There is a Dark Side

50 Replies

Well, I’m afraid it is happening again. I’m about to have a rant. So, in keeping with my character, I am warning you.  Not everyone may agree with what I have to say and I can appreciate that.  If I offend you, I apologize but that will in no way change my opinion. Read on, if you dare.

We live in a digital age. Information is passed instantly from person to person, country to country. We do not have the luxury of time to think, we simply react. I am not a fan. However, the ability to exchange information instantly has an upside. The media employs this daily and we do reap the benefits. The media is often getting a bad rap but not all of it is deserved. They perform a vital service that we could, in all honesty, not to do without. But the media has a dark side. It is dangerous, it is insidious and it is all too real. Let me give you a fictitious example… I would like to think this is fictitious but it may not be, in all honesty.

A young politician is walking down the street towards his office gripping his first latte of the day. He’s feeling good about his constituents about his belief in the system when he is approached by a pseudo-reporter. A microphone is thrust into his face and a very attractive young woman asks a question: “Are you using still cocaine on the job?” The young politician has not built up a repertoire of how to deal with such intrusions so he simply looks stunned, shakes his head and tries to bolt for the building. All of this is caught on camera. Our pseudo-reporter now has the time to interpret his reaction in the most salacious and derogatory manner she can. That’s what sells right? But she has 3000 followers and within seconds they all know what she wants them to know. The young politician? Never touched a drug in his life and now his career as a politician is in tatters.

Too many people out there are interested in dirt, scandal, salaciousness, vulgarity and you can package it anywhere you want. They don’t want the truth; they probably wouldn’t even know if you hit them with it. They want gossip. And there is an aspect to the media nowadays whose only goal seems to be the gutter. Should we call him the Gutter Media? Or Dirt Mongers? They spread hatred through half-truths and lies, false news and innuendo. They are the Media Terrorists that we should be afraid of. And they are protected. Sadly, they are protected by the Freedom of Speech. That freedom was bought and paid for by our ancestors who died for those rights.

If you feed a child nothing but sugar and fatty foods from a young age, they will grow up to crave it. Few will be able to make the break. That is what a section of the media is doing to us. They say we are asking for it and they are right only because we have become addicted. We need to break the addiction; we absolutely need to!

50 thoughts on “There is a Dark Side”

  1. John Hric

    We frequently simply react. I will not call it the news media – for the news media do frequently simply report. Then there is the twist and contort media – they simply do damage with no – absolutely no concern for the fabric of society or for people’s lives. They prey without mercy on the gullible. And they raise the standing of lessor monsters.

    Liked by 3 people

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  2. Dan Antion

    The “news folk” you speak of are not interested in news. They are their own brand of entertainment. For a while, we called them infotainment (it’s a word my spellcheck understands), but each year, there is less and less “info” in the mix. There are popular “news” people here in the US that argued in court that “since the news show is mainly opinion, they are under no obligation to report the truth.” They argued, in court, that they are allowed to lie. I won’t name them, because I suspect they all do this. Just like the reporter in your hypothetical example, but not hypothetical. A dark side, indeed,

    Liked by 2 people

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  3. Jennie

    You are spot on! The media is controlling everything, worst of all our way of thinking. They only care about ratings and sensationalism. They don’t care about truth or reporting. What used to be Walter Cronkite has become 60-Minutes, non stop. Best to you, Pam.

    Liked by 2 people

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  4. Murphy's Law

    Bravo for a powerful piece of writing that tells it like it is. When we lost Walter Cronkite, we lost our last newscaster and newscast. Since then they are nothing but “rag magazines” on steroids. It’s all about ratings, popularity, designer clothes and professionally quaffed hair and applied makeup.

    You’re right Pam. Most people don’t want to hear the truth anymore. It’s just not as exciting or as juicy as the lies these talking heads spew. I wonder what would happen if millions of us boycotted all these shows for even just two weeks. Stopped filling the coffers of their advertisers. I bet we could bring them to their knees. Hmmmmmm……..
    Ginger

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. John W. Howell

    When I worked on the school newspaper we were taught to seek the who, what, where, when, and why of a story. Any reporter following these tenants would have a rough time fabricating a story since facts would be needed to answer all the questions. I think the public has stopped demanding these answers. It is now just who and what.

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  6. lstipancic

    Well said. I hope someone in the “media” actually reads your post. Not only does the media report partial information (if any information at all), they are greatly responsible for the hatred and tension that is spreading throughout the country. Truth be told, 24 hour news channels has lead to this path of how freedom of speech is destructive. When you are on 24 hours a day, there probably isn’t enough news to report, so now we get opinions of reporters and no longer get the facts.

