I like to think I'm smart. I like to think I can gather facts and form an opinion. I like to think that if I'm well-informed, I can have a meaningful discussion with someone else.
I like to think. Period.
Which is why, when I turn on the television to get information about what's going on in the world today, I want facts. It's great if the facts come from lots of different sources. But really, I'm looking to just gather pieces of true information.
I do not watch television "news" to hear shouting, screaming, crying or histrionics.
Nor do I care about someone else's viewpoint. I can reach my own conclusions, thanks.
Nor do I want to hear someone tell me what my opinion should be, unless they proceed to intelligently back it up. I am perfectly capable of forming my own opinions.
Will I listen to informed viewpoints that differ from my own? Absolutely. I believe that's a great way to learn and add depth to my own intelligence.
But what do I learn by staring at someone who is screaming a crazed, one-sided, extreme version of my own opinion?
Nothing.
I take that back. I learn how to be lazy, reactionary, uninformed, abusive, dogmatic, and stupid.
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Essentially, when you watch the TV 'news' that's on these days you become just another one of the flock of sheep.
People are too lazy these days to be informed. They're just knee-jerk jerks who adopt the opinions and the talking points of people they see on TV or hear on sports-talk radio.
I think that's where the news business has done itself and humanity a disservice. The ownership at media outlets has slowly moved toward entertainment as the breadwinning product.
No longer do they place enough value on good reporting. And they certainly don't respect viewers' intelligence enough to let the people decide for themselves.
It's just silly. And out-of-touch. It's the way politicians and hollywood has been for years. And now the gap between us and them is wider than ever.
I cry for the future. Because people won't even be smart enough to know for whom the bell tolls.
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