Does the media control how we think, or is it us that drives the media?

Answer 1

You control how you think. The media is only tryiong to influence your thinking. It has always been that way regardless of those in the media try to tell you. Left or right they all try to make you see things the way they want you to see things instead of how they really are. look at a variety of sources to get as close to a fair representation of the news. I suggest foreign sources too like BBC World and Channel NewsAsia for different views. Remember, you control your thinking not someone else.

Answer 2

Civilians through freedom of speech rights must be afforded the ability to comment on military and war fare issues. However, the decision making behind warefare and military issues is a different question.

Would you get a lawyer to build your house? The logical answer is no. You would get a builder. But what we have in the US at the moment is a bunch load of civilians commenting and dictating the whys and wherefores of those military personnel in iraq.

I am a civilian. I work for a company that ensues i work in iraq. Before i came to iraq quite frankly i could not see what the reasoning behind the huge invasion of iraq was for. Nor, more importantly could i agree with it.

One year on and still working here in iraq i could not now agree more with the war. The US and the British are critical to the success of the stability of this country. Why do i think this? I live, eat, sleep, work and have many friends here whom are local iraqis.

So why do most people think the war is unjust - because they listen to the wrong type of information. Papers sell information to make money. TV broadcasts information to get ratings, and thus make money. Unfortunately we live in a world where mass media is observed and acted upon by the masses. The masses make up the civilians and therefore the civilians then believe they think they are qualified to comment and make decisions upon the military and warfare.

How can it be changed? It cant, and it wont. That is the game of politics, what bush stakes his career on along with many others.

Answer 3

It is important to comprehend that the "media" is privately owned, just like any other store or business. Private / Corporate missions and their subsidiary companies services and products, political action group sponsors and some governmental social engineering drives the media. It's all about getting the viewer to buy something, to feel one way or another to stimulate consumption. Whatever "politics" there may seem to be is also about garnering votes for one party's or another's concepts related to consumerism, labor practices, taxes, etc. Sports news is big money related to the huge industry of products and TV coverage with commercials, which is also all about getting you to buy something. EVERYTHING about the media is about consumerism.

Answer 4

both

on the one hand the media is driven largely by advertising and what we buy

on the other hand, 20 years ago, people watched media together.... nowadays media is more isolating... particularly for children and teens who might have less ability to watch new ideas uncritically on media ... in this sense the media both TV and Internet Style is a little more like assimilating children into its own style of Borg collective to borrow a phrase from Star Trek

this is why I pay my daughter to watch TV more responsibly (and watch it less and with other family people more instead of tuning out with the tube)

in general people read less books and watch the 21st century boob tubes a little too much

Answer 5

We don't control or drive sh!t in mainstream media.

Our Corporate/Zionist controlled media slings crap at us everyday because they have an agenda. Most of us accept it as gospel because there are no alternatives other than the Internet (which is why Ted Stevens wants to destroy net neutrality and hand the Internet over to Corporations).

They intentionally created this phony lib vs. con rivalry in order to divide the people and distract them from what's really going on.

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Answer 6

The media does what ever they think is spectacular so the can sell their product. They don't care about truth or who the hurt.

Answer 7

Fox News controls how neo-cons think. Rush Limbaugh controls what they say.

The media reflects society. It will go as far as society allows it to go.

Answer 8

Do you ask your media to be accountable and truthful or do you change channel? You get what you ask for.

Answer 9

It does many people.
Look at what people do.
Are they copying something they heard or saw somewhere else or do they think for themselves.