Comments on: Television Trial Continues http://andrewbrunelle.com/2007/04/12/television-trial-continues/ A website devoted to philosophy, spirituality, humor, and everything in between Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:33:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: Michael http://andrewbrunelle.com/2007/04/12/television-trial-continues/#comment-789 Michael Thu, 12 Apr 2007 20:01:06 +0000 http://andrewbrunelle.com/2007/04/12/television-trial-continues/#comment-789 I had to write an essay arguing for or against having a mandatory current events class for high school students. I cited the Anna Nicole Smith story just like you did. I suppose I had a kind of cynical attitude towards the matter, with the how can we call this news attitude. #1 story on the news today: some radio show host calls some basketball players "nappy haired hoes." Sure, not the nicest of things to say, but who really cares? I don't listen to his show, I don't watch women's basketball, it has no effect on me (and probably the general population), but still people are walking around calling for this guy to be fired, etc. I agree wholeheartedly with your "contributed something to the world" statement, but, is it possible, that in today's society Anna Nicole Smith has contributed as much to the world as someone like Einstein? I mean ask a random person on the street (hopefully not a physicist) what Smith's biggest thing was (marrying the 80-some year old oil tycoon) or Einstein (theory of relativity, etc) and see which one they can identify. Entertainment is starting to become more important than knowledge. Instead of reading a book, people watch dumbed down versions of it. I guess these pessimist/elitist thoughts aren't very good to have. Thanks for letting me rant though. I had to write an essay arguing for or against having a mandatory current events class for high school students. I cited the Anna Nicole Smith story just like you did. I suppose I had a kind of cynical attitude towards the matter, with the how can we call this news attitude. #1 story on the news today: some radio show host calls some basketball players “nappy haired hoes.” Sure, not the nicest of things to say, but who really cares? I don’t listen to his show, I don’t watch women’s basketball, it has no effect on me (and probably the general population), but still people are walking around calling for this guy to be fired, etc.

I agree wholeheartedly with your “contributed something to the world” statement, but, is it possible, that in today’s society Anna Nicole Smith has contributed as much to the world as someone like Einstein? I mean ask a random person on the street (hopefully not a physicist) what Smith’s biggest thing was (marrying the 80-some year old oil tycoon) or Einstein (theory of relativity, etc) and see which one they can identify. Entertainment is starting to become more important than knowledge. Instead of reading a book, people watch dumbed down versions of it.

I guess these pessimist/elitist thoughts aren’t very good to have. Thanks for letting me rant though.

]]> By: Hannah http://andrewbrunelle.com/2007/04/12/television-trial-continues/#comment-790 Hannah Fri, 13 Apr 2007 14:24:49 +0000 http://andrewbrunelle.com/2007/04/12/television-trial-continues/#comment-790 I agree that TV is a waste of time. There is a tiny bit of content, sandwiched between large doses of advertising propaganda (when the volume increases noticeably... so annoying!). Some supposedly comedy shows even insult our intelligence by adding a 'laugh track'. I guess they think we are just too dumb to know when (or if) we should laugh. I have heard a few people compare TV to a drug, because it's so easy to get hooked into this meaningless habit. I think it is simply a vehicle which commercial sponsors use to get us to watch their ads until we are brainwashed. Even the program itself is like an infomercial showing a fancy lifestyle which we are supposed to imitate. Good for you, for breaking free. I am also beginning to think that most magazines are similar to TV. Just another vehicle to get glossy ads into our hands, to make us want stuff which we don't need... bigger, better, newer and more costly. Go and spend . Because 'We're worth it'! A little bit of fluffy content, and a lot of hype. I agree that TV is a waste of time. There is a tiny bit of content, sandwiched between large doses of advertising propaganda (when the volume increases noticeably… so annoying!). Some supposedly comedy shows even insult our intelligence by adding a ‘laugh track’. I guess they think we are just too dumb to know when (or if) we should laugh. I have heard a few people compare TV to a drug, because it’s so easy to get hooked into this meaningless habit. I think it is simply a vehicle which commercial sponsors use to get us to watch their ads until we are brainwashed. Even the program itself is like an infomercial showing a fancy lifestyle which we are supposed to imitate. Good for you, for breaking free.

I am also beginning to think that most magazines are similar to TV. Just another vehicle to get glossy ads into our hands, to make us want stuff which we don’t need… bigger, better, newer and more costly. Go and spend . Because ‘We’re worth it’! A little bit of fluffy content, and a lot of hype.

]]> By: Liara Covert http://andrewbrunelle.com/2007/04/12/television-trial-continues/#comment-799 Liara Covert Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:34:05 +0000 http://andrewbrunelle.com/2007/04/12/television-trial-continues/#comment-799 Rather than judging what you think is "good or bad," why not consider what is working or not and for whom as well as why? National Geo and Discovery offer educational programs seem to work in that they raise awareness about environmental and scientific issues. Perhaps an individual's ability to think critically (or not) is what detemines the usefulness of media in general, from tv to internet, radio and other avenues. How have you evolved to think critically or not? Rather than judging what you think is “good or bad,” why not consider what is working or not and for whom as well as why? National Geo and Discovery offer educational programs seem to work in that they raise awareness about environmental and scientific issues. Perhaps an individual’s ability to think critically (or not) is what detemines the usefulness of media in general, from tv to internet, radio and other avenues. How have you evolved to think critically or not?

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