Posted on 09/30/2021 8:48:22 AM PDT by rebuildus
Like many of you, I’ve been swallowing a series of “red pills” as world events unfold.
And I’ve finally seen the light regarding most of “conservative media”–it sells a product, and that product is outrage.
Much as government and the Left have no desire to actually fix problems, and instead exacerbate them for power and money, conservative media appears designed to do the same.
I’d say at least ninety percent of the programming I see or hear, particularly from the major sources, can be classified as b*tching–complaining about what some evil guy or people are doing.
What do we expect evil people to do??? They are controlled by evil so they CANNOT do good!
Perhaps we can say the same of conservative media–evil has at least some level of control over them.
So outrage is used as a product, but outrage is a dangerous product indeed. Essentially, they get people angry at what’s going on. The way this is done, is to report the outrageous act of the moment done by a thoroughly evil person or entity.
And they keep the emphasis on the evil person or entity, NOT on what good people can do to stop the evil!
Knowing and having resolve about what we can do to effectively fight has a very positive effect on our mood and confidence… While keeping the focus on the outrageous, evil act introduces hopelessness.
The difference is night and day!
Much as we need to stop supporting those who are actively working to destroy us and instead support those who are on our side, we need to stop tuning in to news and commentary that b*tches instead of empowers.
To see a list of quality conservative sites, go to my home page and scroll down to the “News” links on the right side of the page. But keep in mind that even “good” sites will often post outrage without hope–after all, they are posting “news,” not generally posting solutions.
You’ll see that I include Fox News on my links, but only because of Tucker Carlson, whose commentaries are generally outstanding, and some other good people and content. Overall, I’m disgusted by Fox’s work sandbagging Trump on election night with their extremely early call of Arizona for Biden, and for their refusal to properly cover the demand for a fair election count.
Always keep in mind that journalism is a business. Anyone who makes their living from news and commentary will be pressured in some way to move the ratings up, or get more views, etc. And the vast majority of people in this business–as is true in any business–are subject to economic and other pressures.
Discontinuing “NEWS They Hide!” I do need to make an announcement here: Recently I created a “NEWS They Hide!” page to help my readers stay educated on important news that “mainstream media” blocks. But I’ve come to realize that there are other sources available, such as those “News” links listed on my home page I referred to above, that cover alternative news well. One place you can get quick access to this news is The Liberty Daily, which is a news “aggregator” and conservative alternative to the now-liberal Drudge Report.
I’ve come to realize that I must give up my time-consuming news pursuit, so I can better focus on the core of Old School: posts, videos, and podcasts promoting natural health, success, and freedom.
Fundraising vs. News/Commentary Just like the news/commentary business, political and cause-related fundraising is subject to economic and other pressures–and therefore fundraising appeals grab attention by focusing on outrage. The difference between fundraising and news/commentary though, is that in fundraising, once the “problem” is identified, the “solution” is promoted, which is a particular candidate, organization, campaign, etc.
So the lack of a solution is basically baked into the news/commentary business. It’s the outrage that brings people to the media source, and there they are exposed to advertisers. Now the advertisers DO propose solutions to various problems, such as health and wealth, and I’m certainly not knocking advertisers, but neither they nor the news/commentary source typically propose a solution to the anger caused by the outrage!
A SOLUTION! Old School does not pretend to be immune from the pressures all businesses are subject to, nor are we free from the outrage game. But we try! In my posts, videos, and podcasts, I almost always add a proposed solution to the problem.
The solution to the outrage game, from my experience, is objectivity, which is beautiful, but typically not easily obtained. I find I attain an increasing degree of objectivity through simple meditation and prayer. I cover this in some more depth here.
I believe that objectivity is the number one antidote to the crazy world that we find ourselves in. Everything flows from objectivity, or common sense, as Old School content Contributor Brian J. Pombo explains here.
Also note some of these great quotes by Thomas Paine. While these quotes may “make you want to rebel,” you may notice that even more importantly, they reveal an objective state of mind, and could easily have been said regarding the current situation we find ourselves in.
