Weapon of Mass Instruction

Two Thoughts for Tuesday




Thought #1

I am thinking that the most powerful weapon on the planet...no more than that really....the UNIVERSE is the power of the media.   It seems that within minutes of anything happening the media is all over it.  AND not necessarily in a good way.   News programs have wafted into editorial programs.  What might otherwise just be a report of an event turns into inferences of who is right and who is wrong, who might be responsible and who might be the victim or hero as the case may be.

Recently, I was taking a personality assessment test (related to work) that asked the question "Do you consider that most people can be easily led and tend to follow the pack?"  I customarily would scream out "Hell, yes, no doubt about it.... but that particular answer wasn't among my choices.  I picked a answer in the middle as I am a coward and don't want to come across as a total cynic (even though that should be apparent to anyone that has ever talked to me). Are any of us so naive that we would think that the majority of us are truly independent thinkers? 

Take for example, the media coverage of the missing baby in Kansas City, Lisa Irwin.  Now, I haven't got a clue as to what happened to the little girl  but nor will I understand the bizarre twists that seem to be revealed daily that are linked to this tragic event.  No sooner was the Amber Alert issued, then  quickly removed that stories started coming out about problems between the police and the baby's parents.  Within a day or two of the story breaking, a local man was on the news saying he had volunteered to join in a search group for the little girl but there wasn't one to join.  The reason there weren't search parties was due to the fact that on the  preceding night the local news venues were saying that the parents were being uncooperative.   A day later when the news programs reported that the parents were again talking to the police, the search was back on.  It appears that the public interest/involvement peaks and ebbs according to the positivity or negativity of the reports involving the parents.


My point is that an inaccurate or biased slant on a story can turn the direction on how the public perceives, reacts and judges any and all events.  A news story can quickly turn someone into a villain or a hero. They can be made into someone being idolized or despised. 

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Thought #2

Aren't I glad that my life isn't subject to constant media reporting.  I would hate to think that every misstep I ever took was broadcasted on the nightly news.   That would be especially true if the story was reported from a biased point of view.  Still, it would be lovely if I was the equivalent of "one of Ophrah's favorite things" or one of Kate Middleton-Windsor's outfits where everyone just wanted to love all that is Cheryl P.


Alas, my life is fairly small...no big media blitzes to hype my products, my style or my philosophies.  I don't have hoards of people trying to emulate my every move nor do I have any really big salacious stories that would make front page news in the gossip rags....my dirty laundry  is really

What are your thoughts?  Is the media setting the tone for the positive outcome or the derailment of any given event?????   If you were the subject of a media blitz, do you think you would come across as the hero or the villain?  Would you be the beloved celebrity or would you come across as the "not to be trusted"?




The Good for the day...That we have access to the news that is important.

The Bad for the Day....the hype and media that makes vapid celebrities famous.

The Weird for the Day....The media circus that creates the interest in million dollar weddings that lead to marriages that last 72 days. That, my blogees, could be a whole other discussion.