If the things that are written the space that follows affect you in any way, then keep reading. It's doing its job. And thank you, for letting it.
I thank you because commentary, by nature doesn't survive on its own accord - it only lives and dies by the reactions to it. If the reactions are strong, in either direction, then I believe the commentary serves its purpose. If the commentary allows you to make your own opinion, then that's gravy.
This is not groundbreaking material I assure you, but hear me out.
What has happened with the growth of technology is the democratization of opinion - everyone has one, and everyone believes that they have a right to express it. The birth of this very blog, for a prime example.
The unwitting and ugly stepchild of this however, is the complete saturation of quality commentary, and as a result, the catering to the fringes. In order for opinion to resonate at all today, it seems that it has to come from left field and leave a lasting impression. That's all that seems to matter. The lasting impression. Not the quality of the statement, or the credibility of the informant. The path that the commentary takes is irrelevant, as long as at the end of the day, it stays. From this we see the birth of shock jock mentality of opinion. Keith Olbermann is breathlessly snide, Chris Matthews shouts, Rush Limbaugh bombasts. Since when did it only bcome about delivery? Listen to sports talk radio for more than five minutes, well, try to without getting your ears blown out by all the screaming.
So I issue a challenge. Turn the dials down. Filter out the bombastic nature of the talking heads. Search for quality.
Keywords: Media
