Paris Hilton - shows what a truly demented society that we've become

[BushOut06]

I happened to be listening to Boortz earlier today, and I actually have to agree with him 100% on one thing. All the media coverage of Paris Hilton is absolutely pathetic. Is it true that networks gave scant attention to the Joint Chiefs of Staff story, then went right back to covering Paris?

This is something that should garner a few minutes at most on shows like Inside Edition or Entertainment Tonight. NOT the fucking network news. However, it's quite indicative of what our society has become. We are a society that's more interested in voting for the next American Idol than we are the next President of the United States. Men and women are dying in Iraq, and we're enamored by some hotel magnate's daughter being taken to jail. There are serious situations arising with Iran and Russia, and most Americans couldn't really care less.

[LaurenG]

1. You are quite right and as for your statement

"There are serious situations arising with Iran and Russia, and most Americans couldn't really care less". I don't think many Americans are paying enough attention to realize there is a problem at all.

[Sukie1941]

19. We can listen to war news anytime

Week after week, month after month, year after year

War after war after war

I have conscious recollection of WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, Bush's War, and all the small and medium skirmishes inbetween.

So what's wrong with a little Paris now and then? She should be an example to young parents of how they DON'T want their kids to grow up.

[BushOut06]

24. You said the key word - a "little" Paris now and then

This qualifies as a helluva lot more than just a little coverage. Watching bonafide news organizations swarm over the police cruiser was simply embarrassing!

[Kikosexy2]

Our media...

has pathetically become Infotainment News...so if Britney farted today..it's news...so f*#king sad....

[ccpup]

22. britney farted today?

DAMN that MSM for not reporting the news!!!! :mad:

[Turbineguy]

2. Abstinence

of reality.

[libnnc]

3. Bread and Circuses

We deserve what we get.

It's sickening.

[JuniperLea]

4. Ratings and majority

It's all about the ratings. And the majority of people are pretty clueless about how close this hand-basket of ours is getting to hell. They can't feel the heat, can't smell the sulfur, and are only interested in Paris H. and American Idol.

I think we on DU tend to forget we are a fairly focused group.

[Esra Star]

5. If all she is is a mirror that reveals some unfortunate truths, then

her place in society is justified.
The trouble is that only the people who were aware already
will see it as that.

[no_hypocrisy]

6. I dunno. It's tradition in America to follow the lives of rich dysfunctional families

Gloria Vanderbilt with the custody fight

Howard Hughes and his germophobia and aversion to being in public

Patty Hearst's kidnapping by the SLA

The Kennedy Curse(s)


It's the media making its 30 pieces of silver with a side order of Schadenfreude.

[BlooInBloo]

7. And it begins!

[partylessinOhio]

8. I can tap dance and chew gum at the same time.

[Breeze54]

9. It's about injustice in USA- not about the twit.

IMHO

[nonconformist]

10. Exactly. I'll admit that I sometimes enjoy light fare and celebrity news

But, when I want that stuff I go to E!, watch Entertainment Tonight or something like that.

I shouldn't be able to see hours of wall to wall celebrity coverage on CNN.

The problem is the media is ratings driven, which basically defeats the whole point of a "media" in the first place.

[Swamp Rat]

11. Paris Hilton™ is an effective distraction.

[depakid]

12. Yet another of the 999 reasons for media divestment & re-regulation

That needs to be agenda item #1 if the Dems ever retake the executive.

[opihimoimoi]

13. Leave no child behind??? It seems like we left our SOCIETY BEHIND to the point where we don't even

know what is important/pertinent anymore

As a Nation, We are on the Lowest Minutiae Level where BS passes for the TRUTH....how the fk that happened....? The GOP is to BLAME...look at the evidence....all around us....BS Crap is so smothering its pathetic.....

[monktonman]

14. Paris is alot hotter then Iran

Really, who wants to look at those vails and burkas on the evening news?
I'd much rather watch some hot ass bitch get thrown in the slammer. How else am I supposed to live out my prison guard fantasy?

Really, who wants to look a Putin? I wanna look at poon-tang!

As for Bush.....I'd rather see the real thing on tv rather than some washed-up drunkin frat boy anyday.

