Ugh

[supermike80 1,304]

The eclipse was kind of a let down. I know of no pets that are now blind.

But I was checking out Yahoo and it's eclipse coverage .

All good except the comments section. I'd say 25% of all the comments were political in nature.

 

Really? Do you fock wads think about politics that much that you cant even look at an eclipse without bringing Obama or Trump into It?

 

What the hell? How did we get here?

[NewbieJr 540]

The eclipse was kind of a let down. I know of no pets that are now blind.

But I was checking out Yahoo and it's eclipse coverage .

All good except the comments section. I'd say 25% of all the comments were political in nature.

 

Really? Do you fock wads think about politics that much that you cant even look at an eclipse without bringing Obama or Trump into It?

 

What the hell? How did we get here?

When Rupert Murdoch started Fox News during the Clinton administration. It was basically war on the Democratic party. In return, stations formed with a counter opinion. Nowadays, everyone has a 'side'. No one is watching news to get the news. They are watching news to hear a pep rally about their team and reasons why the other side is so bad. The internet, with message boards, Facebook, Twitter, etc, just magnifies it by 1000.

[rholio 339]

When Rupert Murdoch started Fox News during the Clinton administration. It was basically war on the Democratic party. In return, stations formed with a counter opinion. Nowadays, everyone has a 'side'. No one is watching news to get the news. They are watching news to hear a pep rally about their team and reasons why the other side is so bad. The internet, with message boards, Facebook, Twitter, etc, just magnifies it by 1000.

 

Add CNN with 24hr 'news' coverage when cable was first getting popular. They quickly found commentators talking about the news burned up much more time than simply reporting it.

[supermike80 1,304]

Add CNN with 24hr 'news' coverage when cable was first getting popular. They quickly found commentators talking about the news burned up much more time than simply reporting it.

Nope. Neither of these replies explains it.

Fox news 24 hour news. Blah blah. Why do people think about politics ALL THE TIME now?

 

Why? If you're telling me that its cause of TV I say I suppose that's possible but there's more to it than that.

That's a simplistic explanation and not good enough for me

[Hardcore troubadour 12,777]

Doesn't help that every actor, singer and way too many athletes have to chime in with their moronic views every time you turn around. There's no escape from it.

[wiffleball 4,655]

Add CNN with 24hr 'news' coverage when cable was first getting popular. They quickly found commentators talking about the news burned up much more time than simply reporting it.

It's not just that. It's economics. News is expensive;

You have to fly a reporter, a camera guy, sound guy, and at least one producer to wherever.

Put them up for as long as it takes.

Then produce the piece, etc.

 

MUCH cheaper to find some unqualified fockwad from wherever to be an 'advocate' for next to nothing.

 

That last part is what's changed. Prior to this election, we didn't have just "Trump supporter, Democratic Advocate, etc."

You needed a title and a job of some type. Not now. Even their reporters aren't qualified.

And CNN's Political Head? Cizilla? Read up on his background sometime.

Half of us are better qualified.

But CNN (like Fox) has opted for Springer over Substance.

[mobb_deep 918]

Trump should build a wall around the sun, so the moon stops raping the sun rays.

[wiffleball 4,655]

A couple things I'd disagree upon;

 

1) If you're a headline grabbing buffoon - or the subject is salacious enough, it doesn't matter WHAT party. So many of the Trumptards (and before that, Bush) totally (conveniently? or intellect?) forget the non-stop Monica coverage. But these days, 'The Right' (not my right, that's for sure) is the biggest group of victims on the planet. Used to be a 'vast RW conspiracy'. Now, it's the Libruhl Left Wing Media.

 

Lather rinse repeat next time.

 

2) The facts ARE out there. More so now than ever before. But if you insist on one-stop shopping, good luck. But don't pull the shiit that the facts can't be found because the Left/Right/Illuminati, etc. won't let you see them. Most people just want to get a headline and corresponding opiinion that meets their pre-existing narrative before they head out the door.

