2 false alarm scares in 2 days, media keeps hysteria jamming

[Philosoraptor]

No, not karl rove, not blaming dr. evil for every occurrence, just pointing out the obvious. The t.v. media takes advantage of these mysterious packages, airport shutdowns, suspicious middle eastern men, gas in the subways like w took advantage of nine eleven, and for hours upon hours after the false alarm, they are still discussing what to do, constantly reminding us, via the white house, that everything is NOT o.k.

No, I'm not delving to discover new and exciting conspiracy theories, I'm drowning in them. But I'm beyond suspecting that our complicit media is in on the fear and mind games, and I'm convinced that every panicky non event must be played up for maximum hysteria, all with the approval of the white house hijackers.

[leveymg]

1. What do you think is the purpose of hysteria - not among the general public, but

creating hysteria among the progressive net roots?

Curious to hear what others surmise might be the purpose behind the current wave of Iran war hysteria: A softening up operation? Desensitization? Spread paralysis out of fear? Paralysis out of cynicism? Dividing the Left opposition along religious/sectarian lines? An attack on the Democratic Party?

Can someone add to or argue with items on that list?

[Philosoraptor]

3. With this bunch, one should always be alarmed.

Some are finally figuring out that these guys are extremely dangerous, and they've made us a target. It's no wonder people are full of dread with recent history as a guide.

[leveymg]

6. What's your take on these explanations?

There've been some irresponsible Cry Wolf (1+ / 0-)
Recommended by:jhritz
postings on this subject, and the dye has been cast. I'm sensitive to disinformation, because that's a subject that I have studied closely as an historian.

Sometimes, people play into propaganda memes -- not because they're malicious of aware of the strategic purpose behind them - but, because war is an exciting subject, like horseracing, and some people need to be the first to call the finish.

Cry Wolf doesn't necessarily imply lies, it can just be very unfounded

by leveymg on Sun Jan 07, 2007 at 03:06:33 PM PST

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doesn't imply lies... (0 / 0)
I seem to recall my father using the "Boy Who Cried Wolf" story as a lesson about the effects of lying.

As a rhetorician, I'm also pretty sensitive to disinformation.

"Computer. End holographic program...Computer? Computer?"

by kredwyn on Sun Jan 07, 2007 at 04:31:26 PM PST

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It doesn't imply it... (0 / 0)
Aesop explicitly states it in the final sentence:

"Nobody believes a liar...even when he is telling the truth!"
So you're right. There's no implicit argument.

There's an outright explicit statement of fact.

"Computer. End holographic program...Computer? Computer?"

by kredwyn on Sun Jan 07, 2007 at 04:39:35 PM PST

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Fatalism? (0 / 0)
Alarmism, maybe, depending on how little you credit the rumors.

by curmudgiana on Sun Jan 07, 2007 at 02:36:26 PM PST

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It's the comments in the Diaries that ... (5+ / 0-)
Recommended by:mentaldebris, drsmith131, kredwyn, Pumpkinlove, Quicklund
...have concerned me more than the Diaries themselves, which have mostly just reported the Times story. Those comments are so very much like other comments and Diaries that have been claiming for the past three years that the U.S. was going to attack Iran very soon. Now, admittedly, some of these were a product of reporting by Seymour Hersh (who I respect greatly) and Scott Ritter (who I respect, too). But they proved to be wrong. One would, therefore, be led to believe that people would be more skeptical after having been burned by claims that Iran would - definitely, without a doubt - be attacked in October 2004, or June 2005, or January 2006, or March 2006, or October 2006.

The Bush Regime's foreign policy is awful, as we all know from experience. And there are some in it who want to attack Iran. But we should examine each claim for imminent attack judiciously rather than assuming that what may well be a diversionary psy-op by Mossad is actually true.

