Some people are surprised by the amount of political heat/hatred that comes out these days. I am not surprised because I have said for a few years now that we have moved from the Age of Reason, in which rational men disagree and debate issues; to an Age of Emotion where disagreement is tantamount to personal challenge and the response is frequently rage. Rage, hatred, violence and other extreme emotions play well on our national media of Television and everyone wants a share of TV power.
The Information Revolution has given rise to so much noise i.e.. competing messages, sales pitches spam etc. that there has been an increase in extreme behavior to attempt to break through the noise and get peopleÂ’s message out. Thus extremism gains media attention and exposure
Logic and reason are legacies of the literacy. When you read something you have the time and opportunity to think about what you have read and make up your mind about it. Not everyone takes this time to be reflective and reasonable of course. There have been many provocateurs who use the written word to reach the emotions of their audience. However, the medium of literacy and written word does lend itself much more to reasonable feedback and dialogue than the audio and visual media of the of radio and television. Both audio and visual input tend to bypass the logical left brain and appeal to the highly emotional right brain.
More and more people admit that they "don't read" what they usually mean is that they don't read anything beyond what their jobs/training require. They don't take in their information about what is happening in the broader world by reading either daily newspapers or weekly newsmagazines.
These people freely confess to getting their information about the world from TV and or radio talk shows while driving to and from work. Both of these media are very poor conduits of factual information. Very few people can remember "facts" that they saw on TV for only a few seconds or recall accurately the sound bite they head on the radio. What does linger for these post-literate is the "feeling" component of the message or their emotional feeling reaction to the information.
More and more insinuation and innuendo are becoming the way to media and political attention and power.
// posted by Patrick @ 4:23 PM
Friday, October 03, 2003
Truth depends on the questions you ask.
The Great California Recall of 2003 is the first major electoral test of the 21st century, and it is showing the defining power of the public opinion poll and the news power of the entertainment media.
The media pundits have become so dependent on public opinion polls that they have no other touchstone to judge popularity of candidates or issues. The media barons have gone so far out on the limb of “fairness” that they report the opinions of the radical, the few or isolated as being equally “legitimate viewpoint.” with the voices of moderation. In fact the voices of the marginal are frequently more compelling, especially on TV where their colorful rhetoric and emotional appeals play well to the camera and an audience with a voracious appetite for diversion.
The media “experts” mainly at the operations level, have become poll junkies, anointing the polls with the wisdom of objective numbers.
In the media’s rush for electoral factoids and accurate sounding numbers, they ignore that the “truth” of any poll depends on the questions asked by the pollsters. The agreement of a variety of polls is based on asking the same questions.
For example, if a pollster asks; would you (or will you) vote for Candidate A or Candidate B, the question ignores the existence of Candidates C, D, E, F, etc. Anyone who has studied polling or statistics, knows that the more options the respondent has, the messier the results become. If a respondent does have the temerity to answer Candidate C, the pollsters toss out the answer as being a “statistical anomaly.” If you offer forced choice among 2 or 3 candidates or opinions or views, then you get clean results. As soon as you toss in more choices the numbers begin splintering and the picture (and thus the story) becomes more and more clouded.
A cloudy story with no clear lead, headline or sound bite, makes for a confused media. If the media sees itself as being confused, they fear that the public will turn away from their leadership and the media will lose power, prestige, readers/viewers and sponsors/advertisers.
Most people already admit that they get their view of the world , ie “news” from TV which is very good at presenting highly emotional stories and very poor at presenting facts and figures. The more people rely on the emotionalism of TV, the more susceptible they are to the kind of simplistic emotional appeal of an Arnold.
Reversing the Game
There are complaints among the media that the leading candidate Arnold Schwartznegger is ignoring the traditional news media and taking his message directly to the people via the entertofnment side ot the media. The traditional news mavens complain is that he is ignoring the “difficult” questions that the news reporters allegedly ask and only responding to the “softball” questions that the entertainment reporters are asking. The forth estate of the news is being upstaged by the new fifth estate of entertainment.