[WiseButAngrySara]

15. Paris Hilton was actually BREAKING NEWS on all channels

and the broadcasters cut into the 'true' news. I have never been quite that disgusted with M$M and I can't help but believe that this was intentionally made into the circus that it was; not for ratings, but for cover-up of major news. Americans are not too dumb to recognize worthy news, and Paris is not and NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN NEWS WORTHY! She has accomplished nothing.

[Breeze54]

16. That's because over 10,000 people, within hrs., called the news

about their outrage!!

I wish they'd all get calling about Iraq and the crimes of Bush too!!!

But this is also injustice for the rich. it is news.

[WiseButAngrySara]

20. True. The justice/injustice angle of this story is news worthy. ...n/

[ecstatic]

17. When did Americans jump the shark? Was the OJ trial the tipping point?

When did Americans stop caring about serious issues?

[Canuckistanian]

27. I'd put it back a few years earlier

Gary Hart. That's when it all began to fall apart.

I remember news stories about what some "journalist" found in his garbage.

Ever since, they've been waving that garbage in our face and telling us it's relevant.

[TahitiNut]

18. She's a "celebrity" - since we celebrate narcissism, sloth, unearned wealth, and objectification.

We've even seemed to lower our 'standards' of what we regard as attractive - lauding a 26-year-old female with all the physical maturation of an adolescent teen. She's famous for being famous. She's the indolent, self-centered child of heirheads who seems to think (along with millions of other morally-challenged idiots) she's admirable because she parties.

My prediction: She'll off herself before she reaches 40. She's a suicide in the making.

[Disturbed]

21. "When did Americans stop caring about serious issues?

When did most Americans ever start? This situation is not new. Sensationalism has been promoted for ages. Most people are bored by politics &/or World Events that carry doom and gloom. Entertainment is as American as it ever was.

[Kablooie]

28. This IS the AMERICAN WAY! From sea to shining sea.

Like it or not.

[marions ghost]

23. it's called distraction

and those in power contribute to the infinitely fluid smokescreen. When you have a society where people are powerless and don't feel connected to what happens in the larger sphere, why is it surprising that fluff sells so well? Most people don't want to feel any more depressed and so they just focus on their microcosm as a way of coping.

Who wants to pay any attention to all that negative news about the war and the economy? I don't blame those who can only stand to get a glimmer of the news on the Daily Show, and/or get involved in the fascinating world of spoiled celebrities.

It's a survival strategy of sorts, and it works when you don't want to face what is really going on. But a lot of these ostriches know it, at some level, they know it.

[Morgana LaFey]

25. What got to me this afternoon was Dan Abrams

decrying all the hoopla over this, all the papparazzi lined up on her street, etc., as if it were something OTHER than the media pushing this, and then look at what Dan Abrams' own outfit is doing! They spent the entire afternoon on the subject, and for want of something better, I've got ole Dan on right now with his own Special Report on the subject.

WHO'S PUSHING THIS?? Not the people. The people may be WATCHING it, but it's the media making it a spectacle.

[monmouth]

31. You just wrote what I was thinking as I listened to him. He was salivating...ugh..n/t

[Canuckistanian]

26. They've got the American public trained like Pavlov's dogs

We'll show you this garbage - now you get all excited about it.

REAL news? Boring.

Insightful commentary? Sorry, only at Tom Delay's intellectual level.

The Pakistani Prime Minister has just been overthrown? Who cares? Britney looks pregnant!

Do you miss Walter Cronkite? Well, there's always Katie Couric and Glenn Beck. And I mean always.

At least there's KO. And just enough of him to keep EVERYONE watching your stupid network.

When Newton Minnow called TV a 'vast wasteland' back in the 60's, he hadn't seen nothing.

[earth mom]

29. If the corporate media whores reported the REAL NEWS there would be HELL to pay.

They can't have that now can they?! :puke:

[Catfight]

30. Well, when we have a clown in charge, how are we suppose to take

anything seriously? People voted for the clown to continue leading the USofA, our whole country, the news media and politics is one big farcical.

[seabeyond]

32. i was taking some poll and it asked which news person most entertaining

i had a place for comment and i wrote i am not lookin to be ENTERTIANED by my news but infrmed on what is happening to the world. hence why i have turned off tv new because it is in th entertainment business and no longer in the news business.