PBS news for one week and you will not go back,if you do go back,consider yourself Zappaed .

invigorate
Only 1 F in Uckfield

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I think the problem is that nowadays news is more tabloid, sensationalised and less pragmatic than it used to be. TV demand quick concise stories which ignore the complex background to all situations.

Having said that I got the feeling I was gonna die before the Pope after 4 days of saturation coverage of his impending death on News 24. Crikey let him die, tell us hes been buried and then when you've got a new pope in place and thats all I need to know thanks.

D

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Originally posted by invigorate
I think the problem is that nowadays news is more tabloid, sensationalised and less pragmatic than it used to be. TV demand quick concise stories which ignore the complex background to all situations.

Having said that I got the feeling I was gonna die before the Pope after 4 days of saturation coverage of his impending death on News 24. Crikey let him ...[text shortened]... en buried and then when you've got a new pope in place and thats all I need to know thanks.

It does get to be too much. The endless, shallow coverage cheapens even important events. That's why I get my news from Art Bell in the lonely hours of the early morning. Aliens, ghosts, time travelers, UFOs, crop circles, bottomless holes, sasquatch etc. etc. etc. I just don't understand why the major news services miss these things. Incompetance, I guess.

Nemesio
Ursulakantor

Pittsburgh, PA

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Originally posted by elvendreamgirl
I do read all the time, and I bake, and ride horses, and I even play chess, though my opponents might tell you otherwise. I do like to know what is going on in the world, but I like my news delivered with intelligence and respect.
You wrote:

I am obsessed with watching the news, and I find it fascinating to watch and see how many times they will say the same thing over and over and over.

This led me to believe that you were choosing to watch something you didn't want to watch.
This is why I suggested turning off the television.

I get my news from the newspaper, which allows me to avoid repetitious journalism
with ease. While the Pope's death, for example, is of interest to me, you can't turn
on the television now to watch the news without getting a redundant update. Thus,
I don't turn on the television and read a newspaper, easily skipping or skimming those
articles while focusing my time more effectively on those things which I didn't already
know or that do interest me.

Someone suggested 'PBS.' It's ok, but, again, repetitious. When I want to live
media news, I prefer NPR (i.e., radio), but its agenda tires me sometimes.

Nemesio

S
BentnevolentDictater

x10,y45,z-88,t3.1415

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Originally posted by elvendreamgirl
I am sick to death of the media's coverage of any given topic. Terri Schiavo, Michael Jackson, the Pope: it makes no difference. The media "covers" the story to death. They are crawling all over the scene lookin for the twist on the action, looking for someone new to interview. I am obsessed with watching the news, and I find it fascinating to watc ...[text shortened]... ife a living hell, how they stick to the famous non-stop. It is just so perverse and disgusting.
The secret is to not be sick to death when you are on the "losing" side as we all are... eventually.

Study the case. Think and listen real good. That is what allows "liberals" to either "become" or "remain".

Don't dis just because it seems obvious. Think about it. That is how we change. Change is good.

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