This time the MSM is "The Phoenix" and an article attributed to G.E. "SKIP" LAWRENCE
Unfortunately, the two sentences used have the word "stupid" a few times. While in context it is exactly what I meant, when pulled out from the entire post it appears that I can use no other adjectives.
In case you were wondering:
| | |
| Main Entry: | stupid |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | irresponsible |
| Synonyms: | brainless, dazed, deficient, dense, dim, dodo, doltish, dopy, dotterel, dull, dumb, dummy*, foolish, futile, gullible, half-baked*, half-witted*, idiotic, ill-advised, imbecilic, inane, indiscreet, insensate, irrelevant, irresponsible, laughable, loser*, ludicrous, meaningless, mindless, moronic, naive, nonsensical, obtuse, pointless, puerile, rash, senseless, short-sighted, simple, simple-minded, slow, sluggish, stolid, stupefied, thick, thickheaded, trivial, unintelligent, unthinking, witless |
The post that is referenced is located on the right sidebar.
For those who may care about my opinion regarding the recent columns citing me I will say that I disagree with one portion of the authors arguments.
I disagree that the bar of journalism or truth inference has been lowered simply based on the medium with which the observations are conveyed. While I do believe that access always has its consequence, the blog world is nearly universally considered the equivalent of the editorial pages of a newspaper, not "A1" as argued in these papers.
Bloggers are also not some fanatical fridge group. Bloggers tend to be professionals who have found a medium by which they can comment on the news of the day and engage in the world's conversation. The very fact that I am referenced by people who live hundreds of miles from me suggest that "credible" journalists are able to gain wisdom from those who have not chosen to articulate themselves in the print medium as a professional part of their lives. Although bloggers are not paid to bring forward creative and insightful dialogue, many do exactly that.
It is my practice (and the ideal practice of any citizen participating in a democracy) to take in varying opinions and data, process this information, then come to my own conclusions, opinions and positions regarding various issues. Certainly the blog world has allowed for more access to the free expression but that in and of itself does not destroy democracy or the 'cream of the crop' that ultimately produces the thoughts and trends a nation will embrace.
When the printing press was established it was a threat to many including the state-run church. With every man woman and child having the ability to learn how to read and then gather thoughts for themselves there were elite members of society who frowned on the ability for 'nonsense' to be published.
My word of advice to the MSM is to be careful how broad a brush you use to paint those who now posses the freedom, tools and in many cases audience which was formerly reserved for the elite who held a press pass.
I do agree with the authors that everyone articulating a position should also sign their name to that position. Most respectable blogs have a filter for commenting whereby the commenter must leave some traceable information (email address, etc.) so that anonymity is not used as a free pass to 'fire at will' with no consequence. As the blog world does continue to mature I am certain a level of respectability will continue to define the blogs worth reading from those 35 year olds who have yet to grow up and run a blog from their bedroom in their mom's basement.
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