The concerns of our modern society...

[Mikeus Caesar]

...make me very concerned. I sat down to watch the news (which, with it being Channel Ten already made the title of 'news' very dubious) and was quite frankly shocked at which stories get the first showtime.

The first story of 'importance' was a breakthrough on the Heather Mills/Paul McCartney case - oh wow, because that's really important.

Then next up was the same story that they've been blabbering about all day - they found a ship that was sunk in WWII. Big deal.

And then finally some actual real news - the Tibetan uprising. And then after that a story about GM crops and another story about some ridiculously excagurated terrorist trial.

Now admittedly, the Tibetan story got a good bit of airtime, but the fact that it came after schlock such as the divorce thing was shocking. Is that really all our society is concerned about these days? The dull lives of an elite few? Surely we should be more concerned about the sufferings of our fellow men?

Sometimes people disgust me...

[Husar]

Well, when you argue about a case you usually present the opinion contrary to your own first and your own opinion as the last one because what's presented in the end is more likely to be remembered by the recipient. Not sure it works like that with the news but maybe that explains it?

[Ronin]

Here in Portugal you can normally trust the government run tv station to open their news broadcast with actual news....

but the private tv stations regularly open their news service with the latest football results....I **** you not! that´s what they consider their opening news item.

[Viking]

Here, the biggest newspapers are typically full of crap; the news on television on the other hand usually have their priorities right.

Well, when you argue about a case you usually present the opinion contrary to your own first and your own opinion as the last one because what's presented in the end is more likely to be remembered by the recipient. Not sure it works like that with the news but maybe that explains it?

The important news first, then less important news; at which point alot of persons, including myself, turn the TV off or switch channel.

[Fragony]

Newspapers are crap, so is the news on tv, way too biased I don't trust them. Internet is where it's at if you want to know what's going on.

[Vladimir]

Stop complaining, you have the internet. TV is called the boob tube for a reason (I know in Europe, that would have a different meaning). Listen to talk radio, surf the various blogs and news sites, or read a book and stop pretending like tabloid news is something new. There are too many forms of news media to look at one and generalize society.

[Mikeus Caesar]

Somehow though i think it's quite safe to generalize society through the content of our media, when you can make the safe assumption that the large majority of the population don't use the internet for finding the latest news, but for talking to their fellow morons over myspace and facebook while downloading the latest episode of Lost...

[Innocentius]

I am disgusted by the people who are the reason that McCartney's marriage is more important than the Tibetan uprising, namely the public. If people would show more interest for real matters and less for crappy sob-stories, the media would get the hint. But overall, I agree with Fragony and Vladimir: the Intarnets is your friend.

[Viking]

Though the point is not that the most important news is not avaible, just what alot (most?) of people and the TV channels think is.

[seireikhaan]

This pretty much sums up most American news, sadly enough.

[Viking]

A blank page?

[seireikhaan]

Edited previous post for proper link.

[spmetla]

Newspapers are crap, so is the news on tv, way too biased I don't trust them. Internet is where it's at if you want to know what's going on.

That's pretty much my opinion as well. After hearing every rape scandal, who's the daddy, what's Britney doing now BS I've really begun to despise our 24 hour news networks. I feel like a geezer but going back to the old network news channels (abc, nbc, etc) is the only way for me to find out some of what's happening in the world in the course of an hour.

As for the Tibetan thing, I can not believe the lack of coverage it's being given. I know China is our 'prefered' trade partner but we should still call foul when they do BS like this. And just to clarify, I don't support Tibetans destroying, burning, and beating up all that is Han Chinese in Tibet but I generally have a very strong dislike for the Chinese method of restoring/maintaining order there.

[Goofball]

Now admittedly, the Tibetan story got a good bit of airtime, but the fact that it came after schlock such as the divorce thing was shocking. Is that really all our society is concerned about these days? The dull lives of an elite few? Surely we should be more concerned about the sufferings of our fellow men?

Sir Paul is one of my fellow men. And after being ordered to pay his ex over 24 million pounds (not including child support) after only 4 years of marriage, I am sure he is suffering.

As somebody who is going through a divorce right now, I find the story newsworthy.

[Fragony]

As somebody who is going through a divorce right now, I find the story newsworthy.

Sorry to hear that

[Viking]

Sir Paul is one of my fellow men. And after being ordered to pay his ex over 24 million pounds (not including child support) after only 4 years of marriage, I am sure he is suffering.

As somebody who is going through a divorce right now, I find the story newsworthy.

Death over divorce?

[Geoffrey S]

Highly paid tv personalities, expensive production values and (certainly in the case of the BBC) attention lavished on costly drama series such as Rome mean that there's all too little money left over with which to pay people on the spot who actually report news, rather than the aftermath in a cheap and sloppy region feature.