Ultimately, I’m coming to believe that our infatuation with “news” as a society is a setup. The habit of consuming news voraciously was passed on to me by my father. But upon questioning him about the details of the news he was consuming, I found that he really didn’t pay it that much attention–he used it as a distraction from the pains of his own life. I should have paid better attention to that revelation.
Don’t get me wrong, it is good to be informed about what is going on in the world around us. But it is even better to be informed about what we can do to better our lives, and the lives of those around us.
Patrick Rooney is the Founder of OldSchoolUs.com. He communicates clearly and fearlessly during perilous times about natural health, success, and freedom. To reach Patrick, email him at info@oldschoolus.com.
It is what all media does. Hype, hysteria an demogagary sells. It has nothing to do with “Conservative” or “Liberal”.
“News” is a manufactured product no different then the cup you pour your morning coffee into. The only difference is the slant put on the new you choose to believe
You should listen to Steve Bannon’s War room. They discuss what is wrong, but also give you guidance on how to do something about it.
Like the NRA...
Well, duh.
Like Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, the Serria Club, Organizing for America, the ADL, BLM, the Sothern Poverty Law Center, etc etc etc.
Political pressure groups can only exist by manufacturing anger in order to keep the donations flowing every month
I’ve commented before about the traditional corps of conservative scribblers and their oh so well thought out opinion pieces and how useless they generally are. These pieces can act to give people the false idea that something is being done. All the years of Cal Thomas, William Safire and such, while entertaining, led to nothing. It was firebrands like Rush that got people motivated as he encouraged action. Most of the conservative writers were just documenting the fall of western civilization.
I’m at that point too. For example, I agree Tucker has great commentary, but it’s just more of the same bad news every night. Tucker shows the absurdity of it all but no solutions in sight... and it’s just self flagellation. I can’t watch it. It’s torture of a different kind.
I’ve seen so many “bombshell” and “this is the end of (insert name)” stories in the past ten years it is ridiculous. Not one damn thing has happened to a single politician and I have zero confidence that it will. We shouldn’t let them investigate one another.
I suggest we go back to the days of tarring and feathering!
Why the pathetic desperate need for this author to attack “Conservative Media” for what is “d’uh” about all media?
“You should listen to Steve Bannon’s War room. They discuss what is wrong, but also give you guidance on how to do something about it.”
Thank you, marstegreg
Said to my wife the other evening that Hannity and Bongino are little more than whiners with a megaphone. I’m sure there are more.
“Most of the conservative writers were just documenting the fall of western civilization.”
So true
As Rush would say, “Right on! Right on! Right on!”
He sold the same “product” but at least he was in good humor and provided some educational value when he did it. He is sorely missed.
But back to you original premise...there is only one place to turn, as it has been since time begun. As Paul writes to Timothy:
2 Timothy 1:6-14 NIV
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
[7] For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
[8] So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.
[9] He has saved us and called us to a holy life-—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, [10] but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
[11] And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. [12] That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. [13] What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.
[14] 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
“I’m at that point too. For example, I agree Tucker has great commentary, but it’s just more of the same bad news every night. Tucker shows the absurdity of it all but no solutions in sight... and it’s just self flagellation. I can’t watch it. It’s torture of a different kind.”
Good point, BEJ. You’re right.
“Why the pathetic desperate need for this author to attack “Conservative Media” for what is “d’uh” about all media?”
Because we expect it from the Left. If we want to turn things around, we can’t do the same thing they do.
I am glad he can find red pills.
All I have left in my political pharmacy are black pills.
Righteous, Dude!
With all due respect, what is Tucker Carlson supposed to do? He, and others are plenty busy trying to present the truth, but they do not control Congress or the DOJ, they don’t even have subpoena power or police power.
President Donald Trump was elected with the help of conservative media. The Left knew they lost so badly in 2020, again with the help of conservative media, that they had to commit crimes to steal the election.
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