LOL I wondered why all these pirate threads popped up all of a sudden

[TwixVoy]

Then I noticed it was because FAUX news was making it an issue.

Damn it's so easy to distract the masses.

Gave me the same kind of laugh all these patriots who want to protest the banks because they ran up their credit cards gives me.

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. Huh?

[TwixVoy]

2. It's just such BS

I just checked CNN, FAUX, MSNBC. All of them are on the "ooohhhh pirates!" news story.

And so many people take the fucking mind numbing bait. We have a freaking flaming thread going on in general discussion right now over a debate about why US Marines aren't on cargo ships. What a waste of life and brain power.

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. US merchant vessels don't get seized every day.

I guess that would make it newsworthy, plus some of the players in this drama are locals (where I am, anyway)

[Renew Deal]

5. I saw something today that said it's the first in 200 years.

It wasn't clear on if it's truly the first in 200 years or the first near Africa in 200 years.

[TwixVoy]

6. You got it drama

it's fucking entertainment to the masses.

Go and argue for the next few days about the evil pirates. BofA and Citi thank you.

[sufrommich]

8. Most people can absorb more than one news item at a time.

You're free to start your own riveting thread anytime you choose. Go for it!

[Hugabear]

4. That's because there's a right-winger in that thread

There's a freeper type in there, very pro-military, thinks that Grenada was justified. Seems like he's the center of most of the flaming in that thread.

[LanternWaste]

11. Is discussing a story you find irrelevant

"What a waste of life and brain power."

Is discussing a story you yourself find irrelevant more or less of a "waste of life and brain power" than posting about how stupid one may find people for discussing a story you find irrelevant...?

[TwixVoy]

12. It is not so much that I find it irrelevant

as it is that the story all of a sudden became so many peoples focus just because FAUX news decided it should be.

If FAUX didn't have it on the teeeveee 99% of the people talking about it wouldn't even think to waste their time to focus on it.

It just annoys me that the MSM can pick a completely random topic and all of a sudden you have tons of people trying to become experts on said topic and spend days of their life asking random BS such as "Why don't we put marines on cargo ships? What is going on?"

[LanternWaste]

13. "Random" seems quite subjective in this case

"Random topic" seems quite subjective in this case, as it was an American container ship that was hi-jacked and as far as I know, that hasn't happened in over 50 years. yet idoes seem to beg the question: what then would be the relevant and precise amount of time the networks should have given the story (30 seconds? one minute? five? ten? repeat per hour how many times? none? one? three?), and on what is than answer based on on?

To me, that we engage in discussion, dialog and argument over things that happen outside our borders and don't deal with pretty girls gone missing is a good thing. :shrug:

To me, the story seem topical and of of interest. But then again, I'm simply one of "the masses", found the story of interest along with a handful of other stories getting play today, and am obviously not very clever at all.

[shireen]

7. saw that topic, immediate thought it was about the 2nd coming of ....

the flying spaghetti monster

why else would there be so much talk about pirates?

praise the great noodle!

[No More Bushbots]

9. What about the blonde girl missing in Aruba?

I don't want to hear about any damned pirates!

[LanternWaste]

10. Many of the "masses"

"Damn it's so easy to distract the masses."

Many of the "masses" (of which I am humbly just one) can quite easily allow their concentration to divest itself to numerous stories at once without any degradation of any one story's import. But then again, I'm the first to admit that I'm not nearly as clever as most people and find myself overwhelmed when twenty or more stories gets play on any one news cycle.




Funny thing about "the masses" and "sheep"-- there's only one of each; and I can only think they're both just me, as everyone I talk to refers to them, but always denies their own rightful place in that pool. But again, I'm not very clever-- and quite possibly many of those who do refer to our neighbors as "the masses" or "sheep" are either part and parcel of the masses themselves, or simply trying to loudly advertise some form of self-validation.

But yes, I'm quite easily distracted. As a matter of fact, I spent the last two minutes distracted by your post-- you're very clever, but I'm sure you already know that...

Edited: spelling (see? not clever at all..)