Lately, I have marveled and lamented how confused this world is, and how people are so much like sheep. It doesn't take much to start a fad, a clothing style, a popular phrase, and the one thing that I think most people lack is perspective. By default, we are all limited in our perspective on things, dependent upon what we are exposed to, either purposely, or by accident. We view news reports, read books, listen to podcasts, prognosticators and experts of varying types and flavors. We accept or reject what they say, and what they believe, based on our own opinions and experience. If something "sounds" right, we are likely to accept it, and adopt it as our own opinion. It is somewhat laughable, and yet sad, to listen to the "man on the street" interviews that newscasters seem intent on doing. They shove a microphone in some person's face, without any distinction or indication of the person's background, intelligence, life experience or awareness. They ask them for their opinion on anything from war decisions, economic decisions, and the always present "How do you think the President is doing?" It is not so strange that they solicit these opinions. But,what is so odd, and incredible, is that they report these opinions as if this was based on mature, well-informed, fully responsible analysis and evaluation. What they don't say is that these same people got their "opinions" and views by watching the evening news, and hearing some talking head tell us his "opinion" --- also based on limited information. So, what may or may not be actually true, has seemed to be true, because the newscaster says it, and now the man on the street says it, and so it must be true.
The media spends a great amount of time telling us all the negative things about the war, about George Bush, and about the economy. The average person watches and listens to this and adopts this view as accurate and true. Then the media goes out and takes a "survey" and reports that "X" percent of the people think the war is not going well, and that George Bush is not popular. They act as if this opinion was arrived at independently and as a result of informed consideration. When they take their surveys, they act as if it was measuring something real, when in point of fact, they are responsible for much of what people think and believe. It really is quite comical and sad at the same time. bringing Xanga back - drop a comment if you're with me!
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