Do you think the media is turning Americans brains to mush?

Question

I don't care if it's CNN, NBC, FOX NEWS, it's just
blah blah blah blah
blame blame blame
conspiracy yadda yadda yadda

If I was a U.S. enemy and watched any of the news shows, I would surely get a good laugh and think that Americans minds were media-controlled.

What about you? Are your opinions really yours, or formed by the news you get?

Answer 1

This is the best question today!

YES, the media has turned American brains to mush! Not just CNN, Fox, NBC, but stupid cr #p like American Idol, Desperate Housewives, and other brainless sitcoms have produced a nation of folks who don't think for ourselves. I am sure the enemies of the US are laughing at us instead of being "jealous" of our "freedoms" The average joe doesnt care about anything going on as long as he/she can buy lottery tickets and a 6 pack of beer to sit in front of the tv with.

EDIT- sorry I went off...I get my news from alternative radio and PBS and the internet.

Answer 2

Few people are completely swayed by the news media. Some people still stand behind the Bush administration, Iraq, and everything that has transpired since 911. Others have been skeptical since 9/12. I don't think those attitudes come completely from the media. More people than ever are doing their own investigating from any available sources.

After 911 and then the anthrax attacks, the Congress and Senate, as well as the news media have taken on a new attitude about what they dare to report. They not only fear giving away security secrets, they now fear for their lives, and fear being labeled unpatriotic which can destroy their careers. Not only are they afraid to report some of the good things that have resulted in the past few years, they are afraid to report the things that appear to be dissenting. Temper all of that with political posturing and the result is unreliable information.

Personally, I've learned that what you hear on one news channel should also be listened to on another to get most of the whole story. I don't know how much you check out the foreign news media, but they are more into U.S. conspiracy theories than the U.S. is.

Answer 3

Yes indeed.The media is been bought and news is reduced to another consumer good.Entertainment and sensationalism are rampant and real issues aren't addressed.It's about what sells not what the public needs to know.
Conservatives claim a liberal media bias while it does not make sense considering the issues of media ownership and influence of advertisers. Most media outlets are owned by a handful of conservative corporations and individuals, and funded by usually economically conservative advertisers who have no need for an educated, alert, independent and critical citizenry. What they need is a dumb, bored, cynical and apathetic public that has abandoned all critical faculties and is easily distracted by celebrity gossip and mindless sports games. A public that will believe anything it is told, or nothing at all, which amounts to the same end result. This pro-corporate conservative bias of the media is well-documented and shows itself in consistent under-reporting or ignoring of any information that would lead people to question the fundamental status quo.

Answer 4

I don't know about other people. I don't put a lot of faith in the news broad cast aired in the US.

I spend a lot of time listening to and reading news sources from around the world. You can get a much broader picture of what's really happening that way and what people are saying that are not under the currant administrations thumb.

Take this trip of Lil' Bush's. I told my wife when that came across the news yesterday morning the first words out of his mouth were going to be how great things are in Iraq. That his plan is working and progress is being made. What else would anybody expect him to say. HE WANTS MORE MONEY FROM CONGRESS!!! He's there to influence the reports that are coming out this month.

Doesn't make any difference that everyone else is pulling out because they can't see any accomplishments and they feel it's a never ending battle. When Lil' Bush's Generals tell him this he fires them and replaces them with others that will give him the type of reports HE wants to see,reports that will justify his wishes that we stay there.

Answer 5

Some of them have turn to mush.
Those who make snap comments about CNN or Fox.
The typical rants by conservatives or liberals is good warning sign that brains have turn to mush.

Those who hurl insults with out getting in an exchange of idea are hopeless.

I listen to NPR and Fox. Along with different points of view.

Like CNN's "G-d's Warriors" did well to try to explain a very complex problem in limited time.


It does require for you to accept the idea that there are more than 1 way to look at a story.

It takes many if you want to know the truth.

Answer 6

I think Americans are turning their minds to mush by choosing to watch and listen to the media. America spend some time with your kids, so they arent out killing people at school!

Answer 7

I think the media is more concerned with making money than it is with providing facts. You don't see ANY media outlet doing investigative reporting. All the media do now is invite two so-called "experts" to shout their opinion. Nowadays, you have filter though the madness by doing your own research.

Everyone learn in high school how to research information correctly. Use that information to your advantage. The Internet provide so much sources that there's no reason to get blinded by the nonsense that is today's media.

Answer 8

I think Americans have already crossed that state and barring a minority who are of impressionable minds,have by and large become immune to media.They may read, watch,discuss,debate,take strong sides and appear to be influenced by this or that but when it comes to a CRUNCH,have a mind of their own.See poll results on any issue and it would be absolutely clear that they can't be influenced so easily by anybody unless quite convinced about the issue.

Answer 9

No doubt about it, Look at the George Soros, anti-American media outlets brain washing the extreme left of the Dem party into ridiculous 9-11 conspiracy theories, socialism, Hate the president instead of just disagreeing with the president, Harry Reid and other Dem's taking orders and tons of jack from these groups with these blasts, we already lost war, and if we succeed in Iraq it's bad for the democratic party.

Answer 10

I think it is the Education System that prevents Americans from developing the Critical Thought we used to have. The standards have been lowered so much that you can graduate with a subpar reading level. It is not about teaching anymore, it is about indoctrination. Get the Government out of our schools.