Imagine if there was no daily "news cycle"

[renard_ruse]

What if we didn't have the daily attempt to mold and manipulate everyone's thoughts by the media and its "news cycle"?

If they would just report basic facts and nothing more without the bashing, distorting, demonizing, dividing, and editorializing with some new set of soundbites every day, life would surely be more pleasant, people would be less on edge all the time, and those who long ago tuned the whole thing out might actually start following things again. The "right wing" alternative media wouldn't need to exist as a counterweight to it.

We could have a more civil, mature, political discourse where we respect each other and actually discuss ideas with respect for all points of view. People in general would be less on edge, less divided, and happier. Real democracy would thrive as all viewpoints would be respected without the media trying to constantly shape and control people's brains via the headline shock cycle. Even internet trolling might decline somewhat as the whole idea of a tit-for-tat argument cycle would be less prominent in the culture.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

"We could have a more civil, mature, political discourse where we respect each other and actually discuss ideas with respect for all points of view."


This can only happen in a family, group, tribe or nation if virtually all of the members share the same basic philosophy with different flavors, but even then someone who is as little as, say, 10% of a sightly different opinion can find themselves branded "heretical."

 

[butters]

If they would just report basic facts and nothing more without the bashing, distorting, demonizing, dividing, and editorializing with some new set of soundbites every day

if only! this is how it SHOULD be. good news coverage should be about reporting the facts - allow people to come to their own conclusions, not force feed them biased views. people are biased enough and will form their own views based around their particular leanings.

human nature being what it is, i can't see it ever getting there.

 

[kbate]

People are too stupid to be permitted to properly analyze facts and reach proper decisions. We have to pass the bill to know what is in it. Wait, isn't that a celebrity over there? She know what you should think, plus she is wearing cool glasses. My hair is better than yours, so I know what you should think. Experts believe, 8 of 10 doctors agree, studies indicate, consensus states, the science is settled.

If 7 billion people were smart enough to know what is best for them, they would be smart enough to not pick 100,000 people to rule their lives. Listen to the elites, they are elite because they know things.

The truth is, the news simply reflects the desire of modern people to be fed palatable food for the lowest price.

 

[about_average]

If they would just report basic facts and nothing more without the bashing, distorting, demonizing, dividing, and editorializing with some new set of soundbites every day....

So in your view the media is modeling themselves after our president.
Well, except for the "facts" part. He's pretty much devoid of those.

if only! this is how it SHOULD be. good news coverage should be about reporting the facts - allow people to come to their own conclusions, not force feed them biased views. people are biased enough and will form their own views based around their particular leanings.

human nature being what it is, i can't see it ever getting there.

It would be interesting to see a comparison of the percentage of times Trump made an untrue statement and retracted it vs the percentage of times Trump's "FAKE NEWS" media did.

People are too stupid to be permitted to properly analyze facts and reach proper decisions.

I agree 100%. Why do you think Trump got elected?
Enough people believed the "alternative facts" because it supported their biases. People crave validation.

 

[pointless]

sure, it'd be nice if it came about naturally, but that's not happening any time soon. of course, you'd probably prefer government repression because you're a cunt. that might happen.

and it will suck if it does.

 

[pointless]

also, the alt-right fakenews nonsense is not a needed alternative to mainstream media, so, you know, fuck you.

 

[Adjudicator]

People are too stupid to be permitted to properly analyze facts and reach proper decisions. We have to pass the bill to know what is in it. Wait, isn't that a celebrity over there? She know what you should think, plus she is wearing cool glasses. My hair is better than yours, so I know what you should think. Experts believe, 8 of 10 doctors agree, studies indicate, consensus states, the science is settled.

If 7 billion people were smart enough to know what is best for them, they would be smart enough to not pick 100,000 people to rule their lives. Listen to the elites, they are elite because they know things.

The truth is, the news simply reflects the desire of modern people to be fed palatable food for the lowest price.

The truth is people are stupid and easily manipulated. Most Americans do not want to be bothered to think. Your post is spot on.

 

[butters]

So in your view the media is modeling themselves after our president.
Well, except for the "facts" part. He's pretty much devoid of those.

It would be interesting to see a comparisonIt would be interesting to see a comparison of the percentage of times Trump made an untrue statement and retracted it vs the percentage of times Trump's "FAKE NEWS" media did. of the percentage of times Trump made an untrue statement and retracted it vs the percentage of times Trump's "FAKE NEWS" media did.

I agree 100%. Why do you think Trump got elected?
Enough people believed the "alternative facts" because it supported their biases. People crave validation.

good lord, he'd give 'em a great run for their money - and he seems to be held less accountable than the media for their nonsense! you know he;s claiming he never said what he said but that it was fox news? just jaw dropping.

the trouble is, and certain people with power to use will do so without prompting, the media is awash with so much crap at all levels that the real stuff, the well written, insightful, informative, true expose stuff? it all gets lost in the noise. it's pretty much why i'll never buy a newspaper and though i'll listen to the news i know i'll almost never be hearing unadultered, unbiased, slanted stories. how refreshing it would be *sigh*

 

[Wrong Element]

Renard dramatically underestimates the extent to which Trump has made the news cycle work to his benefit. If something ever threatens to become a continuing story that might put a dent in him, all he has to do is get on Twitter and poof! it's forgotten.