Quote of the Month 15
The quote for June:
When a majority of people consider something to be a truism, you create a reality.
Dan Carlin
Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History
Show #40 – (BLITZ) Radical Thoughts
I’ve lately been hooked on a few podcasts, my favorite being the Monday Morning Podcast by Bill Burr. But other than getting a good laugh, I enjoy learning while I do mindless stuff, like cleaning my desk, driving, or simply avoiding any kind of work. So I listen to a couple of science oriented podcasts and I recently discovered Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History. His narrative method and energy really make the history come alive. He also really knows his stuff and is able to provide a variety of quotes and perspectives on different aspects of the events he is discussing. But more than anything, I found that the way he ties different points and events in history together really allowed me to imagine much more than ever before what the mindset of the people going through the events may have been. This, for me, brings the history alive.
Anyway, the quote I chose for this month was almost a side note in his discussion of the Red Scare, but it really stuck with me. Its implications are vast when given some thought.
I’m sure you are aware of the idea that given enough repitition, humans are able to convince themselves of anything. Even if we know something isn’t true, repeating it to ourselves over and over and over, we will eventually come to believe it to be fact.
Well, what about when you get millions of people repeating it as well? There have been studies that show you can move whole populations by repeating what you want them to believe.
And what happens when you get the talking heads of mass media spreading crap to like minded individuals as we all tune in to stations that do little more than support our own images of reality? A bit of what is discussed here.
I still clearly remember the day in 2003 when the FCC pushed through changes in telecommunications rules. I was stunned! (Granted, it was appealed in 2004 and later upheld by a SCOTUS decision not to review the case – but the attempt) And it was just a little article in the sidebar of some inside page of the newspaper. Basically, it removed barriers to one media company owning more than a given percentage of the media of any given area.
From the Wikipedia article here are the changes it invoked:
- Single-company ownership of media in a given market is now permitted up to 45% (formerly 35%, up from 25% in 1985) of that market.
- Restrictions on newspaper and TV station ownership in the same market were removed.
- All TV channels, magazines, newspapers, cable, and Internet services are now counted, weighted based on people’s average tendency to find news on that medium. At the same time, whether a channel actually contains news is no longer considered in counting the percentage of a medium owned by one owner.
- Previous requirements for periodic review of license have been changed. Licenses are no longer reviewed for “public-interest” considerations.
So, what I’m trying to point out here, is this concerted effort by massive corporations to own huge percentages of the traditional media that we consume. Controlling the message is what it is all about:
Control the message to control the masses.
Take a look at the media that you consume on a daily basis, and give it a really critical once over. It’s really easy to listen to people spout our own opinions back at us, but how much more of a learning experience is it when you are given a variety of opinions and the chance to make your own choice. Choose your media drug wisely – else you find yourself looking into the magic mirror on the wall and repeating along with the rest of the masses:
