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Wouldn't It Be Better To Just Ignore These Fools?

from The Age Of Mass Distraction by Active Minds

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In these days of social media “stars”, where attention only seems to go to those who shout the loudest and most provocatively, objectionable bigots end up with far more influence than they deserve. Rose-tinted views of a future of the democratisation of the media, which would give a voice to the powerless, are becoming replaced by a stark reality that aggressive, reactionary bullies usually end up dominating any unregulated debating space.
The more mainstream broadcast and print media, faced with obsolescence in the light of this new reality, are increasingly joining in with sensationalist commentators. Reactionary, controversial views are considered far more newsworthy and interesting than more considered and sensitive opinion. When you’re having to compete with the uncensored loudmouths with massive followings on social media, then co-opting some of those gobshites, or at least their methodology, may seem the way to go.
But what do we end up with? Rush Limbaugh, a US radio host, calling a student a slut on air because she spoke in favour of a woman’s right to contraception. Milo Yiannopoulos seemingly making a profession out of being offensive to just about anybody he can think of, and basking in the publicity that controversy appears to automatically bring him. And Youtube vlogger “Pewdiepie”, earning millions of dollars for talking adolescent drivel and posting online “jokes” which involve getting people to hold up a sign which read “Death to all Jews”. Fuckwits like this think that they are funny. They’re not.

lyrics

I know that controversy sells papers and boosts the ratings of shows. I know controversy is newsworthy, and that’s the way it goes. So they take some total fucking clown who’s living in the dark ages, and make them a social commentator on the airwaves or news pages. But why don’t we just stop giving the oxygen of publicity to vile, bigoted opinions, as if they’re just an eccentricity? Yes, why do we pay attention to these idiots at all? The voices in the media can be very influential - putting these morons in the spotlight gives their viewpoints false credentials. Yes, controversy is entertaining - it may stop people being bored, but there are some opinions which are best to be ignored. So why don’t we just stop giving the oxygen of publicity to vile, bigoted opinions, as if they’re just an eccentricity? Yes, why don’t we just stop listening to these idiots at all?

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from The Age Of Mass Distraction, released August 18, 2017

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Active Minds Scarborough, UK

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