The Age of Unreason in the Age of Networks

I came across this today A book and idea which requires some reflection

anti-rational government is not the product of a Machiavellian plot by “Washington” but is the inevitable result of “an overarching crisis of memory and knowledge” that has left many ordinary citizens and their elected representatives without the intellectual tools needed for sound public decision-making. The real question is not why politicians have lied to the public but why the public was so receptive and so passive when it heard the lies. At this crucial political juncture, The Age of American Unreason challenges Americans to face the painful truth about what our descent into intellectual laziness and our flight from reason have cost us as individuals and as a nation.

Its a bold statement -

The author Susan Jacoby appeared on Comedy Central -

Matthew C. Nisbet writing at Framing Science observes....

Jacoby's appearance on Colbert does prompt the serious question: to what degree do shows such as the Daily Show and The Colbert Report contribute to the age of unreason, with younger viewers displacing traditional news consumption with regular viewing of late night satirical comedy? In other words, can young audiences have their satire and their knowledge too?

Is this true? I don't know.

But when trust in traditional media is very low - where do you go to get your information? As I understand it blogging went vertical in the US after 911 - when people hungry for information went online. Take the whole issue of VNR's for example

According to the trade-group Public Relations Society of America, a VNR is the video equivalent of a press release and presents a client's case in an attractive, informative format. The VNR placement agency seeks to garner media attention for the client's products, services, brands or other marketing goals. The VNR affords local TV stations free broadcast quality materials for use in reports offered by such stations.

Trust Wiki

Its why OhMyNews in Korea a Citizen Journalism news platform is so powerful - and the underlying point is trust - trust between you and me and trust in the media

So we are in a process of migration

Founded on the premise that "every citizen is a reporter," OhmyNews is accredited for having a tremendous impact on the news production, distribution and consumption habits of citizens across the world. By promoting an inclusive online forum for news reporting, OhmyNews encourages online global collaboration and features over 40,000 contributing journalists worldwide, generating over one million hits daily. OhmyNews president Oh Yeon Ho reflected on the importance of online social movements, “Being acknowledged by institutions such as Infosys and Wharton confirms the arrival of citizen journalism as a catalyst to create an egalitarian media.

An egalitarian media.

Comments

[Tim Harrap]

Assistant Professor Nisbet is a whippersnapper.

You quote him as saying: "Jacoby's appearance on Colbert does prompt the serious question: to what degree do shows such as the Daily Show and The Colbert Report contribute to the age of unreason, with younger viewers displacing traditional news consumption with regular viewing of late night satirical comedy? In other words, can young audiences have their satire and their knowledge too?"

Too right they can and we have been doing it for years I am from a generation that has to thank the Monty Python team for broadening my education, giving me critical analysis tools and generally awakening me to the fact that the world doesn't have to be ordered the way it is. "I'm your King" "Waaah I didn't vote for you!"

[alan moore]

And I could not agree more Tim

Alan

[prada]

Bene, questa è la mia prima visita al tuo blog! Siamo un gruppo di volontari e di iniziare una nuova iniziativa in una comunità nella stessa nicchia. Il tuo blog ci ha fornito preziose informazioni su cui lavorare. Avete fatto un lavoro meraviglioso!

[Lancel]

J'ai été surpris honnêtement avec la façon dont ce blog a été fait, belle mise en page, rédaction professionnelle, excellent travail!

[ノースフェイス]

グランビルアイランドのゴールドフロアに韓国の民主主義人民共和国に北朝鮮最高人民会議の常任委員会はさらに、伝統的な朝鮮·中国友好と友好関係を強化し、さらなる対外経済関係の発展を拡大するために経済特区 "判決"を指定するグランビルアイランド（Granville Island）経済特区開発計画の承認、金床の決断を下した "と経済を開発するために外国投資を誘致するため、他のポートや産業分野で積極的になるようにこの機会を利用。

[グッチ]

もともと店舗前の道路は数十年前に決まった都市計画に基づく拡幅計画の対象。同商店街では約１０メートルの道路幅を１６～１７メートルに広げるが、震災前に着工の見通しは立っていなかった。しかし市は昨年１２月になって「道路拡幅は災害に強いまちづくりに必要」と計画を進める意向を示し、住民説明会を始めた。

[Moncler Jacka]

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