Corrupt American Media [Darth Ravenous vs X Challenge]

[Darth Ravenous]

Has anyone ever gone to a store and seen a magazine filled with bad news about someone you like? The media has not only torn down several careers of very good actors and up and comming stars. They feed people this trash and people eat it up. Take for example what just happened to Angelina Jolie. I think people should stop feeding this vast trash heap and give privacy back to the actors and others the media has destroyed. Furthermore if someone needs to know then it should be done only after the media group has asked permission from the person. Take for example Bill Gates on his wedding day he had every plane and helicopter within reach of his wedding bribed so he could have a private wedding with family and close friends only. It was also very hefty too as his wedding was never recorded by any media groups.

[Giorgos]

Are you actually going to find any takers on this debate? I believe that everyone here agrees on the issue of corruption of the US media. In fact, not only the US media, but media in general...

[Darth Ravenous]

Not everyone because if so than why is it that so many people are buying it? If that is true than it is those people I wish to bring forward.

[Giorgos]

No i think you'll find that most, if not all, agree that the media outlets are corrupted. Why do they still buy them, even though they have that knowledge? to be entairtained, pure and simple.

[Darth Ravenous]

Yes but I am arguing that it shouldn't be at all and finding out that Angelina has rehab is not entertaining it's sad news. And it's not just magazines it's all media including local news.

[Maverick]

Has anyone ever gone to a store and seen a magazine filled with bad news about someone you like? The media has not only torn down several careers of very good actors and up and comming stars. They feed people this trash and people eat it up. Take for example what just happened to Angelina Jolie. I think people should stop feeding this vast trash heap and give privacy back to the actors and others the media has destroyed. Furthermore if someone needs to know then it should be done only after the media group has asked permission from the person. Take for example Bill Gates on his wedding day he had every plane and helicopter within reach of his wedding bribed so he could have a private wedding with family and close friends only. It was also very hefty too as his wedding was never recorded by any media groups.

The "media" has one purpose: to sell advertisements, that's capitalism.

And I don't think "people eat it up", women eat it up. I say let the joyless suburban housewives have their schadenfreude, it's not like you can stop them from gossiping even if you could dismantle the industry, they would just talk about the Joneses instead of Brangelina. Unless you think they would start talking about ideas and current events.

[Ultra_Magnus]

From what i've understood is that you are really against invasion of privacy by the tabloid press... Rather than corruption per se..

[Darth Ravenous]

If you see it that way than yes. If it were up to me I would shut down several magazines and tv channels. As for what you say on corruption it is your point of view I believe they are corrupt by feeding us bad news everyday about something we don't need to know because of money and people are paying the price.

[Maverick]

If you see it that way than yes. If it were up to me I would shut down several magazines and tv channels.

And as I said in my post, that won't stop gossip.

I don't think if E! goes off the air the viewers are necessarily going to tune into the History Channel. Basically you don't need stupid media to indulge in stupidity any more than you need pornography to :wub:.

Since this is the fight club you can either concede that my fairly obvious observation is correct or you can argue the point.

If you see it that way than yes. If it were up to me I would shut down several magazines and tv channels. As for what you say on corruption it is your point of view I believe they are corrupt by feeding us bad news everyday about something we don't need to know because of money and people are paying the price.

I think that's the only way to see it. And the "corruptness" of the American media is false, there is nothing inherently dishonest or misleading about celebrity news, it's called Entertainment Tonight not Information Tonight.

I just don't think your argument carries any weight, there is a very high demand for gratuitous entertainment in our society and all societies... you can't tell people what movies and shows to watch or books and magazines to read, that's what critics are for and with the democratization of critical appraisal with the internet etc. the demand for critics is in rapid decline, along with culture.

I do sympathize with your argument but our leisure time is our own and a lot of people want to spend that time reading and watching celebrity news. I like to pick up the occasional book because I am mildly concerned with my intellectual development but that's my choice, a lot of people have no interest in being engaged and simply want to be entertained.

Unfortunately the lack of education and culture in our consumer democracy is good for business, people are very susceptible to advertisements, the whole idea of a "lifestyle" and "individuality" are represented by corresponding consumer products and I think the result is a society obsessed with superficiality... I know I have gone off on a tangent here but this all relates to less discriminating tastes (to discriminate = to analyze but we superficialize).

If you really want to attack something that corrupts the youth it should be "the Hills". Lewis Black judged it to be the root of all evil last week and I tend to agree, the show revolves around the dramatic irony of knowing a piece of gossip: "Candy asked out Tad but she doesn't know that he has syphilis, ohmygosh!" The main problem being such situations are contrived and so it's delibrately misleading under the guise of "reality".

[Darth Ravenous]

Sure why not? I'm not very good at this but i'll give it a shot if Darth Accepts?

I accept.

And as I said in my post, that won't stop gossip.

I don't think if E! goes off the air the viewers are necessarily going to tune into the History Channel. .

