| Author |
Message |
    
Cato Nova
Citizen
Username: Cato_nova
Post Number: 40
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 9:26 am: |     |
I was stunned last night that the Channel 2 11 pm news led off with a four to five minute story on a fifteen year old girl who purchased a vibrator (or personal massager) at a NJ store. Apparently her grandmother found out, and the news "story" started with about one minute of the girl's mother haranguing the clerk for selling her daughter (who she identified by name) the item.
Leaving aside the question of how humiliating this must be for the poor girl being exposed on national TV in front of millions, is this what the First Amendment protects? That was the day's big story? How many people have died in Iraq this past week? What is happening in Afghanistan? What nations did Pakistan give nuclear bomb-making material to? How about the deficit? What's next, a story about how a sixteen year old bought beer?
Europeans are right to despise us. We obsess over Janet Jackson's nipple yet don't blink an eye at barely clad gyrating cheerleaders. The head of the FCC calls the Super Bowl a "sacred space" while allowing four or five companies to buy up every media outlet, crushing independent sources. We are a prudish, small minded ignorant country, where the average citizen can barely identify his or her public representatives and knows almost nothing about the world or even our nation. And we celebrate a President who revels in his ignorance and lack of intellectual curiousity, because we like cowboys and he-men. |
mem
Citizen
Username: Mem
Post Number: 2731
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 9:32 am: | |
And we're fat too! |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 2061
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 9:39 am: | |
mem, you're crazy!
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
|
mem
Citizen
Username: Mem
Post Number: 2732
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 9:42 am: | |
Tom,
I am NOT crazyguggenheim, although I am crazy.
Cheers!
 |
Cato Nova
Citizen
Username: Cato_nova
Post Number: 41
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 9:47 am: | |
We are fat because we think we can have it all and then we are stunned at the consequences. Then we need tank-size SUV's to haul our bloated carcasses a block to the local convenience mart. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 1981
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 9:58 am: | |
Perhaps the grandmother would be happier if she had unprotected sex and ended up pregnant/HIV positive and/or with Hep C. |
themp
Citizen
Username: Themp
Post Number: 486
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 10:24 am: | |
Why is Mem so down on fat people?
|
cjc
Citizen
Username: Cjc
Post Number: 873
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 11:04 am: | |
I think it's a stupid story, coming from stupid Channel 2, directed at and trying to garnder the biggest audience they can get in New Jersey -- the stupid, which holds the power of the majority in this state. What's the problem? The other issues you raise --- deficits, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bush -- I think these same stupid people agree with you. |
mem
Citizen
Username: Mem
Post Number: 2733
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 11:10 am: | |
Why is themp so down on mem? Always. |
themp
Citizen
Username: Themp
Post Number: 488
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 11:28 am: | |
They used to sell them things in the Sears catalog back in the 1890's. I think this is another case where the remedy (making a big fuss) is worse than the sickness (someone getting off).
I mean talk about TMI. Could mom have just discretely thrown it away? |
Cato Nova
Citizen
Username: Cato_nova
Post Number: 43
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 11:31 am: | |
Or ignore it? In these instances, perhaps a hands-off policy is preferable. What is repulsive is the fact that it was the lead story. |
tjohn
Citizen
Username: Tjohn
Post Number: 2225
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 11:40 am: | |
Cato,
The strength of a nation is a function of its moral fiber. If we don't deal with these pressing moral issues, we have no hope of overcoming the Al Qaeda threat. |
ML1
Citizen
Username: Ml1
Post Number: 1550
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 11:52 am: | |
hey,
even more trivial was their 2nd story last night. They spent at least 5 min. on an "investigative" report of food handling violations at Disney World. Apparently, among the 100+ million meals served at Disney World last year, there were 8 documented cases of food poisoning. By my calculations, that works out to a 0.000008% chance of getting sick if you eat at Disney.
I know Viacom and Disney are competitors, but they should be ashamed of themselves for running that report. |
Crazyguggenheim
Citizen
Username: Crazyguggenheim
Post Number: 517
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 1:22 pm: | |
Did somebody say my name? It's February, I feel fat, and I've been walking around with a honda coupe stuck on my butt, so if I don't say hi don't feel offended.
Call me crazy |
mem
Citizen
Username: Mem
Post Number: 2735
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 1:41 pm: | |
crazyguggy you ignorant fat bad American you! |
mtierney
Citizen
Username: Mtierney
Post Number: 485
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 2:39 pm: | |
I don't usually watch Channel 2 at 11, but did last night. I can't agree more with the observations that the vibrator and Disney stories were amazing! So blown out of proportion! Such hipe!
TV networks should have some backup soft news stories that they can call up to fill in the TV time if they have run out of murders, rapes, violence of all kinds, etc. etc. which usually goes as network news.
Better to go to bed with a good book. |
ML1
Citizen
Username: Ml1
Post Number: 1551
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 3:17 pm: | |
mtierney,
ended up watching Ch 2 last night because I was watching CSI: Miami. I like my murder and violence fictional, thank you.
But you're right about the hype. I figure there's more a chance that I'll be walking in Maplewood Village and one of those Looney Tunes Acme anvils will land on my head and kill me than there is of my getting the food poisoning they talked about at Disney World.
but hey, they got me to sit through their story, even if it was in disbelief... |
DrFalomar
Citizen
Username: Drfalomar
Post Number: 145
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 3:26 pm: | |
i'm a convicted reader of Jim Romenesko's wonderful Obscure Store site (obscurestore.com), which features odd human interest stories. i noticed one day that the channel 9 news' list of upcoming features was basically stolen straight from the site. then i noticed that other channel's do it to. so this is what network news has come to: news of the weird and alarmist features such as "one of you children's toys will kill them. details after sports." |
blackcat
Citizen
Username: Blackcat
Post Number: 161
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 4:58 pm: | |
Its February sweeps, people. Everything gets more sensational during February, May and November sweeps. Once you understand that, its easy not to fall prey to the networks/news departments' evil ways. |
Earlster
Citizen
Username: Earlster
Post Number: 114
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 7:18 pm: | |
And remember you will go blind if you do, you know what.
