The internet is more 'moronic' than television.


“The Internet is a big distraction. It's distracting, it's meaningless; it's not real. It's in the air somewhere.”

― Ray Bradbury

Personally, I think TV is one of the worst things that has ever happened to our country. It aims for the lowest common denominator, and then it keeps lowering it.

What do you think? Does the quality of what's on offer reflect the culture as it is now, or does it manipulate it?

Money corrupts, power will always seek to maintain control, never satisfied, enemic god complexes from greed.

ALL media is a tool of supply and demand....controlled by money.

To think it is not manipulative is a fools choice.

Every participant, user or supplier, is seeking something, the media supplies it..... a dangerous tool, too long under the wrong control.... just like our gov't and monetary system!

Go to Hulu and watch the old movie "They Live", then "1984"....aquaint yourself to the new world from 20+ year old films.

http://www.dailypaul.com/133313/francisco-d-anconias-ayn-rands-money-speech-in-atlas-shrugged

There are a few shows on television that I enjoy.

The Internet is my library, my recipe book, etc.

Netflix is nice because you can watch something without advertising.

Like drugs, television and the Internet can be abused and over used.

What really annoys me is text messaging on cell phones.

It does both. That's the nature of mass market media. It both reflects who we are and leads us into what we will be.

1. WILL THE REAL DUMMY PLEASE STAND UP?
AT&T fired President John Walter after nine months, saying he lacked
intellectual leadership. He received a $26 million severance package.
Perhaps it's not Walter who's lacking intelligence.

2. WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS:
Police in Oakland, California spent two hours attempting to subdue a gunman
who had barricaded himself inside his home. After firing ten tear gas
canisters, officers discovered that the man was standing beside them in the
police line, shouting, "Please come out and give yourself up."

3. WHAT WAS PLAN B???
An Illinois man, pretending to have a gun, kidnapped a motorist and forced
him to drive to two different automated teller machines, wherein the
kidnapper proceeded to withdraw money from his own bank accounts.

4. THE GETAWAY!
A man walked into a Topeka, Kansas Kwik Stop, and asked for all the money in
the cash drawer. Apparently, the take was too small, so he tied up the store
clerk and worked the counter himself for three hours until police showed up
and grabbed him.
It wasn't a total loss though as the Kwik Stop was forced to pay him for 3 hours of work at minimum wage. $18.75 was deposited into his commissary account at the prison.

5. DID I SAY THAT???
Police in Los Angeles had good luck with a robbery suspect who just couldn't
control himself during a lineup. When detectives asked each man in the lineup
to repeat the words: "Give me all your money or I'll shoot," the man shouted,
"That's not what I said!"

6. ARE WE COMMUNICATING??
A man spoke frantically into the phone, "My wife is pregnant and
her contractions are only two minutes apart!" "Is this her first child?"
the doctor asked. "No!" the man shouted, "This is her husband!"

7. NOT THE SHARPEST TOOL IN THE SHED!!
In Modesto, California, Steven Richard King was arrested for trying to hold
up a Bank of America branch without a weapon. King used a thumb and a finger
to simulate a gun, but unfortunately, he failed to keep his hand in his
pocket.(hellllllooooooo!)

8. THE GRAND FINALE (I LOVE THIS ONE!!!)
Last summer, down on Lake Isabella, located in the high desert, an hour east
of Bakersfield, California, some folks, new to boating, were having a
problem. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't get their brand new 22
ft boat going. It was very sluggish in almost every maneuver, no matter how
much power was applied. After about an hour of trying to make it go, they
putted to a nearby marina, thinking someone there could tell them what was
wrong. A thorough topside check revealed everything in perfect working condition.
The engine ran fine, the out drive went up and down, and the propeller was the correct size and pitch.
So, one of the marina guys jumped in the water to check underneath. He came up
choking on water, he was laughing so hard. NOW REMEMBER... THIS IS TRUE ...
Under the boat, still strapped securely in place, was the trailer.

I want a fried twinkie!

It is obvious that you COMPLETELY missed my point. Btw, I've studied every available text written by Orwell at a tertiary level, and you are clearly exaggerating.

Indeed, I was playing on the old question: Does art reflect society, or does society reflect art?

So, if the content on television reflects who we are, to criticise it is to criticise ourselves? If, as stated by Bradbury, 'television makes us stupid', perhaps we are already stupid?

I haven't really watched TV in several years (except for a few episodes of House and Big Bang Theory). In fact, I don't even own a TV anymore. But, I do have a small, portable DVD player to watch my favorite films on.

There have been a few really good TV shows, All in the Family comes to mind, but for the most part it's pretty mindless.

Usually I just watch TED talks on youtube or documentaries on HULU. I enjoy educating myself on a variety of subjects.

Nova

I think it takes a very small part of the shallowest urban culture and exaggerates that into being the norm for everyone. But it's not all about the culture. The other evil of TV is the way advertisers control it, the content and the format of the programs and of course the seductiveness of the commercials themselves. The visual nature of television was a pure gift to the business world. We've gotten so used to being manipulated we don't even seem to mind it any more.

I went 10 years without TV. Once I moved from that particular location, I got cable because I'd missed Animal Planet and a couple of other channels. Imagine my surprise to fine how much they'd changed. I know about TED and Hulu, but for some reason watching things on my computer isn't as comfortable as watching on TV. Maybe I need a bigger monitor? Better sound? I'm not sure what it is.

that is so sad and true and scary

my thought exactly,, all the while we fool ourself into believing technology makes us superior and evolved,, we become so much weaker as families and communities,,,,,

a shame

Depending on where you have your computer located and how new your TV is, but you can have your computer play through your TV.

Wasn't too worried as he had his own show on where? Oh yeah, TV.