Posted on 01/28/2020 3:51:11 AM PST by Kaslin
The horrible news about the tragic death of basketball legend Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash was greeted with shock and horror, as any unexpected death would be. It was also greeted with awful people attacking him, attacking President Trump, attacking anyone they already wanted to attack but hadn’t yet that day. In other words, it was like every other story – quickly weaponized by people with too much time on their hands and an unstable psyche.
I don’t know if human beings were always this awful and we simply lacked the ability to act on it on a large scale, or if the ease with which social media allows us to scream into a metaphorical megaphone has awakened something sick in our DNA. Either way, there’s something seriously wrong with a lot of people and it’s all over the Internet for the world to see.
It stems from a place in our brains that seeks attention, any kind of attention. It was something most people outgrew as they entered adulthood, but adulthood has been postponed, even canceled, for so many now.
There also used to be a line between being “famous” and being “infamous.” As I wrote in my book, that line is gone. All that matters is getting attention.
There are consequences for that mentality. Used to be, if a man stripped naked, walked into the middle of an intersection, and started screaming at cars, that person would get help. Now they gain followers and we’re left to wonder if they’re clinically insane or if it was a “brilliant publicity stunt.” There’s an equal chance they’ll be committed or given a reality show.
It’s our fault; we watch, we follow. Some do, anyway. Enough to make it worth the while of the person doing it to do it in the first place. Accomplishment is gone, no longer celebrated; attention is all that matters.
If you start a business, risk everything and work tirelessly to make it a success, the Democratic Party is more likely to attack you as greedy and a thief than celebrate your fulfillment of the American Dream. Our culture has shifted, dramatically, and for the worst.
Leading this charge is the media. You can’t have a massive cultural shift without a way to spread it and give it legitimacy. In this case, they’re not only cheering, but they are also the tip of the spear.
The so-called news media celebrates attention-getters, brings them on their morning shows and gives them puff-profiles on their newscasts. And with each new person elevated, 100 more will try. It’s the Kardashianization of the culture.
This “shoot first, figure out if there was a target later” mentality is now how journalism works. An anonymous source tells you something, run with it. Heard a rumor? Spread it. You can always correct it later.
That method of reporting used to get people fired. Now it gets them cable news contributorships.
When the news of Bryant’s death broke, it broke on a celebrity gossip site before the families involved were notified. Why? While tragic, it wasn’t important, it didn’t put other lives in jeopardy. But they wanted to be first. They wanted to “own” the story and all the web traffic (read: money) that went with it. A local TV reporter reported rumors that all of Bryant’s children were killed in the crash. Where are the standards? Where is the accountability?
The Washington Post did suspend one reporter who tweeted about rape allegations made against Bryant more than 15 years ago, even though it never went to trial. But she wasn’t suspended for having poor character and making inappropriate choices in the immediate wake of a tragedy. She was allegedly suspended for sharing screen captures of her email inbox and the nasty emails she was getting for having spread the story. Apparently it is against The Post's policy to share the names of people who contact reporters. It seems The Post has standards, not journalistic ones, but standards.
Do we? Does our culture anymore? It doesn’t seem like it.
Whether clamoring for followers, clicks, or to be first to break news, too much of our society exists in a post-consequence world, a world where attention-seeking overrides basic human decency. There will be consequences for that, none of which are good.
There is tremendous lack of humility in our culture. There is a lot of pride. It’s all about me. No one wants to listen, but everyone wants to talk. Mostly about themselves.
About expresses how I feel. Kobe was a devout Catholic. His faith was hardly covered or mentioned. He attended mass before the tragic accident.
Nine people died. Very sad.
I read that earlier and it gave me a little comfort in the face of such a tragic situation. I’m also glad the end came in probably a matter of seconds for them, so those poor ppl, especially the kids, didn’t suffer.
It’s hard to find a movie to watch anymore.
Even movies that seem hilarious, lighthearted entertainment invariably celebrate criminals & degenerates. We’re being brainwashed into cheering for the amoral “anti-hero” who makes up his own rules & practices his own situational ethics while being rewarded for violating the 10 Commandments.
SO true. I can’t turn on the TV without seeing some jerk holding a mic and banging on about themselves or something THEY think is important to the world.
Number one-all these people TALL TOOOOOO MUCH. If I see someone standing there being coddled and fawned over while they spew about themselves... BANG, like a flash-I blast right past THAT station! I don’t even wait to see what it’s about!
They all need to STFU already
“I don’t know if human beings were always this awful ... “
IMHO we probably were / are. But in face-to-face situations most folk understand that saying the wrong or hurtful things could result in painful repercussions, physical and/or psychological. After all, the First Amendment, with some limitations, only protects one’s right to say whatever they wish. It does not protect one from the consequences of your commentary.
What has changed is the advent of the internet and it’s provision of almost absolute anonymity. If the evil beast inside knows that if there is no punishment for bad behavior, the only limit to hateful and perverted commentary is one’s upbringing, a sense of civility.
... and we all know that parental upbringing is generally on the slippery down-slope.
Think of the times Noah lived in before the flood. He and his wife probably had brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, best friends, a church with a pastor, yet none of these people seemed to befriend him. It seems we are repeating this time in history. We even have the homosexual part right.
The story of Lot was before this and just as awful.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.