Luca
Master Statesman
Posts: 1,316
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Post by Luca on Jan 27, 2019 9:38:30 GMT -8
I don’t know what all your opinions are about President Trump. Obviously he is controversial. My own opinion is that for the most part I like what he’s trying to get done but I’m bewildered by his approach and his combativeness and his lack of PR sense. Maybe that’s essential to his goal, but more likely I think it’s just his personality.
To listen to his opponents you would think he was the second coming of Satan. The over the top hyperbole of his opponents, when it’s not amusing, it’s astonishing to behold. I’ve never seen any National politician so reviled. My belief is that it’s because he stands in direct opposition to their sincere believes that they represent virtual and progress that he is the barrier - The Wall, as it were - to all that is PC and “progressive’. But that’s for a different thread.
He won’t be president forever. Like all presidents he’ll be replaced but what will linger is the sorry evolution of the American media. We don’t even expect ballanced reporting anymore. CNN is a pathetic shadow of itself, and I used to rely on that outlet. I don’t trust the Washington Post or the New York Times anymore. Every time I read an article I first look to see who the author is and who is publishing it to see if I should put any credence in it.........before I read the first sentence. I think that’s true for most people now and I don’t think that’s going to change. The objectivity of reporting is kind of a quaint, obsolete remnant of former times when “the news” just reported the observed reality and the opinion section was for, well, opinions.
This media bias can’t be replaced, unlike a president. No one’s going to vote it out and there is no oversight. There’s no going back. This alarms me more than anything else...............Luca
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Luca
Master Statesman
Posts: 1,316
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Post by Luca on Jan 27, 2019 9:42:37 GMT -8
I don’t know what all your opinions are about President Trump. Obviously he is controversial. My own opinion is that for the most part I like what he’s trying to get done but I’m bewildered by his approach, his combativeness and his lack of PR sense. Maybe that’s essential to his goal, but more likely I think it’s just his personality.
To listen to his opponents you would think he was the second coming of Satan. The over the top hyperbole of his opponents, when it’s not amusing, it’s astonishing to behold. I’ve never seen any national politician so reviled. My belief is that it’s because he stands in direct opposition to their sincere beliefs that they represent virtue and progress that he is the barrier - The Wall, as it were - to all that is PC and “progressive”. But that’s for a different thread.
He won’t be president forever. Like all presidents he’ll be replaced but what will linger is the sorry evolution of the American media. We don’t even expect balanced reporting anymore. CNN is a pathetic shadow of itself, and I used to rely on that outlet. I don’t trust the Washington Post, LA Times or the New York Times anymore. Every time I read an article I first look to see who the author is and who is publishing it to see if I should put any credence in it.........before I read the first sentence. I think that’s true for most people now and I don’t think that’s going to change. Objectivity is kind of a quaint, obsolete remnant of former times when “the news” just reported the observed reality and the opinion section was for, well, opinions.
This media bias can’t be replaced, unlike a president. No one’s going to vote it out and there is no oversight. There’s no going back. This alarms me more than anything else...............Luca
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Bick
Administrator 
Posts: 6,900
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Post by Bick on Jan 27, 2019 11:18:47 GMT -8
A few friends of mine that are pretty hard core Trump supporters seem convinced that all these theatrics are a function of his brilliance. It's well past my level of understanding if that really is the case. He looks like I thought he was during his campaign - unnecessarily combative. So many times I recall thinking "just shut up...you've got this". I can see the argument that you need to be combative in order to get elected. But it seems very clear that switch hasn't yet flipped so he can get to the job of governing the country.
I agree with what he campaigned on...pretty much all of it. Unfortunately, it seems much of what he's done so far has been a result of ExO, and much of it can be undone by the next guy / gal, in the same way he undid Obama's because HE was unable to drive lasting consensus as well.