I think that's the only way to see it. And the "corruptness" of the American media is false, there is nothing inherently dishonest or misleading about celebrity news, it's called Entertainment Tonight not Information Tonight.

I just don't think your argument carries any weight, there is a very high demand for gratuitous entertainment in our society and all societies... you can't tell people what movies and shows to watch or books and magazines to read, that's what critics are for and with the democratization of critical appraisal with the internet etc. the demand for critics is in rapid decline, along with culture.

I do sympathize with your argument but our leisure time is our own and a lot of people want to spend that time reading and watching celebrity news. I like to pick up the occasional book because I am mildly concerned with my intellectual development but that's my choice, a lot of people have no interest in being engaged and simply want to be entertained.

Unfortunately the lack of education and culture in our consumer democracy is good for business, people are very susceptible to advertisements, the whole idea of a "lifestyle" and "individuality" are represented by corresponding consumer products and I think the result is a society obsessed with superficiality... I know I have gone off on a tangent here but this all relates to less discriminating tastes (to discriminate = to analyze but we superficialize).

If you really want to attack something that corrupts the youth it should be "the Hills". Lewis Black judged it to be the root of all evil last week and I tend to agree, the show revolves around the dramatic irony of knowing a piece of gossip: "Candy asked out Tad but she doesn't know that he has syphilis, ohmygosh!" The main problem being such situations are contrived and so it's delibrately misleading under the guise of "reality".

Where shall I begin first. I know first you seem to fail realise that watching peoples private moments is not entertainment. And first off I said it's okay as long as they get permission from whoever they are writing about or filming. But they have not done so they take someones private moments and shout them from the heavens. If I caught something of you that would make you never show your face again and sold it for millions you could call that being corrput as I do. But however I do agree on your last bit. Btw if you want to know something I am hoomschooled so I amy have a different outake on things then you do.

[Maverick]

Where shall I begin first. I know first you seem to fail realise that watching peoples private moments is not entertainment. And first off I said it's okay as long as they get permission from whoever they are writing about or filming. But they have not done so they take someones private moments and shout them from the heavens. If I caught something of you that would make you never show your face again and sold it for millions you could call that being corrput as I do.

As I said, I would not call it corrupt, I would probably tell the paparazzi to get a real job but as it is what they do is not considered illegal, misleading etc. I think the main question here is what constitutes a private moment? Is it a private moment when celebrities pull up outside a popular nightclub in a flashy car where they know photographers will be waiting? Or when celebrities stumble out of set nightclub visibly wasted where they know photographers will be waiting?

I never see my favorite actors and actresses in compromising photos, it's almost always people like Britney, Paris and Lindsay who are deliberately drawing attention to themselves. I say almost because sometimes celebrities are caught in what I believe should be private moments, for example People magazine published nude pictures of Greta Garbo that were captured with a long-range lens. I have a lot of sympathy for her because she was a lady, but when some "actress" who is basically a talking bikini model gets exploited, naturally I am less sympathetic, even though I believe it is wrong.

And I will reiterate that I don't think the problem is the media or paparazzi, it's the consumers who create the demand for this crap.

We can't change people, to fix the problem we need better privacy laws, the honor system does not work obviously.

Btw if you want to know something I am hoomschooled so I amy have a different outake on things then you do.

I'll bite. What differences because you are home schooled?

[Ultra_Magnus]

I don't believe they are corrupt when they are reporting on stories that expose a crime or a scandal that a celebrity or any person with influence has commited for example I want to know if my politicians are involved in orgies so i can better judge their character.
It is also not corrupt for magazines who make their money by publishing stories on celebrity events to actually go out and get their stories...

Remmeber this thing works both ways celebrities are getting alot more coverage for doing nothing which makes them more valuable than they might deserve.

[Senno]

Have you accepted the debate challenge Ultra_Magnus?

[Ultra_Magnus]

Have you accepted the debate challenge Ultra_Magnus?

Sure why not? I'm not very good at this but i'll give it a shot if Darth Accepts?

[Senno]

Excellent. This thread can be the commentary thread if Darth accepts the challenge. Start a new thread for the debate to take place in between you 2.

[Kiljan Arslan]

I got a way to solve the problem make a clause saying that Paparazi are fair game for retaliations against stalking.

[Senno]

Darth has challenged, and Ultra_Magnus has accepted. Please start a new thread to begin the debate. This thread can continue to be used for commentary.

[Zephyrus]

I do not see a problem with the media's corruption. I choose YOU, pikachu! (In my case I would have forced pikachu to evolve into a raichu by now because lets face it, pikachu is really f'ing gay for staying in that form).

[Darth Ravenous]

How so. You side with people who would rip out your heart for a couple of bucks?

[Zephyrus]

How so. You side with people who would rip out your heart for a couple of bucks?

Psssh, if my pic didn't inform you by now, THAT would be a near impossible task to do again.