We live in a country where people like this are celebrated.

[arcadian]

and teachers are downsized and degraded. Anti-intellectualism is held in high regards by a vast majority of the population.



Kate Gosselin's Dry Spell and Other Things You Can't Un-Know

[stray cat]

1. Facts are also discarded in favor of ill informed opinions

[Kerrytravelers]

2. Absolutely. Remember how John Kerry was ridiculed for using multi-syllabic words?

How dare he use such big words to Americans!!!! It is just unpatriotic!!!! :patriot:




edited for embarrassing typo!!!!!

[Cleita]

4. He dated the words?

Would that be considered adultery. :-)

[Kerrytravelers]

10. Thanks for catching that!

:rofl:

[SemiCharmedQuark]

3. Sad, but that is actually common in many countries.

The worst thing about our version of it is that it spills over into politics.

[slackmaster]

5. Those aren't even representative of the people we celebrate most

[Captain Hilts]

6. Old news. FDR and ER were both trained specifically NOT to act like the smartest guy in the room.

Really.

[raccoon]

16. never mind, I got it. nt

[Newest Reality]

7. Modern Idols!

I think the species levels-up when this tendency diminishes or even ends. That is, along with a prevailing maturity that corresponds with or transcends the level of technology we have reached so far.

Generally speaking, it seems like our species is still in some form of adolescence, hence, idol worship and the need for tribal leaders to control them and legitimize actions and behavior.

I don't mean the stuffy, "old gray face" pseudo-maturity born of the Elite and business culture, either. That's a form of anal retentive repression and conformity. There is a wisdom born of knowledge and experience that encompasses the innocence of a baby, the wonder and awe of a child, the daring and vision of a teenager, the fastidiousness and determination of a young adult and the sense and intuition of a wise old fart. That may sound idealistic or unrealistic, but at least it defines a potential archetype, the relatively Unknown Man; a mutation by today's superficial, simulated standards.

[ShortnFiery]

8. IMO, a large part of the problem is that we don't have a DIVERSE media.

When the media was less consolidated, the creative decisions were made by people who were blessed with such talent. Now only a handful of CEOs and Executives make or break "personalities" and "programming choices."

We all suffer by having to tolerate a lack-luster M$M.

[w8liftinglady]

9. or THIS...

http://www.eonline.com/on/shows/kardashians/index.jsp
http://www3.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/2nd+Annual+A+List+Awards+Show+02YyzRDoI8Ql.jpg

[RaleighNCDUer]

11. I am very happy to say I have no idea who those people are. nt

[Dogtown]

12. Ditto.

I recognized one person. Only because my wife is a baseball fan.

[paulsby]

13. we live in a country that has GREAT respect towards teachers

as poll after poll confirms

at least as far as the average citizen goes

[Fumesucker]

14. Ask the average American to name a great teacher..

Then ask them to name a great movie star and sports star.

See which question gets more answers.

[paulsby]

15. i doubt they could name a great firefighter either

because firefighters, like teachers, aren't individualized to the respect that movie stars are.

it doesn't mean that teachers don't have FAR more respect than actors, as POLL after POLL shows

the evidence is in the polls

the average citizen has great respect for firefighters, cops, and teachers

that's supported by data

[Fumesucker]

17. People answer poll questions the way they think they "should" ..

When it comes down to real life they vote with their attention and their wallet.

Just for the record I didn't recognize anyone in the pictures above..

[paulsby]

18. imo, that's an absurd rationalization

i'll stand by the poll data, and what i see everyday in the streets.

working as a uniformed cop, i have people come up to me time after time, and thank me for what i do

i saw the same thing as a firefighter

teachers don't walk around with a uniform, so they don't get that kind of approach in public, but the polling data is clear.

actors help people escape and give people great pleasure by their work, but AS people themselves are not particularly respected. that's why people love to read about the PROBLEMs the actors are having in their personal life. people like to see actors dragged down.

even when i worked deep undercover, i found that many criminals i hung out with had a grudging respect for (most) cops. i heard it time and time again. "officer X arrested me, and i had to spend a year in prison, but hey, he was doing my job and i did the crime. i can respect that. he treated me fairly". i heard that kind of crap ALL THE TIME. from the very guys cops put away. if anybody has reason to hate cops, it's them

[Fumesucker]

19. Like I said, people vote in real life with their wallets..

Ever seen an entire pro sports team fired and have to reapply? The fans would have a conniption fit.