The news media have nobody but themselves to blame for their situation, for they have created Arnold to sell papers and TV news shows.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
A Tale of Mothers.
A Tale of Mothers.
My birth mother and I never really bonded. We were kept apart for the first few days of my life. She began to lose her hearing with my birth and always blamed me and found ways to blame me for all my problems and for many of my families. When my brothers came along I became the designated Authority over them and was frequently caught in the middle between rebellious siblings and demanding parents. My birth mother was a master of giving mixed messages and maintaining "ultimate plausible deniability". I left home when I was 20 and have rarely looked back.
My birth mother became increasingly paranoid as she grew older. The church above her house was secretly aiming their satellite dish at her and spying on her. Agents in Black cars were patrolling her street and slowing down in front of her house.
About 4 years ago, she went to the local Kaiser hospital and wanted to be admitted for vague and undefined symptoms. She was not a Kaiser member so they would not admit her. She went outside and fell down the stairs breaking her hip and causing other injuries. Kaiser did emergency treatment then transfered her to another hospital Going through her personal belongings, the hospital found that she had taken her savings book and the deed to the house with her. It was clear that she was not going home again.
My brother called me and I rushed to So. California to have a visit with her. None of the times I visited her in the rest-home was she awake and able to communicate with me. During my last visit just before returning to Northern California, I gave Mom permission to let go and assured her that we could take care of ourselves. Then I flew back north and my mother died the next day. My brothers were upset that I couldn't turn right around and fly back for her funeral. I had said my Good Byes.
The first substitute mother I had I found while I was in the Air Force in the late 60's early 70's. She was the mother of a large brood of children and a trained Gestalt Therapist. I joined her Training/Therapy group and later joined their family. Their home in Vacaville, and later Napa became a needed home away from home. Natalie and Tom (her husband and another trained Gestalt Therapist) were my family representatives when I graduated from college. This was a close and loving family and I enjoyed my time with them and grew immeasurably until they moved to Idaho. We then lost touch.
My next surrogate mother was my mother-in-law. She was warm, loving supportive and intelligent and so is her daughter, my wife. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with her and felt included in all aspects of her life and family. I was included and involved with all aspects of her final illness and death. She is still missed.
Was my birth mother a lousy mother or merely an overwhelmed and resentful one? probably the latter. However I do know that her shortcomings were hers alone for I have found other wonderful mothers to love and be loved by.
Patrick McManus The Man of Many Hats
My birth mother and I never really bonded. We were kept apart for the first few days of my life. She began to lose her hearing with my birth and always blamed me and found ways to blame me for all my problems and for many of my families. When my brothers came along I became the designated Authority over them and was frequently caught in the middle between rebellious siblings and demanding parents. My birth mother was a master of giving mixed messages and maintaining "ultimate plausible deniability". I left home when I was 20 and have rarely looked back.
My birth mother became increasingly paranoid as she grew older. The church above her house was secretly aiming their satellite dish at her and spying on her. Agents in Black cars were patrolling her street and slowing down in front of her house.
About 4 years ago, she went to the local Kaiser hospital and wanted to be admitted for vague and undefined symptoms. She was not a Kaiser member so they would not admit her. She went outside and fell down the stairs breaking her hip and causing other injuries. Kaiser did emergency treatment then transfered her to another hospital Going through her personal belongings, the hospital found that she had taken her savings book and the deed to the house with her. It was clear that she was not going home again.
My brother called me and I rushed to So. California to have a visit with her. None of the times I visited her in the rest-home was she awake and able to communicate with me. During my last visit just before returning to Northern California, I gave Mom permission to let go and assured her that we could take care of ourselves. Then I flew back north and my mother died the next day. My brothers were upset that I couldn't turn right around and fly back for her funeral. I had said my Good Byes.
The first substitute mother I had I found while I was in the Air Force in the late 60's early 70's. She was the mother of a large brood of children and a trained Gestalt Therapist. I joined her Training/Therapy group and later joined their family. Their home in Vacaville, and later Napa became a needed home away from home. Natalie and Tom (her husband and another trained Gestalt Therapist) were my family representatives when I graduated from college. This was a close and loving family and I enjoyed my time with them and grew immeasurably until they moved to Idaho. We then lost touch.