    Liked by 2 people

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  7. Mark Lanesbury

    And our fears hold us tight to it, like an addict to cocaine. But all it needs is a simple thing…a belief in ourselves, a courage to love ourselves enough to follow what our hearts have always asked…and finally be free ❤️ 🙏🏽 🦋

    Liked by 2 people

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  9. bikerchick57

    I agree wholeheartedly with you, Pam. The ugliness, lies, and darkness of social media is not helping civilization be the best it can be. Instead it helps to guide people into non-factual, hateful and strange truths because certain people and their media outlets keep beating that drum. There is so much that could be changed in our society to lead us to a peaceful existence, but it means getting rid of the dark forces that want otherwise and that is a extra-tall order.

    Liked by 2 people

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  10. Melanie B Cee

    Bravo missy! Your words might be labelled as ‘rant’ by some, but those who read for content will know those words for what they are. The unvarnished TRUTH. Recently I was very gently chastised by someone I admire for ‘being part of the problem since I refuse to read, watch or otherwise engage with today’s ‘news’. I have disengaged for the reasons you gave so eloquently in your post today. I’d love to be informed. IF I could find ‘news’ that I trusted wasn’t speculation, opinion, and subjective, but nothing to do with real hard facts. Your take on that fictional politician was all too real sadly. The general population (IMHO) is given a story (not news) about a piece of a rumor that is in turn polished by the opinion of the person spouting that ‘news’ and spun to a fine point by some spin doctor or person with an ulterior motive. It’s horrifying. I can be depressed without help from such ‘news’ thanks. I applaud you for speaking out!

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. quiall Post author

      Thank you Melanie! I agree wholeheartedly with you. I find myself staying with headlines because I’m not sure I can trust the content.

      Like

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  11. Rivers Renewed

    I’m not sure which news you are watching Pam but I don’t think it’s all like that. CNN is sensationalism but I like CBS, and NBC online. Maybe that’s the difference. I don’t watch TV. The only thing I see that’s an issue is lifting Hollywood and music stars WAY to high. I really don’t care to hear them air their grievances or problems!

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. quiall Post author

      You are right Nico. Not all of the news it’s like what I write about. But there is a pervasiveness about it and it is far too prevalent. I have witnessed it. Friends have witnessed it. Too many people can be pseudo reporters without the qualifications.

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Rivers Renewed

        Yes I see your point. To be honest though the weird news I have seen is FOX News. Kind of makes me sick. Other news sources not as bad. Check out CBSN news online. You can watch for free 24/7. Seems to be well balanced. Peace.

        Liked by 2 people

  12. Dale

    I could not agree more, Pam. The “news” is no longer interested in sharing the news but in creating entertainment. And as long as people continue buying it, they will keep on selling it. I’m at the point when I hear a story, I go searching to see if any of it is real before I share. And if it’s just nasty stuff. I stuff it.

    Liked by 1 person

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  13. Sorryless

    I agree with you Pam. And may I add that much of the new media isn’t the traditional press you and me grew up with. Journalistic standards have deteriorated to the point where getting the story first matters more than getting the story right. That’s what happens when sourcing is replaced with sensationalism. The fact that we have bloggers who abide by no standards other than furthering their brand shouldn’t drag down established news outlets, but it has. Sadly.

    Liked by 1 person

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      1. Sorryless

        And when the “news” is little more than a series of opinion pieces slanted by whichever side is dealing them up, it provides the population with a sense of entitlement. Very dangerous stuff.

        Liked by 1 person

  14. CarolCooks2

    Sadly there are those who feed on it…and it’s a numbers game the reporters “know what sells “. I in no way advocate big game hunting BUT any news goes viral…FB, for example, is cluttered with the damn posts and the opinions …However, post something about Climate change and what the effect those helium-filled party balloons have on the poor animals for a start and you may get 3 likes and a comment it certainly won’t go viral…we are fighting a losing battle as although I myself don’t watch all of this so many more do…Have a lovely week, Pam 🙂 x

    Liked by 2 people

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  17. joylennick

    Thanks for the rant, Pamela. You are right..It seems to be a sad part of the times, Technology and reporting can be impressive and praise-worthy, unless it’s twisted! Dirt, too often, sells, more’s the pity. x

    Liked by 1 person

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  18. Pingback: There is a Dark Side – farhan

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