It's happening with teachers, entire schools are being fired and then the teachers have to reapply, and Americans by and large don't give a damn.

Do we have "education talk" radio stations that focus on education? There are a plethora of "sports talk" stations.

The political talk radio stations that exist are almost universally right wing and very much against real education and teachers in general, I know I listened to them for many years when driving. Look at the hosts of those shows, the most famous, Limbaugh, Beck and Hannity all lack a college degree.

[paulsby]

20. education isn't sexy or exciting

that says nothing about how people feel about teachers. EDUCATION is not an exciting topic. nor are teachers. that is an ENTIRELY different thing than measuring the respect that people have for teachers. sorry, but imo that's not a compelling argument. and not having a college education doesn't make one against teachers. furthermore, we were talking teachers, not college professors. ime, the public has more respect for teachers iow elementary, high school, etc than college professors. and for good reason,imo.

i simply don't find your arguments compelling, and i see you bringing in a tangential issue - college professors, when we were talking teachers. when i refer to "teachers", i am referring to HS, Jr HS, middle school, etc. and i think the polling data and people think the same way

[Fumesucker]

22. What is wrong with college professors?

And I never mentioned professors in the first place, I said that the three most popular conservative hosts all lacked any advanced education and are hostile to the type of education that teachers are required to have, I've listened to all three of them more than enough to know they are hostile to education and teachers in general.

There is a reason that the three most popular conservative hosts are poorly educated and that reason is their audience is hostile to education.

[paulsby]

23. nothing is "wrong" with college professors

but they are not the same as school teachers, and i think most people recognize that

fwiw, all my favorite conservative radio hosts are well educated. i find the limbaughs, beck, etc. to be quite boring and not that bright

i've always liked the medved's, ingraham, etc.

regardless of whether or not limbaugh's listeners are "hostile to education" (and im not sure that's true), the reality is that the VAST majority of the public, as i have said, supports teachers and the polling data confirms that

[veganlush]

21. as you pointed out..

.."the average citizen has great respect for firefighters, cops, and teachers"

ironic, isn't it, that by far most of them work for "government-run" institutions.

[paulsby]

24. i could cut the irony with a ladle

and yes...

[DefenseLawyer]

25. Nothing like the "look how smart and sophisticated I am" post.

Knowing nothing about popular culture and bragging about not having a t.v. doesn't make you smart. Get over yourselves. Anti-intellectualism is rampant in this country, but there are people that read books who also go to the movies and even *gasp* follow sports.

[Toucano]

28. Screw that response!

The invented celebrity of Kate Gosselin is not the equivalent of people who "...go to the movies and even *gasp* follow sports."

The fabricated trials and tribulations of the trivial-made-celebrities have no intrinsic value whatever. Zip. Zero. Nada.

It offers no diversion or escape from the grind of daily life. If offers no insight or wisdom into our own circumstances. It offers no empathy or communal experience.

Sports, movies, and actual entertainment does have value because it contributes one or more of those aspects to our lives.


Pseudo celebrity and manipulated reality are the entertainment equivalent to Chinese pet food: it's cheaper to produce, but completely toxic.

[gorfle]

26. Well for what it's worth...

I didn't recognize anyone in the picture and I have no idea what "Kate Gosselin's Dry Spell and Other Things You Can't Un-Know" is about.

[Toucano]

27. Take it broader...

Imagine the incalculable amount of human energy and "talent" wasted on this and other so-called celebrities.

Imagine the hours...ink...paper...electrons...calories...kilobytes...on a national scale.


I watch very little television, but that woman (or some other incarnation of her) is being talked about almost every time I press the button, and it serves absolutely no value. Absolutely none!

One might make a case that there is some small social value to a discussion about the infidelity scandals of Tiger Woods, John Edwards, etc. Maybe a case could be made.

But Kate Gosselin? Really? Seriously?


Now imagine those hours...ink...paper...electrons...calories...kilobytes...all being put to better use. Overcoming illiteracy, for example. Comforting the sick. Feeding the hungry.

It boggles my mind to think of how screwed up and misplaced our values are.