Bari: Where do you think that fear of acknowledging the truth, or really just the inability to say it out loud, where is that coming from?
Dr. Loury: [...] I'm not sure I've got an answer. I mean, at some level, your guess is as good as mine. But I can try.
Upon a second listen, I realized this question is very similar to one I've been trying to get Matt Taibbi to address. Matt's primary point is that the profit motive is what leads media to produce outrage and anger and fear.
However, there's a problem with that. Why is the outrage and anger and fear always in one direction? (For anyone screaming, "But Fox, but Fox!!", keep reading.) The "mostly peaceful" protests Bari mentioned, the "insurrection" Dr. Loury mentioned, the rhetoric is always in one direction. Trump colluded with Russia. One direction.
This outrage is boring in its predictability. Why? That's the big question, and I think it goes beyond Taibbi's profit motive.
As for Fox News, two points. First, ever notice how Fox is invariably the retort to complaints about the woke MSM? That's because Fox is the sole "other side" source that has enough visibility to matter to the masses. But notice Fox News's outrage is almost exclusively the routine trashing of politicians. AOC is a commie, yada, yada, yada. Old hat. Pushing the idea that white people have evil children that need to be "educated" goes a step or two beyond dirty politics, I think we can all agree.
Two, and this is important. Fox News, by no means, goes as far in their inflammatory rhetoric as the CNN/WaPo pack of flame fanners. (For the record, I don't watch any cable news whatsoever. For me, it's exclusively Substack, specific online news searches, and podcasts.) A good example is the media reaction to the DOJ's report completely exonerating the Ferguson policeman. The CNN/WaPo, etc., lead story was not about the exoneration of the policeman, but rather about a trivial report (released concurrently -- I'm shocked, I'm shocked) showing blacks were given traffic tickets at a rate higher than whites. Media headlines were, basically, "DOJ Finds Ferguson is Racist." (Even the traffic ticket "inequity" is suspect because, as the Steeles pointed out in their documentary, a large Sam's store brings in many black drivers from outlying areas.)
Consider this: What would happen if Fox News covered Tessa Majors the way the rest of the media (including Fox News) covered Ferguson and George Floyd? Do you think a right wing CNN or WaPo could feed society's bloodlust with nonstop obsession over the murder of Tessa Majors? Of course they could! And ratings would be through the roof.
(By the way, the only reason I have even heard of Tessa Majors is because of two obscure nameless references John McWhorter made. Once on a podcast with Glenn, and once as a guest on another podcast. This case is on my mind today because the second of her murderers has pled guilty and is to be sentenced this week.)
It comes back to Bari's question. WHY is it that our society/MSM/political world is pushing a distorted reality to the extent they are?
I think this is a significant question with a serious important story behind it. I'm encouraged that Bari asked about it. I hope Dr. Loury or Matt Taibbi -- or anyone! -- will eventually shed some light on the matter.
Rage and hate, is easy...it's clicks/money. Understanding, answers, compassion, take time. People want immediacy a quick fix. Ruling is easier than leading...unfortunately we as a country need to reflect, heal to move forward, not be pulled backward to despair. It is up to all to make a commitment to uplift.
Bari: Where do you think that fear of acknowledging the truth, or really just the inability to say it out loud, where is that coming from?
Dr. Loury: [...] I'm not sure I've got an answer. I mean, at some level, your guess is as good as mine. But I can try.
Upon a second listen, I realized this question is very similar to one I've been trying to get Matt Taibbi to address. Matt's primary point is that the profit motive is what leads media to produce outrage and anger and fear.
However, there's a problem with that. Why is the outrage and anger and fear always in one direction? (For anyone screaming, "But Fox, but Fox!!", keep reading.) The "mostly peaceful" protests Bari mentioned, the "insurrection" Dr. Loury mentioned, the rhetoric is always in one direction. Trump colluded with Russia. One direction.
This outrage is boring in its predictability. Why? That's the big question, and I think it goes beyond Taibbi's profit motive.
As for Fox News, two points. First, ever notice how Fox is invariably the retort to complaints about the woke MSM? That's because Fox is the sole "other side" source that has enough visibility to matter to the masses. But notice Fox News's outrage is almost exclusively the routine trashing of politicians. AOC is a commie, yada, yada, yada. Old hat. Pushing the idea that white people have evil children that need to be "educated" goes a step or two beyond dirty politics, I think we can all agree.
Two, and this is important. Fox News, by no means, goes as far in their inflammatory rhetoric as the CNN/WaPo pack of flame fanners. (For the record, I don't watch any cable news whatsoever. For me, it's exclusively Substack, specific online news searches, and podcasts.) A good example is the media reaction to the DOJ's report completely exonerating the Ferguson policeman. The CNN/WaPo, etc., lead story was not about the exoneration of the policeman, but rather about a trivial report (released concurrently -- I'm shocked, I'm shocked) showing blacks were given traffic tickets at a rate higher than whites. Media headlines were, basically, "DOJ Finds Ferguson is Racist." (Even the traffic ticket "inequity" is suspect because, as the Steeles pointed out in their documentary, a large Sam's store brings in many black drivers from outlying areas.)
Consider this: What would happen if Fox News covered Tessa Majors the way the rest of the media (including Fox News) covered Ferguson and George Floyd? Do you think a right wing CNN or WaPo could feed society's bloodlust with nonstop obsession over the murder of Tessa Majors? Of course they could! And ratings would be through the roof.
(By the way, the only reason I have even heard of Tessa Majors is because of two obscure nameless references John McWhorter made. Once on a podcast with Glenn, and once as a guest on another podcast. This case is on my mind today because the second of her murderers has pled guilty and is to be sentenced this week.)
It comes back to Bari's question. WHY is it that our society/MSM/political world is pushing a distorted reality to the extent they are?
I think this is a significant question with a serious important story behind it. I'm encouraged that Bari asked about it. I hope Dr. Loury or Matt Taibbi -- or anyone! -- will eventually shed some light on the matter.
Rage and hate, is easy...it's clicks/money. Understanding, answers, compassion, take time. People want immediacy a quick fix. Ruling is easier than leading...unfortunately we as a country need to reflect, heal to move forward, not be pulled backward to despair. It is up to all to make a commitment to uplift.