How Stupid Are They?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

It's not just this country that has a problem.

There is nothing unique about stupidity.

[up148]

Yesterday. Saturday , 40,000 window-air conditioners were given, free, to "the needy" in NYC . One of the recipients, when interviewed on TV, CBS News, said - first words out of her mouth - that it wasn't enough.
(!!!!!)

I'd like to hear the rest of the story there.

Not really the point being made. Regardless of the back story, if they got something for nothing they could show a little gratitude (you would, I would) ........but not in today's world. I agree with Murph 100%. I see a lot of ingrates in today's world and I'm not sure how to pacify them.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Yesterday. Saturday , 40,000 window-air conditioners were given, free, to "the needy" in NYC . One of the recipients, when interviewed on TV, CBS News, said - first words out of her mouth - that it wasn't enough.
(!!!!!)

I'd like to hear the rest of the story there.

Not really the point being made. Regardless of the back story, if they got something for nothing they could show a little gratitude (you would, I would) ........but not in today's world. I agree with Murph 100%. I see a lot of ingrates in today's world and I'm not sure how to pacify them.

While we might show a little gratitude, were we without power, a way to pay for the electricity to use it, one of the 50 million plus unemployed, we also might be noting aloud that it to be not enough and too little, too late.

Actually, we have no idea what was edited to make that interview. Given the propensity of statements made here of not trusting the media, why is this interview trusted? Almost everything I see and hear on TV media seems to be edited and compressed into its soundbite leaving out the real story.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

The "why" of any assumed editing of that interview would likely have myriad interpretations.

I suppose we all hear such interviews through our own subjective experiences . Somebody could have seen that small interview of the speaker and felt somebody or entity was wrong not to have done more; others, might have seen an ingrate. And so on and so on. I have seen an increasingly diminished portion of that interview presented more than a few times on that channel since first seeing it. Out of all the people who received those air conditioners, it is interesting that hers was chosen for airing, isn't it.

Bringing the info here was my way of getting feedback before I settled into any firm opinion, though the line of exclamation points indicated a possible direction for me.

[up148]

"One hears many things my lord, but if the truth is among them is not clear." Deathly Hallows.

Yes, I guess we all choose which media soundbite we care to believe. I didn't see it, so I can't tell if the person face displayed gratitude or contempt. True, there are two (or more) sides to every story, but if we get lost in interpretation, we'll never form a consensus. OOPS, that's were we are today.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

The "why" of any assumed editing of that interview would likely have myriad interpretations.

I suppose we all hear such interviews through our own subjective experiences . Somebody could have seen that small interview of the speaker and felt somebody or entity was wrong not to have done more; others, might have seen an ingrate. And so on and so on.

When I watch any "news" program I almost always get to the commercial after the story and then a light bulb goes on and I wonder about some component of the story that was totally over looked and not presented, and I have to wonder what did I miss, what wasn't I told, and then why wasn't it told......and it's almost always to get to the commercial to sell me a pharmaceutical I don't need......yet, I still question and wonder about what details were left out of the 15 sec sound bite that was supposed to sum up a an hour, a day, a week, or whatever..........and this has nothing to do with liberal or conservative; I see absolutely no difference in either source. It's all packaged and polished and planned...........to sell you something.

And that's what life is - pain and somebody selling something you don't need

[MurphOnMillerAve]

up148and Rufus, Your feedback made me think further. As I recall, she, the interviewee, seem calm and merely stating a fact-of-life for her, given the intense heat everyone in the CBS viewing-audience might be experiencing along with her, that one AC was not enough, in her case.

[chuck]

This isn't necessarily about partisanship per se. The reporters from thirty to forty years ago were just plain better. They checked their facts and they actually were better at not letting the people they were interviewing off the hook. Now the people being interviewed are better prepared at dodging questions and steering conversations than the reporter is at digging stuff out. I sometimes feel they got the job because they looked good on camera rather than they actually had any journalist bone fides. What ever happened to who, what, where, when and how?? Why used to be left up to analysts/commentators which were usually slanted towards analysis rather than slanting whatever was reported. Seems we have too many talking heads.

[Roy]

This isn't necessarily about partisanship per se. The reporters from thirty to forty years ago were just plain better. They checked their facts and they actually were better at not letting the people they were interviewing off the hook. Now the people being interviewed are better prepared at dodging questions and steering conversations than the reporter is at digging stuff out.

Some interviewees deliberately go on at extreme length, to control the message that is broadcast. Damn them, too. This is a situation where proper editing can be used to good advantage.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I sometimes feel they got the job because they looked good on camera rather than they actually had any journalist bone fides.

Seems a prime requirement today ---- all about marketing!

What ever happened to who, what, where, when and how??

It's still there but you have to hunt for it; worse thing is that when you do get who, what, where, when and how someone will call foul that it's partisan now.

Why used to be left up to analysts/commentators which were usually slanted towards analysis rather than slanting whatever was reported

They still exist and are there, but the pretty talking heads get to lead them about on their career agendas.....

[rogruth]

I'm curious about the "experts" who are always available. Some must be on the staff and have other things to do or get paid very well to show
up at the studio or wherever for 15-30 seconds of air time. Some are seen everyday. Also curious about how they became "experts".

[up148]

Seems like ever since Woodward and Bernstein, the reporting game is all about sensationalism and discovering facts that may or may not be there. We lost all professionalism and just delivering the facts (IMHO) decades ago.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Seems like ever since Woodward and Bernstein, the reporting game is all about sensationalism and discovering facts that may or may not be there. We lost all professionalism and just delivering the facts (IMHO) decades ago.

Not that long ago - we still had Bob Schieffer fully active, but few left of his generation.

[HONDO74]

Wall of moms' at Portland protest formed to protect demonstrators
https://news.yahoo.com/wall-moms-portla ... 31944.html

The mothers would not need to be out there if they had taught their children better behavior,

But maybe if their presence helps to control the children then they need to be out there every day/night that the children are protesting.....

Looks like a line waiting to get into an all you can eat buffet......

[HONDO74]

Instant Karma

Girl Sets Car On Fire, Explodes in her face
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS65GItuZyk

Owner of the Jeep that was set on fire in Macomb County says he doesn’t know what the motive could be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwaAIHaQk9o