As for media bias, I'm conflicted. I'm not sure if the media is necessarily shaping the narrative more than they are delivering what's being demanded by their viewers. Maybe a chicken and egg argument, but thinking back to the thirst for watching slow moving car chases instead of the NBA Finals, the media seems to be very savvy of what sells. It ain't objective news. It's sensationalism. A regular rain storm demands multiple live remotes, an minor tremor that involved a bottle falling off a shelf commands on the scene reporters with eye witnesses describing in great detail the rumble, the sound of glass breaking, and the utter terror of it all. If I had a vote, I wouldn't blame the media for providing what's being demanded. I'd blame the shallow thinking of so many of Americans. I'd say that's the real danger. Might be way so many dictators control the narrative in the media so as to get the thinking back "in line" with what the country's leadership wants.
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Credo
Master Eminence Grise
Posts: 6,242
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Post by Credo on Jan 27, 2019 13:26:56 GMT -8
Two quick thoughts:
1. Donald Trump represents (is) an existential threat to the entire way Washington, D.C., operates and thus the reaction from both Democrats and the media (both on the same ideological page) and most of the GOP establishment.
2. Yes, much of the frenzy is media generated. In your neighborhoods across the USA, people aren't tearing each other apart. Things are pretty good, the economy is strong, and folks of every race and ethnicity pretty much get along with each other.
I have a lot more to say about Trump (whom I strongly support) but I have projects to work on today and will save it for another thread and another day. Thank God we can engage here without being accused of being either idiots or horrible human beings by the likes of Omar Bongo, Wabash, and Vilepagan.
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Luca
Master Statesman
Posts: 1,316
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Post by Luca on Jan 27, 2019 16:39:38 GMT -8
You racist, homophobic idiot. You have no idea what you're talking about........................Luca.
Incidentally, being labeled an idiot by Wabash is one of the highest complements one can receive.
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Credo
Master Eminence Grise
Posts: 6,242
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Post by Credo on Jan 28, 2019 19:41:00 GMT -8
Came across this quote today from St. Augustine's Confessions which I humbly think explains some of the vitriol I encountered on the political side of the OC Connect board from posting numerous documented accounts of the corruption of the FBI, DOJ, Hillary, Obama, etc.
The doctrine of the progressive liberal ideology has won over many minds and they prefer to ignore inconvenient truths.
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Bick
Administrator
Posts: 6,900
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Post by Bick on Jan 28, 2019 20:40:09 GMT -8
Credo - the vitriol, or whatever the heck that's called, isn't exclusive to you. There's a very clear ideology over there that I find hard to believe they're serious. Someone called it an echo chamber when I first started to get involved over there, and I got a good laugh out of it. But the more I got involved, the more I came to the conclusion it's more like a hardened religion. That religion is the denial of anything that resembles criticism of liberal thinking or liberal politicians.
What happened to you with the banning bit was inexcusable. It's why I'm over here now.
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Luca
Master Statesman
Posts: 1,316
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Post by Luca on Jan 31, 2019 16:11:06 GMT -8
About what I had expected.
His picture looks a little like Mr. Bean, doesn't it?
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Credo
Master Eminence Grise
Posts: 6,242
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Post by Credo on Jan 31, 2019 18:26:57 GMT -8
How can you be sure of his identity?
