This is a conversation that took place on Google chat between Jeff and myself on October 13, 2008. It is about the media, the elections, and the American people.
Jeff: :)
me: read it already
Jeff: :) you're so up-to-date on current events!
me: i know!
just the election
i read everything i can find
that's a good one
about how mccain sold out the reublican party
how it doesn't raise your temp.
me: wow
no i hadnt read that
Jeff: didn't sound too scripted did it?
me: she's one delusional person. roves told her how to spin it
but it sure sounds scripted
and bullshit
Jeff: love the way she didn't answer the ONE actual question she was asked
me:
the internet has changed elections....they can't bold face lie anymore
and get away with it, there's too much information out there
Jeff: sure they can. because it's still too difficult to find the truth
The internet actually makes things even more confusing in some ways
too many sources
Most people read the first source they come across and make that the truth
me: i KNEW u would disagree with me :)
people look for consistency
and when there is consistency among stories
Jeff: people?
me: people learn what to believe
people are far more critically thinking in this country than you give them credit for
Jeff: how many sources create consistency?
me: 3-ish
Jeff: no they aren't
people are lazy
me: there are a shitload of very smart, educated people in this country
not EVERYONE
is lazy, stupid, gullible
Jeff: and an equal amount of lazy under educated ones
me: we can't be the ONLY smart people in this country
come on!
Jeff: exactly!
me: you sound elitist
fox news changed elections 4 years ago
bigtime
but this year, foxnews is laughable. their reach is only so far
yes, the convince the stupid, ignorant, lazy people
but there aren't ENOUGH of them
who vote
Jeff:
no I don't. I sound realist. I in know way undervalue anyone. I do
beleive though that people by nature smart or not so smart as LAZY and
prefer to be spoon-fed information
me: there are a lot of people out there who, like us, do research and make good informed decisions
Jeff: :)
me: it seriously sounds like a) either you think WE are stupid, lazy
and ignorant or b) you believe we are the only ones out there who aren't we'll see come election day
i am physically lazy
but not mentally so
Jeff:
put the passion aside love. and yes I AM saying that we as "people" are
lazy when it comes to information gathering. if we weren't then
spinning wouldn't work. It is in the very essence of spin doctrine that
your audience wont dig as much as they should to find the actual facts
me: yes, i agree, which is why it works on a lot of people
Jeff: which is all I was saying
me: i am saying this year we are seeing a difference in that MORE people are out there who are voting who are not being spun
Jeff: works on all people regardless of an IQ
me: it's not IQ
i am not mentally active because i have a high IQ
Jeff: you just want to fight for the sake of fighting :P
me: i am because i am passionate, curious, interested and critical thinking (i know you hate that term lol)
i'm not fighting just strongly disagreeing :)
Jeff: k, critical thinker.....Tell me what's wrong with Obama?
:)
me: k let me think for a minute
he might be too naive
Jeff: you mean you haven't though about this already?
me:
he may be better with words than action (but i doubt it. he was quite
the community organizer, and those people need to know how to get
things done)
i just needed a minute to formulate
but
no, i haven't thought about it a great deal because i have been too
focused on beating mccain and the desire to have someone - anyone -
else in the whitehouse (who is a democrat)
Jeff: so then you've fully researched just how effective his results were as an organizer?
EXACTLY!
my point!
me: i was fully critical of clinton
Jeff: thank you!
:)
me: because i had the luxury of being so
MY original point was this:
the
media is changing....the internet is responsible for that
change....because there is now more consistent information out there
because if there isn't, you won't be taken seriously
geez!
and with obama the bottom line is i trust the guy...i have faith
i trust his intentions are the right ones
Jeff:
but the internet doesn't show consistency sweets. It shows a vast
diversity of information both good and bad. YOU and your brain sought
out a consistency that held true to your way of thinking. It's no
different than deciding which news station to watch on the surface.
Sure it's easier to validate a point, because it's at your fingertips,
but that doesn't make it the absolute truth, just the convenient one.
The internet is only a tool. not a truth
me: ok ok ok we can agree to disagree
Jeff: :)