A pattern I have observed

[nadinbrzezinski]

"I don't have time to find out about (insert major issue of the day here.)" Yet in their case they watch sports all the time.

I am using my brother for this, but could be anybody in Middle America...

"I can't believe (insert movie here, or TV show, or what have you that does not directly affect your life) did not win... (insert award here.)

"Sports figure transported to local hospital after collapsing..." immediate google up to see what happened...

Why am I using these as examples of what is the reality of life? Folks we willfully live in a place full of distractions from the real issues... No, politics is not just another game. It directly affects your life. Things like the Oscars, while entertaining, do not. Things like who won what game or what championship, and who went to the hospital, unless a relative of yours, again does not directly affect your life.

No, not saying that you should abandon all hobbies and stop paying attention to insert piece of the bread and circus here... By all means, we all need a hobby, and lord knows I have mine... but perspective people, perspective... WHO WON the Oscars does not matter, well except to Members of the Academy (and decisions are highly political by the way), and the studios that produce them. To the rest of us, it is just one more piece of the bread and circus. I could by the way comment on the dresses yesterday, some of them were horrible. I was entertained by the Comedy, but in the final analysis who won what affects my life exactly how? Just like who won what medal during the Olympics affects my life exactly how? Nero and his bread and circuses come to mind. Just that our modern equivalent do not even have bread...

By the way, when my SIL said I had no interest on the Tube while eating dinner I did tell her that I did, but that I did not eat while the TV was on. Just that my taste on TV is different than hers, and I left it at that. No use in discussing why the Nicks versus the Suns matters little to her life, really, while HC policy will impact her life in more ways than one. And this is how I see the discussions on the Oscars here too. Unless you are PART of the industry... well it affects your day to day life the same way the Nicks vs the Suns do. Entertaining... absolutely, but keep your perspective. By the way, some of those dresses, the designer deserves to lose some sleep over some of them... lord they were bad... particularly one before I went to bed... the up over the thighs cut one, on the front, in a slight mauve I think color. But apart of gossip it does not affect my life one way or the other.

Oh and bad on me for actually stating what is MY OPINION, sadly the people voting for the Academy are also stating theirs, that the decision was not bad... given the social commentary. That said, my view purely, D-9 was far better at the social commentary, but in the end... that is my opinion and the Oscars do not affect my life one inch.

That is all...

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Bread and Circus. It worked with the Romans.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. And it is working just dandy

[BrklynLiberal]

17. I guess it is a sad commentary on the evolution of the human mind and society.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. Oh absolutelyt...

I sometimes wonder if there is some truth to the idea that we have wolves but we are mostly sheep.

[BrklynLiberal]

29. Sounds valid to me

[mitchum]

21. But now the bread is moldy and the circus quite fleabitten

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. LOL, thanks for that

:hi:

[annabanana]

2. Of course the Oscars are just so much frou-frou. I enjoy

looking at the dresses.

But I agree with you 100% and it amazes me that people insist on regarding politics as just another hobby, as in "I don't DO politics."

As if it were, say, knitting..

[Green_Lantern]

5. why should they be interested in politics....

When the politicians don't listen to them.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. And they win... since they can mostly fly

under the radar... it is because of that attitude.

[Joanne98]

3. I never watch anything but c-span.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Oy, even I would go nuts, but these days

since I have little interest in the Nicks... or the Cleveland whatever team it is... I read.

[Green_Lantern]

4. and some could argue that voting for Obama vs.

McCain have no effect on their lives since both would just listen to corporations and do very little different than the Bush admin.

Following politics does little when even Obama doesn't listen to us. And remember he was our big hope for change.

Americans follow the Academy Awards more than politics because at least the academy listens to the people.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. The academy listens to the people?

If you said GAMA I'd agree with you. At least that one had a People's Choice Award.

Now I will make the case that the Democrats are better in domestic policy than the Republicans... that said the Empire will do what the Empire will do. And until the people realize that they have a role to play in this democracy, well, they will keep mostly not listening.

You got to realize Politicos are mostly thieves... and liars... but if you and I do our job as well informed citizens they lie less and follow through more. That at least is the historic experience. Alas the nicks are more important and the Academy "listens" to people.

[salvorhardin]

8. Of course it doesn't matter

I challenge you to find a significant percentage of the population who thinks that it does. It's cultural currency, in the same way that Shakespeare, Tolstoy or Heinlein is. Any of those authors may or may not matter to your culture, and similarly the Oscars or professional sports or the Tony Awards might or might not matter. Depends on the people you work, hang out and live with.

Of course it'd be nicer if people took more of an interest in politics, but we've been conditioned to think that it's all just opinion and nobody's opinion means any more than anybody else's, except possibly for Limbaugh, Hannity or O'Reilly. Besides, the surest way to start a fight is to talk about either politics or religion. People aren't interested in starting fights. They just want to get along, as best they can (normally).

I'm not sure how we'd change it. It seems as intractable a problem to me as how to get more people interested in science (which they also see as having no direct effect on their lives).

Anyway, with all that being said, I'm really looking forward to the premier of the new Doctor Who this Easter. How about you? ;-)

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. I watched Dr Who for the first season or so

:-)

I have found myself far more drawn to a good book any longer.

Of course what is a good book is a matter of taste. These days good short fiction and history of labor are my current diet, as well as oh editing and writing.

[salvorhardin]

30. I've gone absolutely crazy for Michael Chabon the last couple of months, give or take

I had never heard of the guy before, say, September when a friend recommended him. Now I've gone through The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Summerland, Mysteries of Pittsburgh, Manhood For Amateurs and I'm 2/3 of the way through The Yiddish Policemen's Union. The Final Solution and Gentlemen of the Road are on deck. It's safe to say I have a serious man-crush on Chabon.

