Question I've been pondering all week....has it always been "this bad"....

[NRaleighLiberal]

or does internet/social media and the 24 hrs news cycle just make us all more aware of how bad things are/facilitate bringing it all to us to see?

[RKP5637]

1. I think there's a lot more awareness today. That said, I think there's also a lot of

Last edited Thu Mar 22, 2012, 02:08 PM - Edit history (1)

unpleasantness anymore. And in the past we've had a lot unpleasantness, but in the past we did not have as much information easily at hand as we do now.

[Puzzledtraveller]

2. Yes, and yes.

The first yes only if it is bad in contrast to something "good" much of it being relative. Just look back about 100 years of US history and you will see that the fighting, mudslinging, vitriol, divisions, have always been there. Heck, look at McCarthy, those were some heavy witchhunt conspiracy filled days there. So in some ways yes, it has always been this bad, then again, what is "bad"?

The second yes, is we are more aware of it, very simple to see.

[TheMastersNemesis]

3. I Suspect

I suspect that it has always been this bad. It was probably more hidden because we did not have this medium that was so instant. The fact that we can know something so quickly now and it can be put out on the net puts a lot more out in the open,

There was a post the other day about a flyer that was put out about John Kennedy just before he was killed. It was supposedly sponsored by the Koch's father I would guess. The Kochs brothers might have been too young in 1963. It had ALL the same hate messages that we are fighting today.

When I was in Jr. College in 1963 I had no idea about how much hatred was being thrown at Kennedy. He even came by our campus in a motor cade one day and I was there to see him. In fact there is picture of me from local newspaper standing with my classmates waiting for him to come by.

I was more naive than I knew then. And in retrospect I am amazed how racist, bigoted, and hateful the right wing was then. Having said that they are more viciously hateful and violent today in so many ways.

[onenote]

4. believe me. at times its been worse.

But you are right that the 24/7 media cycle, social media, etc etc. has impacted how we receive and perceive information.

[randome]

5. The old, white men in the GOP are struggling to remain relevant.

That's where some of it comes from, I think. They are sinking and flailing their arms about.

[Puzzledtraveller]

7. and they are being replaced!!

By more, younger ones, women too. I wish we wouldn't latch on to this idea that they are a dying breed, that will get us into trouble when we let out guard down.

[RKP5637]

8. Years ago I thought they would eventually go away with time. And they're still here, younger

ones, complete with the same hatred and outrageousness. They really don't die off and go away.

[hack89]

6. It will also foster perceptions that things are worse than they actually are.

Crime is a perfect example - due to folks like Nancy Grace one would believe that America is under siege in an epidemic of violent crime.

The reality is that crime is at historic lows and steadily declining.

The internet/social media are a social megaphone that amplify everything, important and trivial, true or false. It is becoming nearly impossible for people to filter that deluge of information and understand what is really happening.

[RKP5637]

9. Your last statement really hit home with me. So many times I've tried to research some

info on the internet and one can get any version of facts they want. As you said, and I agree so much, "It is becoming nearly impossible for people to filter that deluge of information and understand what is really happening."

[Speck Tater]

10. Fist fights in the halls of congress...

Republicans bringing in thousands of "voters" by train before local elections, political assassinations, lynchings, violent union busting, voter suppression, corporate control of government, rampant corruption, ... that's all stuff from the 1800's and earlier.

If anything, it's a bit better now than it has been in the past. It's just that we, meaning specifically those of us who pay close attention, are better able to follow what's going on. The vast majority are still just as in the dark as they ever were.