 

We're dumber now than ever - but not from a lack of available information.

[mobb_deep 918]

God was trolling Trump by making the sun black.

[supermike80 1,304]

It's not just that. It's economics. News is expensive;

You have to fly a reporter, a camera guy, sound guy, and at least one producer to wherever.

Put them up for as long as it takes.

Then produce the piece, etc.

 

MUCH cheaper to find some unqualified fockwad from wherever to be an 'advocate' for next to nothing.

 

That last part is what's changed. Prior to this election, we didn't have just "Trump supporter, Democratic Advocate, etc."

You needed a title and a job of some type. Not now. Even their reporters aren't qualified.

And CNN's Political Head? Cizilla? Read up on his background sometime.

Half of us are better qualified.

But CNN (like Fox) has opted for Springer over Substance.

You're not answering the question. At all. This is not a debate about the quality of the talking head news outlets.

Focus. Why do so many Americans care about politics so much that they can't just watch an eclipse without making a worthless political comment?

 

Is it just social media? Did our parents think this but didn't have an outlet to express It?

 

Did your mom and dad watch an eclipse and think "damn I hate kennedy" or whomever.

 

Are we more obsessed with politics now than earlier generations or are we just able to express them more easily?

 

Look, I get for many of you here this is way beyond your intellectual capabilities and you just want to grab the surface. It's easy. But not answering the question

[wiffleball 4,655]

I'm sorry, what's the question?

[wiffleball 4,655]

1. The interweb.

2. Bots - way more pervasive than most understand.

3. Trolls - I think many of them pull multiple duty - Multiple boards. I think it's mostly loneliness. Just like the nazis. It's fun to be part of a group.

 

4. Honestly, I see that shiit - all of it - calming down. Finally, service providers are seeing a financial downside. Before, the more hits the better. - No reason to police trolls. (Like Mike here) They are actively talking about the demise of Twitter. FB too. Then you add in the whole bullying kids thing? I think we'll see (are seeing?) a retrenchment.

 

5. But mostly. Trump.

[supermike80 1,304]

1. The interweb.

2. Bots - way more pervasive than most understand.

3. Trolls - I think many of them pull multiple duty - Multiple boards. I think it's mostly loneliness. Just like the nazis. It's fun to be part of a group.

 

4. Honestly, I see that shiit - all of it - calming down. Finally, service providers are seeing a financial downside. Before, the more hits the better. - No reason to police trolls. (Like Mike here) They are actively talking about the demise of Twitter. FB too. Then you add in the whole bullying kids thing? I think we'll see (are seeing?) a retrenchment.

 

5. But mostly. Trump.

Ok stop answering please

[supermike80 1,304]

I'm sorry, what's the question?

I know. You might wanna sit this one out. I like your posts mostly however

[fandandy 3,311]

You remind me of Kramer where his phone number is one off from the movie theater.

 

Why don't you just tell me what you want the reason to be...

[supermike80 1,304]

You remind me of Kramer where his phone number is one off from the movie theater.

 

Why don't you just tell me what you want the reason to be...

I just don't accept that its tv related. Sorry

[penultimatestraw 473]

It's a combination of things, most of which you've already listed:

1. Greater access to "news" by virtue of the internet and smart phones.

2. Instant reporting, in large part because of social media.

3. Almost anyone can create "news", without much accountability.

 

All those things have existed for a few years, which ramped up the political angst during Obama's presidency. Trump has taken it to another level while empowering a previously silent group of people whose political ideology emboldens conflict - nationalism isn't exactly a recipe for peace.

 

[supermike80 1,304]

It's a combination of things, most of which you've already listed:

1. Greater access to "news" by virtue of the internet and smart phones.

2. Instant reporting, in large part because of social media.

3. Almost anyone can create "news", without much accountability.

 

All those things have existed for a few years, which ramped up the political angst during Obama's presidency. Trump has taken it to another level while empowering a previously silent group of people whose political ideology emboldens conflict - nationalism isn't exactly a recipe for peace.

