Is radio making us a nation of morons?

[Goblinmonger]

I mean it used to be that people actually read books, but now all they do is sit by the radio and listen to people talking. We're doomed. DOOOOOOOOOOMED I tell you.

I know this seems like just a stupid copycat thread which should be in the Lounge, but doesn't the TV makes us stupid just sound like the angry old guy talking about how people weren't turds when he was a kid and they are know. Seriously, people weren't all brilliant before the TV.

[AlCzervik]

1. it's actually making me a mormon.

[tekisui]

2. TURN IT OFF!! QUICK!

[bryant69]

3. I don't know - I go back and forth on this - but i think the big problem is individualized media

of any sort - and the Internet is as bad at this as radio or TV - probably worse. As cable options expand, radio options expand, and internet options - we can seek out radio shows, tv shows, and internet sites that cater to our particular ideology. We can simply eliminate any opinions we don't agree with from our consumption.

Many if not most liberals aren't wont to do this - we generally are interested in the world around us and happy to see people with different opinions. But conservatives don't put much stock in listening to people they disagree with politically.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Goblinmonger]

4. That's not a bad point

but I don't know if it is a new phenomenon. Granted it is easier, but certainly there were plenty of narrow-minded conservative assholes before TV and the Intertubes.

[Mythsaje]

5. Books are still around...

Not nearly read enough, dammit. BUY MY BOOKS!!! But, anyhoo... Before TV there was radio. Before radio there were books. Before books there were ORAL TRADITIONS. People in those cultures could remember tales word for word, and they were passed down for generations. Books made people dumber. I mean, who can remember a recipe told to them yesterday...unless they write it down?

There's smart, and there's smart. TV doesn't raise intelligence, but it's a tool like any other. Control the damn thing rather than allowing it to control you, and it's not the harbinger of the end of civilization. Just a goddamn-noisy-box.

[Goblinmonger]

8. You said "harbinger"

You rock. You are so book smart.

Kids still read. Trust me. I teach high school English and I see them doing it. Some are pretty good at it. A lot suck at it. Just like in the old days.

[MADem]

10. They're around, and they're ON TAPE!!! Which is why many well read people cannot spell at all!

They've never actually SEEN the words that they've "read."

Leads to some funny-ass useage, too.

[Mythsaje]

13. Ah, but, then again

people who read often didn't know how to pronounce what they were reading. It's an interesting dichotomy. Reading doesn't necessarily lead to good spelling. Only investing the energy to memorize the words, and certain rules, leads to good spelling.

[MADem]

14. That point is well taken, and has led to some funny exchanges. nt

[fishnfla]

6. I can only give you a recent example

In a sports forum I hang out in, a football forum with a 10-2 team...the most popular thread right now is a discussion of television commercials. Think about that for a minute

Now you asked about radio...the teams most recent game was not available on regular cable, but was available statewide on radio.., everyone B8tched about not being able to see the game on TV....when you mentioned the radio broadcast, nothing

[Goblinmonger]

7. That's their own damn fault

for not living close enough to the holy land. We got the game down in Oshkosh because we don't live out in the Land of Nod.

Vikes fan, btw, but still liked the game.


Oh, give me a break, I grew up in North Dakota.

on edit: made some change that some crazy-assed cheesehead packer fan took issue with :P

[fishnfla]

9. their

t-h-e-i-r

pass the remote

edit: "with which some crazy assed cheesehead took issue"

[NMMNG]

11. Duh, what?

:dunce:

[zorahopkins]

12. Well, Morons Do Listen To Radio

Isn't it true that the people who listen to hate radio (Limbaugh, Hannity, and the rest of the Nazi Boys) are morons?

[FiveGoodMen]

15. TALK radio is, yes.