Can we hold out this long?

by Meteor Blades on Sun Jan 07, 2007 at 02:29:28 PM PST

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[KharmaTrain]

2. Self Fulfilling Media Prophesy

A buddy and I were discussing a similar topic recently...how the corporate media is just dying for something bad, terrible to happen. They hate the concept of bi-partisan or peace. It doesn't draw viewers or get the blood pumping. It's not like a sloppy blow job or pictures of buildings blowing up...this 100 hour stuff doesn't have the "sizzle". I mean who can get excited about raising the minimum wage to 7.25? Where's the video there? The mass protests in the parking lot? Or how about ethics reform? Nah...it doesn't look anywhere as good as the terrified faces of a bombed out building or the helicopter shot of thousands being evacuated from a terminal or major building. You can't speculate on Pay-Go like you can when you have precious little fact and lots of airtime and a frantic audience.

Sadly, we're minutes from the next "great disaster". Many of us have survived our share...from various assasinations to other natural and man-made disasters to 9/11 and then some. It's a fear that had been built-up by both the politicians and corporate media for their own profit and only encourages such an event to happen.

[Philosoraptor]

4. The excitement factor.

I remember how breathless they were during operation shock and awe, our brave reporters embedded with the troops to bring you all the exciting details, but alas, we've seen absolutely nothing of the actual war and it's effects.

They really are starved for sexy news, hence the drawn out false alarms.

[KharmaTrain]

11. News As Junk Food...

Most big events in history can take days or weeks or even years to play out, but in the history book it can be summed up in a few short words. Whole milleniums are boiled down into this era or dynasty. That's the long view and one that is one of the biggest casualties of the "fog of war" in the information age.

We live in a "instant-on" world...we're ever more connected and in even faster and more efficient methods. We have become our own witnesses to history and have the unique opportunity to write about it as we see it transpire. Others do as well and this is what drives the corporate media to "push the envelope" in being the "fastest", the "biggest" or whatever superlative you want to toss around. It boils down to making news "interesting" or "compelling"...something that is hard to do in the short view.

The cable networks have 168 hours of programming per week. They need to find ways to fill these hours with as many eyeballs as they can that are then magically translated into ratings that turn into nice paychecks. Many of us have seen this system go from basic to complex. Where seeing news once a day or several times was a neat thing, now it's fed constantly and from many points of view. The networks feel the need to out-do one another with the latest gizmo or special report. Sadly it's only done to exploit rather than to report. It's done to titalate as this is what draws the eyeballs.

Look how they couldn't wait to get their grubbies on Saddam's hanging video as a prime example. In the long view, this sorrid event will have little effect on the outcome, but the visual impact is what will linger and in many forms and fashions. For defenders of this invasion, it's some sort of justification and vengenance...for the rest of us, it's another ugly page in a horror story that is still to be played out. Either way, the corporate media gets the eyeballs and with it, the gold that those eyeballs bring with them.

Cheers...

[global1]

5. And It Was Just Announced That * Will Have A Prime Time Speech....

Wednesday evening. These incidents will give him ammunintion to say just how vulnerable we are and that we have to continue with this war on terror and fight them there so we don't have to fight them hear. These inicidents are just reasons for him to justify his surge and continue the killing.

[KoKo]

9. These "Terra & Odd Events" (Gas Odors) always occur when the Bushies

need a boost. It's like clockwork and if someone could do a chart it would be very interesting.

Also, about Iran or widening the ME War...one only has to listen to the folks from American Enterprise Institute to know that eliminating Iran is high on their agenda. According to "Time Mag." (Michael Duffy) this week the AEI has written the Bush "Surge Plan" ignoring the Baker/Hamilton report.

The AEI and Neo-Cons are still running our Government. And, one wonders if they and the Heritage Foundation aren't behind the "terra alerts" along with the other "usual suspects," who feed off "Cold War" tactics that they just can't let go of.

[pretzel4gore]

7. they never heard of 'the boy who called wolf'

oh, but that's so september 10th! (and kids shouldn't fear taking candy from stranglers - a new normal prevails!)
and horst wessel lied!

[Stephanie]

8. It's not a false alarm - the smell is real

[KoKo]

10. The smell is real because something is going on that there is a "smell"

but it doesn't mean that it isn't a "controlled smell" conveniently released to cause "concern."

It could also be a ruptered pipe somewhere that can't be located, yet... Who knows these days..:eyes:

[MindPilot]

12. The smell is real; the alarm in all likelihood is false

just like all the others.

Ever notice the only time something actually did happen, there was no alarm?