My next surrogate mother was my mother-in-law. She was warm, loving supportive and intelligent and so is her daughter, my wife. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with her and felt included in all aspects of her life and family. I was included and involved with all aspects of her final illness and death. She is still missed.
Was my birth mother a lousy mother or merely an overwhelmed and resentful one? probably the latter. However I do know that her shortcomings were hers alone for I have found other wonderful mothers to love and be loved by.
Patrick McManus The Man of Many Hats
My Work Bio
Patrick McManus: The Man of Many Hats
I am called “The Man of Many Hats” because of my eclectic background in communications and my collection of over 30 hats. I began as a Journalist for the San Diego Independent, in the 1960’s. Enlisting in the U.S. Air Force during the Viet Nam War, I became a Medic and Psychiatric Technician. Trained as Gestalt Therapist, I worked as a volunteer at the Berkeley Free Clinic.
I then attended California State University, Sacramento and received my Bachelors degree in Psychology. I then worked in counseling and therapeutic settings with a variety of clientele from teens in crisis to the homeless on the streets of Oakland. Through all of his counseling and clinical experiences, I have always seen myself as teaching life skills and strategies.
In 1985 I began reaching out to help a new group of clients, becoming a consultant to small business owners on communications and organizational issues.I became the manager of the Entrepreneur Center (a business resource center) in Oakland and led Brainstorming sessions for the Community Entrepreneur's Organization.
Always seeking to expand my communications skills, I became interested in filmmaking and video production, earning a Video Production Certificate from Laney College, then produced, wrote and directed "The Hidden Violence; Spouse Abuse" a domestic violence training videotape for West Oakland Mental Health Center, and won a Community Service Award from the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce for the short film "The World from A Wheelchair." I also produced and hosted the Fantastic Worlds Show for Peralta TV.
I became involved with Experience Unlimited, where I helped design, and teach job search workshops. I then developed, marketed and presented the Career Skills Marketing Workshop and the Liberate Your Own Success Workshop as well as being a career counselor
As a writer, I have produced a variety of marketing, training and public relations material. including developing the content, navigation and the “look and feel” of the Sarberscamera.com web site.
As a Public Speaker, I have made presentations on marketing, communications and personal growth subjects to many community and Toastmasters events
I am called “The Man of Many Hats” because of my eclectic background in communications and my collection of over 30 hats. I began as a Journalist for the San Diego Independent, in the 1960’s. Enlisting in the U.S. Air Force during the Viet Nam War, I became a Medic and Psychiatric Technician. Trained as Gestalt Therapist, I worked as a volunteer at the Berkeley Free Clinic.
I then attended California State University, Sacramento and received my Bachelors degree in Psychology. I then worked in counseling and therapeutic settings with a variety of clientele from teens in crisis to the homeless on the streets of Oakland. Through all of his counseling and clinical experiences, I have always seen myself as teaching life skills and strategies.
In 1985 I began reaching out to help a new group of clients, becoming a consultant to small business owners on communications and organizational issues.I became the manager of the Entrepreneur Center (a business resource center) in Oakland and led Brainstorming sessions for the Community Entrepreneur's Organization.
Always seeking to expand my communications skills, I became interested in filmmaking and video production, earning a Video Production Certificate from Laney College, then produced, wrote and directed "The Hidden Violence; Spouse Abuse" a domestic violence training videotape for West Oakland Mental Health Center, and won a Community Service Award from the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce for the short film "The World from A Wheelchair." I also produced and hosted the Fantastic Worlds Show for Peralta TV.
I became involved with Experience Unlimited, where I helped design, and teach job search workshops. I then developed, marketed and presented the Career Skills Marketing Workshop and the Liberate Your Own Success Workshop as well as being a career counselor
As a writer, I have produced a variety of marketing, training and public relations material. including developing the content, navigation and the “look and feel” of the Sarberscamera.com web site.
As a Public Speaker, I have made presentations on marketing, communications and personal growth subjects to many community and Toastmasters events
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