About The Crap We Call Network News.

[the eternal]

Good points, Cher. Here's the counterbalance.

How much of it do we utilize?

And how much more time do we just spend going to websites that reinforce our already ingrained political views.

AND, the double edged sword of major news outlets is that at least they are held accountable if they lie.

They give their real names.

There IS no check or balance in the blogosphere where we increasingly get our information.

Today I can start a website and report any falsehood, and no one can do anything about it.

Who's going to sue Swordmandrill47?

At least the NYTimes has to post a retraction, when it lies.

Of course the easy way around that is to just report crap that has no substance or controversial content to begin with.

Therein lies the problem.

What is safe and cheap to do is what is rotting out our skulls and filling it with Britney Spears-style cheez whiz.

I dont think it's some grand conspiracy.

Just simple economics.

Make your appeal as broad as possible.

Say little.

Offend no one.

Educate no one as well.

We suck.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Physical newspapers are going away because of the web. Why wait to read the paper when much of the same stuff is on the web... or could be? I like the web as a news source... the immediacy is great. It also means anyone can post, which is a double edged sword. It makes some sense to consolidate national and international news coverage... why duplicate effort? Again... a double edged sword. One person may not get the whole story. A dozen quite likely will. Killing staff means local events don't get covered properly though.

What I saw in the story is that corporate interests are dictating what "news" is. That's why I go elsewhere to find it.

Can you find a news source not backed by a major corp?

[Destroit]

Good points, Cher. Here's the counterbalance.

How much of it do we utilize?

And how much more time do we just spend going to websites that reinforce our already ingrained political views.

AND, the double edged sword of major news outlets is that at least they are held accountable if they lie.

They give their real names.

There IS no check or balance in the blogosphere where we increasingly get our information.

Today I can start a website and report any falsehood, and no one can do anything about it.

Who's going to sue Swordmandrill47?

At least the NYTimes has to post a retraction, when it lies.

Of course the easy way around that is to just report crap that has no substance or controversial content to begin with.

Therein lies the problem.

What is safe and cheap to do is what is rotting out our skulls and filling it with Britney Spears-style cheez whiz.

I dont think it's some grand conspiracy.

Just simple economics.

Make your appeal as broad as possible.

Say little.

Offend no one.

Educate no one as well.

We suck.

Good points as always on your part also.

As for your question: "How much of it do we utilize?"

Not sure if it was aiming to be rhetorical, but the true tragedy is that we don't. We don't utilize any of it.

It's sick, all of my age group only gives a shit about who's going to win American Idol next year, not who's going to win the election.

Fucked up mad world it is indeed...

I get friends that even get angry or annoyed when I bring up anything about politics and science, they'd rather talk about the last chick they banged or how big the blunt was that was going around at the party last night.

So....that's why you're all my friends now :

Damn...I'm back to being cheesy again. Can someone slap me? It's getting out of control...

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Does it matter where I slap you? Do i get to tie you up first?

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Sorry, thouoght i was someone else for a sec there....

man old enough to be your father saying pervy things backing away.

[Msterbeau]

Can you find a news source not backed by a major corp?

Many bloggers, individual eyewitnesses, etc.. The problem there is corroboration. Anyone can say what they want. Who do you believe? But if they're serious, you at least get a hint at what's going on and can then go search for more info yourself.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

I will never buy bloggers as a news source. Rumor source... Opinion source... yes, News? no. I mean, for most of them... where did they get thier information?

[know_buddy_kares]

I will never buy bloggers as a news source. Rumor source... Opinion source... yes, News? no. I mean, for most of them... where did they get thier information?

well if you want to go the way of a blogger, good ones will post links to their own source that they base their opinions from. Usually, though I don't refer to bloggers as noteworthy sources as many will say it's propaganda. Usually, what is said in a place like this is just the same as blogging, everyone having a different opinion based on relatively the same, or similar factual sources.

[Destroit]

Does it matter where I slap you? Do i get to tie you up first?

Ooooh actually that made me laugh, just because you usually don't say pervy things like that randomly. I'm not offended obviously, but you made me choke on my coffee in laughter, damnit!