[ICantSpellDawg]

Sir Paul is one of my fellow men. And after being ordered to pay his ex over 24 million pounds (not including child support) after only 4 years of marriage, I am sure he is suffering.

As somebody who is going through a divorce right now, I find the story newsworthy.

You are going through a divorce? I'm sorry man.

[Vladimir]

You are going through a divorce? I'm sorry man.

TMI. The Backroom is supposed to be a happy place.

[Innocentius]

Relating back to topic and the video linked to by kamikhaan

[Goofball]

Thanks for the kind thoughts all...

Divorce sucks, but sometimes it's the only viable option.

On the good side, I have few new life rules (in no particular order), which so far I have been living up to:

1. I will not co-habitate with a woman ever again.

2. I will definitely not get married ever again.

3. (my favorite) I will not date any woman who is less than 10 years younger than me.

4. (the most important one) After ensuring that my kids are happy, healthy, and have everything they need, my number one life priority is to enjoy myself.



Back on topic, I don't think it matters where or in what order in the newscast events are covered, as long as they are covered.

[Caius]

Kami vid sums all. Sums what they do not want to show. Here TV its used to cover a strike when something very important that involves the government, and they do not show the truth, unless some person go out to say lies to cover themselves.

[ICantSpellDawg]

Thanks for the kind thoughts all...

Divorce sucks, but sometimes it's the only viable option.

On the good side, I have few new life rules (in no particular order), which so far I have been living up to:

1. I will not co-habitate with a woman ever again.

2. I will definitely not get married ever again.

3. (my favorite) I will not date any woman who is less than 10 years younger than me.

4. (the most important one) After ensuring that my kids are happy, healthy, and have everything they need, my number one life priority is to enjoy myself.



Back on topic, I don't think it matters where or in what order in the newscast events are covered, as long as they are covered.

Good lessons.

1)I wish that people understood that co-habitating prior to marriage is associated with higher divorce rates.

2) I hope that are happy in your life.

3) Good idea. My limit is 3 years younger. For older, the sky's the limit.

4) Great priority list.

I didn't even read the threat title. Ooops.

[naut]

but the private tv stations regularly open their news service with the latest football results....I **** you not! that´s what they consider their opening news item.

Sounds like my kind of News!

[spmetla]

Thinking about the cable news channels I have to say that I certainly do appreciate Erica Hill though! Anderson Cooper getting paid to low key flirt with her, whatta lucky dog.

http://anchorbabes.blogspot.com/2007...abe-on-tv.html

[ICantSpellDawg]

Anderson Cooper isn't flirting with her, but he would if he knew what was good for him.

[CountArach]

...make me very concerned. I sat down to watch the news (which, with it being Channel Ten already made the title of 'news' very dubious) and was quite frankly shocked at which stories get the first showtime.

Watch the ABC - far more serious and better reporting.

[ICantSpellDawg]

I watch fox and friends in the morning because Brian and Steve are hilarious.

Then, in the car, I listen to BBC world and NPR/ANC when BBC world talks about Africa for 15 minutes straight.

At work I visit Realclearpolitics.com, Drudge Report, and BBC.com. I also read semi-daily columns by Dowd, Buchanan, Estrich, Paglia, Malkin and Noonan.

When I go home I play video games OR hang out with my lady OR watch C-span. I take my pills right before bed and watch Fox News, CNN or MSNBC

Every day. I have never had such a strict schedule as these last 6 months.

I notice only the minimum of absurd news. Fox and friends lightens the mood and I think that they have been taking better care to look at actual issues than you would expect.

[Vladimir]

I watch fox and friends in the morning because Brian and Steve are hilarious.

Then, in the car, I listen to BBC world and NPR/ANC when BBC world talks about Africa for 15 minutes straight.

At work I visit Realclearpolitics.com, Drudge Report, and BBC.com. I also read semi-daily columns by Dowd, Buchanan, Estrich, Paglia, Malkin and Noonan.

When I go home I play video games OR hang out with my lady OR watch C-span. I take my pills right before bed and watch Fox News, CNN or MSNBC

Every day. I have never had such a strict schedule as these last 6 months.

I notice only the minimum of absurd news. Fox and friends lightens the mood and I think that they have been taking better care to look at actual issues than you would expect.

I can't watch "friends" much. They talk about the EXACT same things I hear on talk radio when waking up. I need to find out which channel Beeb international is on.

[Geoffrey S]

Mikeus, in light of this subject, does it worry you that the 'How gay are you?' topic has had more posts and views than this one?