I started the thread titled “How stupid and irresponsible can one get ?” and I am sorry to see that it got hi-jacked and even closed down.
Hi-jacked, firstly by Richmond who, every time the word media is mentioned, appears to jump to the conclusion that it is a personal attack on him (and possibly on his immediate colleagues) and sees no alternative other than to protest that ‘the media’ aren’t reckless and morally bankrupt.
Then other people jumped in and started to make statements which in the goodness of their heart they saw as factual when that wasn’t the case.
The statement in my first post was unambiguous. I said that, in the example I gave, the press had acted in an irresponsible manner and clearly a logical response would have been to either agree with that statement or deny it (and provide reasons why one thinks so).
Instead the thread went off in a completely different direction I am sorry to say.
It isn’t the first time this has happened (and I no doubt am guilty of making the same mistake myself too sometimes).
Then harsh words appear , feelings get hurt and a war is on.
Let us remember that we are here to share knowledge and to perhaps network. If one tells a joke or utters an opinion there isn’t any need to think the worst.
By all means respond but, pleeze, stick to the subject.
Pisces
As an observor/reader to that post, I do agree with you Pisces. However, I guess that is a by product of passionate people.
James
Pisces,
Well said…
Unfortunately someone went off the deep end this afternoon…. and caused the thread to be shut down…..
To be fair, you also get very worked up, and that did not help things….
Let’s just keep the heat in this forum, ok ? Our 1st goal about being here is to share our knowledge…..
Opinionated is where we can let fly…..
BUT PLEASE EVERYONE – Let’s stop getting personal…. We can all have our sets of views, but let’s not get carried away….
Looking forward to continued debates !!!!
Peace all !!! [cap]
S
Dear All,
Your opinion above are all valited and much appreciated. Unfortunately sometime people do get upset.
The topic was locked because of me and I am apologied.
The only reason that I am involved in the locked topic because I saw the heat started and I just want break it a little bit and there was my mistake.
I hope you guys cool with it and get on with sharing information instead.
Have a nice day!
Kind regards
Chan Dollars
[Retire Young, Retire Rich] [strum]Chan$
No sweat !!
Sometimes better just to walk away for a while and cool down !! Glad the fishing helped !!!! hehehehehehe…..
Originally posted by Pelicaninvestments:Chan$
No sweat !!
Sometimes better just to walk away for a while and cool down !! Glad the fishing helped !!!! hehehehehehe…..
Pelicaninvestments,
Thank you! [guitar]
Kind regards
Chan Dollars
[Retire Young, Retire Rich] [strum]Hmmm, Pisces… so I hijacked your thread…
That would be the thread where you blamed the media for being stupid and irresponsible? To which I, as a member of the media, tried to add some arguments against your original assertion? Er, um, how does posting comments that are relevant to the original post constitute hijacking?
Last time I checked, this was a forum… a forum being a place where alternative views are discussed, not just disparaged. Just because someone’s views, be they on the media, George W Bush or the Palestinian question are different from yours, doesn’t mean they are wrong…
r
There’s a truism in journalism that it’s not news unless someone doesn’t want it reported. Or perhaps, “if it bleeds, it leads”.
The people who criticise the media are often those who know so little about what goes on behind-the-scenes. More often, however, they are those whose own biased views are not being reported the way they want them to be reported.
But, most of all, the media gets its bad name because it reports on bad events and people whose actions have been bad. Of course, all those people disagree, hence every time a news piece appears someone doesn’t like it. Even those who agree with what is being reported may get upset because they want to see more.
Journalism is a noble profession that carries with it a powerful responsibility. All journalists are aware of their social duty, however, they are all under the pressure of deadlines, working at a frantic pace – and yes, they sometimes blunder because they did not have the time to think it through, to polish it, refine it, send it for editing, proofing and finally, turn out that top quality piece that makes them proud. And annoys the hell out of thousands of people. Ah, now, that’s great reporting.
Folks, I know what I am talking about here. I know the personal pain from a terrorist attack, where the shock and horror has numbed me. And yes, it was one of the big ones of this century.
But I had to go on with my work. It was not until two days later, when I was in the shower, that the tears came. At first I did not even realise what was happening to me. I thought it was rage and I suppose it was – tears of rage. How could you do this to my friends? I have supported so many of your causes for so many years. I have written about you, spoken about you and even walked among you, learning your language so that I could be a part of you. And now this, this is what you do to me!
I have to tell you that nothing made me question my values like this event. I felt that maybe I had spent my life being conned by the media and, worse, even being part of that con myself. What is the greatest sin – lying to yourself? Had I been lying to myself all these years?
Yes – and no. It depends from which side I looked at it.
And that, folks, is the problem when you enter into a debate or start a topic such as this – you are all on different sides with different viewpoints, seen from the side on which you stand.
It is well known that there are no war criminals on the losing side – and that the history of the world is written by those who hang the heroes.
There are no easy answers to the complex problems in the world today. And journalists, while most do their best, can often be victims of propaganda, self-deception and the ‘side’ from which they view the problem.
What’s black to one is white to another. As I write this it is day with me and night with you.
Black and white, night and day. It depends where you are at the time.
Let me end with the words of a great writer, Wally Lamb,
“One day, at long last, I stumbled from the dark woods of my own, and my family’s, and my country’s past, holding in my hands these truths: that love grows from the rich loam of forgiveness; that mongrels make good dogs; that the evidence of God exists in the roundness of things.
“This much, at least, I have figured out. I know this much is true.”
That’s all kids – no real estate tonight. Gotta go home. Big night tonight.
Bec
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