Weak minds with strong opinions

[augyboston]

They took civics out of the schools, they got rid of the fairness doctrine, they made the news division part of the entertainment division, they created 24 hour "news" cycles, and they created algorithms to put people into bubbles.

We were all so much better off when we had the half hour evening news that was not part of the profit driven entertainment divisions and we had the point/counterpoint provided by the fairness doctrine.

It's no wonder that we are now surrounded by knuckle dragging idiots who are driven by hate and violence and have strong opinions combined with weak minds.

[elleng]

1. yes.

[usaf-vet]

12. Never truer words when it comes to where we are in today's world!

[True Dough]

2. You said it!

Social media, although useful, has definitely played a significant role in that.

But it's the gullible who are patsies, which takes us back to your "weak minds" title.

[OldBaldy1701E]

3. You nailed it.

When the various networks and stations decided to include their news programs as part of their programming as opposed to the usual practice of offering the news as a public service, they ruined its ability to be unbiased and balanced. Now the news shows had to fight for ratings like the rest. To expect them not to start 'Hollywooding' everything to compete with Hollywood was insane. But, we let them do it without a fuss. Now, we pay the price.

[markie]

4. yes

[Danascot]

5. A friend had an apt saying:

"Seldom right but never in doubt."

[JT45242]

6. They also removed a lot of science....

Only what gets tested will be taught...

In most states, there is no accountability testing for social studies. So, time for it's instruction was cut.

Science is tested only three times -- one in upper elementary (grade 4 or 5), once in middle school (6-8), and once in high school. So teaching data interpretation, scientific reasoning, data interpretation, and evaluating scientific arguments with evidence could be cut. More than half of states use an end of course in biology as the high school science accountability test so they can focus on tiny factoids rather than scientific sense making.

It was designed to make dumb citizens who don't understand climate change, environmental impacts, or other key science or social studies concepts.

[Old Crank]

7. Exactly

Way too many know so little but have opinions based on Fox propaganda.

[Joinfortmill]

8. Amen!

[Ohioboy]

9. You got it!

Not much more to add here.

[Macrophylla]

10. They...

They FEEL that it's true
They BELIVE that it's true
They heard it from a guy on the internet who is CERTAIN that it's true because all the good old boys at the corner bar in BFE all heard it too and they all also FEEL like it's true.

[617Blue]

11. ...and just dying to tell you all about their newfound knowledge.

[orangecrush]

13. Succinct

And accurate.

K&R