howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#1
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
#2
The thread's title is intriguing and of great interest to me. That it means reading an article in the Mail put me off only for two whole minutes or so, but the headline was as much as I could stomach.
I am still interested to read what others, with stronger constitutions than me, have to say about it though.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
#3
Tom, it explains why there ought to be a competence test before people are allowed to vote - could also be applied to some of the ding dongs on here
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
#4
It's one for BarryW then...not one for me. Thank you Ray.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#5
I don't disagree with the majority of it - similarly with Ray's posting.
Roger
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
#6
Is this the latest move to remove control from our lives? Soften us up with reality TV, reduce debate to sound bite and replace substance with media acceptable gloss then, bit by bit, we will surrender our rights.
I would recommend a reading of Neil Postman's book, "Amusing Ourselves to Death", in which he predicted (it was written in 1985) many of the things we are witnessing in society today.
"When a population becomes distracted by trivia, when cultural life is redefined as a perpetual round of entertainment, when serious public conversation becomes a form of baby-talk, when, in short, a people become an audience and their public business a vaudeville act, then a nation finds itself at risk; culture death is a clear possibility".
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#7
you could say that "1984" written in 1948 i believe said exactly the same thing.
to find intelligent discussion on the television is almost impossible and the great documentaries on serious issues are rare and dumbed down when they can be found.
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
#8
Postman's argument is that 1984 was about an external force denying us our rights whereas Brave New World was about us happily giving up our rights for the sake of pleasure (trivia).
A good and thought provoking read especially as we can now look back and see how the social and political landscapes have been altered over the intervening years.
#9
Ok, I bit the bullet and allowed The Mail to appear on my search history. I read the thing.
Not very good article that fails to identify what a "good leader" would be and how we should be assessing the stupidity of people. God knows (sorry to the atheists there) there are a multitude of stupid people out there, but given that our culture is aiming for inclusivity and we are quite rightly forging forwards with Health and social drivers that aim to ensure inclusion for all people whatever their ability/disability/intellectual capacity this article is simply mischievous. And badly written. How grammar/literacy snobby is that?!
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#10
Hasn't the content of post 6 already happened ?
Seems to happen on here quite often with serious debate some times ridiculed and banal unintellgent comments stop a good conversation/discussion.
Roger
#11
You may be right there Roger, on reflection..........