Cato, I'm with you, but there is really no hope left for the general populace of this country.
Anyway, you are better of watching BBC News on channel 21 at 11pm. |
Ruck1977
Citizen
Username: Ruck1977
Post Number: 31
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 8:32 am: | |
"Europeans are right to despise us."
give me a break! why are people so worried about what Europeans think anyway? I think alot about Europeans, but I don't share these thoughts with other American's. Basically, its just not a topic of conversation...
That news story though is borderline obscene! |
Cato Nova
Citizen
Username: Cato_nova
Post Number: 45
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 8:42 am: | |
Ruck1977:
Your disdain of what Europeans think, which appears to be shared by many of our President's fans, is truly moronic. There is enormous resentment of the United States because of our ham-handed international approach (see, e.g., Kyoto Accords, ABM Treaty pull-out, etc.) This harms us because:
1. It erodes support for our international policies.
2. Damages us economically - and severely at that.
3. It damages our ability to curtail international terrorism, including through anti-money laundering efforts.
We are unfortunately turning into a small-minded, prudish, aggressive cowboy nation. |
cjc
Citizen
Username: Cjc
Post Number: 886
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 8:54 am: | |
Kyoto may not pass due to Russia's recalcitrance, especially in lieu of China being extempted from curbs while they at the same time will use more oil than the US by 2010. Europe can't organize itself adequately within their own EU as a number of countries there share our view about the French and Germans as the elitest weenies they are. Please give me examples of how we are suffering economically with our relationship with Europe. And these same Europeans have been yelping at the US for years -- from the time we stationed missles to combat the (now defeated) Soviet threat. The status quo has always been some resentment of the US. Why? Because we're successful, and these ex-colonialists are not nearly so.
On the terror front, they have a vested interest in continuing the good work they are doing despite their view of us cowboys cuz the terrorists have based operations right in Europe.
The French ban on headscarves and where that has led makes me wonder, Cato, you're worried about what a bunch of morons in Europe think of the US? |
Ruck1977
Citizen
Username: Ruck1977
Post Number: 33
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 12:15 pm: | |
Cato,
Since when is our economic success, or any success going to come from catering to others? We may as well still be bowing to the King if that were the case. America and American's are "small-minded, prudish, aggressive cowboy nation" (in your opinion) for a reason.
It erodes support? Should we really be trying to pass international policies based on borderline friendships with international societies? Isn't the idea to get real work done? In my opinion, the result of what you are trying to accomplish should stand alone, and should not be dependent upon a controversial media event.
Damages us economoically? I don't see this one either? Because all of these European countries are bailing us out when things are bad? Well, are they bailing us out because they are not banning our products? I don't buy this argument...again if you are talking about trade and supply/demand, the products should speak for themselves.
Your third point...are you saying we should suck up to our European "friends" so they will help us combat international terrorism? If they really had the best interest of the world at heart, they should be combatting it in their OWN countries first.
we seem to have gotten off topic...sorry about that folks... |
Cato Nova
Citizen
Username: Cato_nova
Post Number: 46
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 1:30 pm: | |
Not really off topic, since Ruck1977's response is essentially that America should go it alone, which is much akin to masturbation, with or without a personal massager. However, it gets much better with a partner. America needs partners, or else it will end up screwing itself. |
Ruck1977
Citizen
Username: Ruck1977
Post Number: 39
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 1:34 pm: | |
hence the need for 15 year old girls to buy vibrators!
and back to going at it alone:
Imagine this...you are a wealthy person. A group of socialists walk up to you and say, hey, want to be our friends? You say sure...and its all downhill from there.... |
DrFalomar
Citizen
Username: Drfalomar
Post Number: 147
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 12:20 pm: | |
Cato
It occurs to me that the news story hoped to provoke outrage in those who believe that a 15-year-old, whether male or female, shouldn't be masturbating, let alone buying devices that facilitate the act. An attitude which, of course, is both wrong-headed and unrealistic. |
Waldo
Citizen
Username: Discowaldo
Post Number: 42
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 12:39 pm: | |
Maybe Cato has a point. I Heard that Britney Spear's marriage was a big debate in the UN. Also I heard that on the upcoming agenda is talk to discover why when all of Europe was watching our Super Bowl they had to see commercials from the same 4 or 5 companies. Beleive it or not they are even discussing a 15 year old girl from Freehold NJ who bought a vibrator. All these things may be linked very closely to terroristic threats and trade agreements.
Or we could all be realistic and realize that Europe could really care less about what we have on our news programs and what companies show what commercials on TV.
|
Cato Nova
Citizen
Username: Cato_nova
Post Number: 48
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 3:34 pm: | |
Uh, Waldo, I don't think you got it.
That's all right. Careful readers like you are why the New York Post still survives: news for those who move their lips while they read. |
notehead
Citizen
Username: Notehead
Post Number: 925
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 3:58 pm: | |
I do agree that we should be more concerned about what people in other countries think about us. But I don't assume those people are superior. The argument could be made that some other cultures exhibit better values than America currently does, but television programming in many other 1st-world countries is just as cheesy and sensationalist as ours.
I think the best thing this country could do to improve itself in a very short time frame is to have everyone turn off their televisions for a couple of months. Advertising and the thirst for advertising revenue are major sources of cultural decline in this country. |
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