 

So because of news people think about politics more?

 

Maybe I'm over thinking it. Maybe I'm hoping for more.

But then again, let's understand who we are.

The #1 song on I tunes today is total eclipse of the heart.

Which has the word eclipse in it and has nothing more to do with today.

 

So we as Americans are ridiculously simple minded. So yeah I guess it could just be TV. Which is really really sad to me.

Sigh

[Hardcore troubadour 12,777]

Politics, like fantasy football, jumped the shark when everyone started doing it.

[supermike80 1,304]

Doesn't help that every actor, singer and way too many athletes have to chime in with their moronic views every time you turn around. There's no escape from it.

This actually is a good point I feel.

[fandandy 3,311]

People want to fit in. You get on a message board about pretty much anything and if/when it turns to politics there are suddenly two sides. There is something to be said for a lonely unfulfilled life and a Like. That little red icon glowing bright atop the page gives us a sense of acceptance, if only for a short time. I think that's a big part of it.

[supermike80 1,304]

People want to fit in. You get on a message board about pretty much anything and if/when it turns to politics there are suddenly two sides. There is something to be said for a lonely unfulfilled life and a Like. That little red icon glowing bright atop the page gives us a sense of acceptance, if only for a short time. I think that's a big part of it.

See? I knew there were smarties out there. I like this idea. There are so many out there that feel if they just make that perfect post or comment and people say "hey great comment" they will feel bettet about themselves.

 

So it's back to the social media issue.

Is it no different than our dads making a great point at an elk club meeting except now with the interweb so many more can see It?

Hmmmmm

 

I guess it kinda goes back to the earlier question. Are we more obsessed now or can we just see it more now?

 

I mean gotta think during the Vietnam era and the Nixon era political obsession was crazy high. But no facebook

[ZeroTolerance 582]

So because of news people think about politics more?

 

Maybe I'm over thinking it. Maybe I'm hoping for more.

But then again, let's understand who we are.

The #1 song on I tunes today is total eclipse of the heart.

Which has the word eclipse in it and has nothing more to do with today.

 

So we as Americans are ridiculously simple minded. So yeah I guess it could just be TV. Which is really really sad to me.

Sigh

I don't think it is just because there is more news, I think you have more people talking politics because you have the 'news' telling them what they are supposed to think about any event or story. It is easier to be outraged when you don't have to know anything about a subject and form your own opinion.

[wiffleball 4,655]

Ok stop answering please

Hehe he

[wiffleball 4,655]

This actually is a good point I feel.

Yes, because we certainly know that not a single actor or musician or poet or columnist or athlete or anyone else ever expressed an opinion about say, the Vietnam War. Including you know creating pretty much an entire new genre of music and film. Yes thank God for those Halcyon Days when nobody expressed an opinion. It's totally different now!

[penultimatestraw 473]

So because of news people think about politics more?

Maybe I'm over thinking it. Maybe I'm hoping for more.

But then again, let's understand who we are.

The #1 song on I tunes today is total eclipse of the heart.

Which has the word eclipse in it and has nothing more to do with today.

So we as Americans are ridiculously simple minded. So yeah I guess it could just be TV. Which is really really sad to me.

Sigh

Yes, we are inundated with news, far more than the past. And a big chunk of that is politics. Not just on tv.

 

But people are stupid too.

[MTSkiBum 1,599]

Yes, we are inundated with news, far more than the past. And a big chunk of that is politics. Not just on tv.

 

But people are stupid too.

Yes we are.

[Hardcore troubadour 12,777]

Yes, because we certainly know that not a single actor or musician or poet or columnist or athlete or anyone else ever expressed an opinion about say, the Vietnam War. Including you know creating pretty much an entire new genre of music and film. Yes thank God for those Halcyon Days when nobody expressed an opinion. It's totally different now!

Nothing like today. We hear it from every level now, not just a few. Besides, the majority of Americans wanted out of Vietnam. Those celebs were yelling at politicians, and preaching to the choir.