[nadinbrzezinski]

31. Chabon might be something to pick up (in ebook form)

for the flight

[Mike 03]

12. My two channels are CSPAN and CNN Live Video, and other than that

it is satellite radio for me.

CSPAN is the first thing I check out every day, and if I miss an important hearing I access their archives.

[Mike 03]

13. Rec, by the way. Yes, I wish you would have a bit more empathy for our mental

health. How is it possible to not go insane if all you do is pay attention to Washington Politics? It is depressing as hell, and if you have other issues like dying parents and sisters, it can be overwhelming sometimes.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. It is, but this is not about mental health

why I said, please by all means have a hobby, lord knows I have not one but at least three.

(Wargaming, painting miniatures, and readying) But I have my priorities in order.

Playing games is a good distraction, but not life changing or shattering, and there is no pro circuit either... but it is a hell of a good distraction. And it also forces me to do some research into the history of WW II.

Painting same minis is a hell of a good distraction and a time to talk for me and my husband. And yes I do it at a high technical level of skill, to the point of actually winning painting contest... but again that is not world shattering, even if it feels nice to be recognized for my skills with the brush.

I also enjoy readying, both fiction and non fiction, but again that is a guilty pleasure, but again my priorities are kept straight. If I am readying a bill (yes I am that crazy) that actually matters. If I do some into history it may have some significance, but readying Star Ship Troopers, or a slew of other pieces of fiction really has no impact beyond me, and my readying group, as a hobby that is. Now as a writer it matters, to explore craft. So yes, it matters a little more... but again nothing world shattering. Nor are my stories, when published, going to change the world. I wish they did, but I am realistic of reality.

Now a little more important, since it does have a critical effect on a neighbor of mine quality of life, of advanced age, is my love of cooking... it used not to be there but it has developed over the years. Why is this important? I take my 80 something neighbor to the market as well. She does not cook, but that is an important adventure for her, and we both enjoy it. But beyond us, it does not affect anybody else that much... and community seems not to be a high priority any longer.

And that is what I mean about keeping an eye on what actually affects your life, and our collective reality. Sports are an important distraction... and as such they are good. So are movies, but when people take either of those two activities as more than things that actually affect their lives in direct ways, then we have lost quite a bit of perspective.

As to family medical emergencies... care to share stories from the last three years? I have a couple doozies. Hell I am "stuck" in Cleveland due to the latest of them. I didn't really want to know how painful it is to drive in a winter storm... now I know... and 45 degrees is down right WARM.

[Mike 03]

15. Well, just between you and me and everyone else watching...

I find it very hard to do anything recreational these days, but I know it is not a good thing.

Yes, I watch CSPAN ten hours a day, and listen to BLOOMBERG five hours every morning, and I think I have forgotten how to do anything I enjoy.

Maybe that is a good thing, maybe that is some indication to me that I need to "do" something I am not yet aware of.

Damn, I tell you with all my heart, I want to make a difference. But I am so disillusioned and confused now, I have no clue where to start or what to do.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Curl up with a good book

serious....

:-)

I also want to make a difference... but I have come to realize that most people really don't give a rat's ass, feel unable or unwilling, or overwhelmed, or a combo of the above.

[Mike 03]

18. Wow, I wish we could talk one day. I am so confused, because I really want to do something

positive with my existence, but I don't feel optimistic at all.

But I have to say, I am often electrified and stimulated by your posts. You are awesome.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. You never know what life will bring

If you told me in oh January that I'd be spending part of the winter in Cleveland, I'd have told you that you are nuts. Me, go to Cleveland in the middle of Winter?

[Brickbat]

23. Not just middle America, of course.

Sheesh.

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. Of course not,

but right at the moment I am stuck in fly over country.

These attitudes are endemic to all regions of the country and most of the folks I know really pay attention to things that really do not mean squat to their lives, but none to what makes a difference in their lives.

And this is not just limited to the US either.

[Brickbat]

25. "Flyover country."

Gee, thanks.

[nadinbrzezinski]

27. I did not invent the term,

but in many ways it is accurate.

In a political science kind of a way... just like Red State is also appropriate.

I could also have used the "rust Belt," but I guess that would also be insulting, even if it is also appropriate in a poli sci way.

But especially during the winter... most people will NOT stop unless absolutely necessary. Hell, the Captain of the Airliner before we took off from LA made some jokes about our destination... which were strangely laughed at. It was more like gallows humor kind of a laughter.

[boomerbust]

26. March Madness Baby

Forget about politics, Bucky Badger will be making a run for the title.

[nadinbrzezinski]

28. And I will be watching Countdown and RM

and listening to Hartmann... Enjoy March Madness.

[BuelahWitch]

32. I have to wonder if the screaming pundits have had anything to do with it

People get outrage fatigue. These clowns make everything a farce. If we had rational discussion of the issues with each side stating their opinions it might help, but I doubt that will happen very soon.

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. THey are part of the problem but for other reasons

they are the ones who have made sports and politics equivalent to each other. They are also the ones spreading all kinds of shit all over the place.

And in a few cases they are whipping some to a very dangerous frenzy... and that is on both sides... but these days when I think of that I immediately go to Glenny.

[rug]

34. I'll read this later.

[GeorgeGist]

35. I've notice that you frequently post ...

useless drivel.

[nadinbrzezinski]

36. What an enlightened response

Don't bother to read it if you consider this useless.

Two choices for you.... The IGNORE button, that way you can avoid ALL I post, or just don't open the OP.

By the way, such an enlightening answer deserves the Ignore list.