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Luca
Master Statesman
Posts: 1,316
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Post by Luca on Feb 2, 2019 14:41:20 GMT -8
........As for media bias, I'm conflicted. I'm not sure if the media is necessarily shaping the narrative more than they are delivering what's being demanded by their viewers. ......, the media seems to be very savvy of what sells. It ain't objective news. It's sensationalism...........If I had a vote, I wouldn't blame the media for providing what's being demanded. I'd blame the shallow thinking of so many of Americans. I'd say that's the real danger......... I agree with most of what you say, Bick, but I still believe the greater danger is the departure from conventional media standards. Yes, sensationalism sells. But I am not referring to the " If it bleeds, it leads", front page attention grabbing stuff. I am referring to the loss of editorial standards, the discipline to maintain journalistic standards and present both sides objectively without manufacturing news or reporting twitter foolishness as actual news. I understand that there has always been a bias in the US media going back before the time of Jefferson. But there has always been - for the most part - a certain correctness and gentility in editorials and reporting actual facts. Now the current president is routinely referred to - not just by the street whackos, but by national news outlets - as a racist, homophobe (and let me state again that this neologism is a mutilation of Latin roots), xenophobe, fascist, etc. etc. I have not yet heard him called a misanthrope, but that's probably because most of these pseudo-intellectuals have never heard of the word. I remember over the top criticism of Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, George Bush 43 and Barrack Obama, but never the vitriol that we now see routinely. Admittedly, Donald Trump has brought some of this on himself. But once this professionalism, this ethical tradition, has been breached, I don't know how it could ever be resurrected. There have always been shallow Americans, as you say, but I do have faith in the judgment of the average American. I am more concerned that the ideologically derived disinformation being fed to them is the greater danger over time.............................Luca (Incidentally, it might be me you were referring to. I once told those guys that the political side of that board had become a "monochromatic echo chamber." Mixed metaphors, but hopefully they understood |
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Bick
Administrator
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Post by Bick on Feb 3, 2019 12:36:51 GMT -8
Not sure who originally coined the echo chamber phrase over there, but it's a perfect description.
As it related to the real danger today, I don't disagree the loss of journalistic integrity is what shows as the key visual / symptom. But if you'll excuse the amateur medical metaphor, I think the underlying disease is the demand for such vitriol. Putting on my business hat, I'd say that industry is reacting to today's demands of its customers, and supplying what's being demanded in an increasingly "more attractive" package. Failure to meet that demand will mean the failure of that business. Hopefully, more grassroots forums like these spring up around the country, and are populated by larger numbers of folks from both sides of the aisle looking for more factual balance in the discussion of the issues.
Until that demand changes, I don't see much hope for what's being supplied in the media to change. Good Lord...I just quoted Obama.
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Bick
Administrator
Posts: 6,900
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Post by Bick on Feb 4, 2019 17:56:10 GMT -8
I don't know if it's the top of the heap, but it's got to be darn close...the absence of any semblance of humor brought about by political "correctness". Have you noticed how little laughter there is? Remember when we would look forward to the Superbowl commercials? Now it seems there is such fear of offending the perpetually offended, vanilla is the only choice. This piece by Todd Starnes struck a chord with me after watching yesterday's offerings. Ironically, I think it's going to take the old folks in the room to get the kids to "lighten up, Francis" Humorless Superbowl ads |
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MDDad
Master Eminence Grise
Posts: 6,814
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Post by MDDad on Feb 5, 2019 9:03:48 GMT -8
I think most people would admit that Fox News has become more of a cartoon show than a news outlet. It is so obviously one-sided that it's hard to take seriously or to watch it without laughing.
On the other hand, what the liberal news outlets are doing is much more devious. First, they are a business, they will do what it takes to get viewers and readers, and they know what we want is sensationalism. They also know much of America has been dumbed down or pussified, and they cater to that reality. Factor in a heavy dose of bias and ideology, and you get what we have today. They very selectively headline some stories while omitting others, flavored with a heavy touch of bias, and bingo: Journalism that is not only unwatchable, but that has cast doubt on the very concepts of truth, honesty and information.
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SK80
Master Eminence Grise
Posts: 7,376
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Post by SK80 on Feb 5, 2019 14:13:00 GMT -8
Cartoonish is on both sides but down right dishonesty is on MSNBC and CNN. I think Trump has done alot to bring to light the disaster forces that American news has become.
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Post by coach on Feb 5, 2019 15:34:51 GMT -8
How can you be sure of his identity? Trust me. I know who he is and I think it inappropriate for him to be on the boards all day poking fun at Tax Payers that paid his salary. He was a fireman and I remember when RSM789 got in trouble when he mentioned Wabash got paid to sleep. LOL |
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