American News is Worthless

[Metaphysicist]

Let's just think about this - Jihadists slaughter 2000 black Africans and our media buries the story. Jihadists in France murder what a half a dozen or so and it's wall-to-wall coverage, with a break to cover J-Lo's boobs.

I don't really care to defend the US television media, because they are just abysmal, but people tend to care about the stuff they relate to a lot more than the stuff they don't. And for better or worse (okay, worse), the American people don't "relate" to Africa. It's an "other." France is not an "other."

The most popular story going around Thailand at the moment is about an elephant that got in a fight with a car. Charlie Hedbo is barely on the radar, if at all.

One of my super polite students came into the classroom with a big ol' Swatztika on his shirt last week. And not the good, Buddhist version. A big, red and black one, complete with a quote from Hitler. He had basically no idea who Hitler was (other than some famous German guy) or why his shirt was offensive.

This is completely par for the course for even many educated Thais I know. They have no idea about a ton of Western stuff. American media is not unique on this point. People are ill-informed everywhere, especially about stuff happening outside their sphere.

 

[BedellBrave]

I don't really care to defend the US television media, because they are just abysmal, but people tend to care about the stuff they relate to a lot more than the stuff they don't. And for better or worse (okay, worse), the American people don't "relate" to Africa. It's an "other." France is not an "other."

The most popular story going around Thailand at the moment is about an elephant that got in a fight with a car. Charlie Hedbo is barely on the radar, if at all.

One of my super polite students came into the classroom with a big ol' Swatztika on his shirt last week. And not the good, Buddhist version. A big, red and black one, complete with a quote from Hitler. He had basically no idea who Hitler was (other than some famous German guy) or why his shirt was offensive.

This is completely par for the course for even many educated Thais I know. They have no idea about a ton of Western stuff. American media is not unique on this point. People are ill-informed everywhere, especially about stuff happening outside their sphere.

I think you are right. But isn't it odd on some level (at least racial) that Africa is other for us?

 

[goldfly]

One of my super polite students came into the classroom with a big ol' Swatztika on his shirt last week. And not the good, Buddhist version. A big, red and black one, complete with a quote from Hitler. He had basically no idea who Hitler was (other than some famous German guy) or why his shirt was offensive.

would love to see that shirt

 

[Metaphysicist]

 

[goldfly]

crazy

 

[AerchAngel]

Don't blame black American leadership. They have strong armed robbers to defend first and foremost.

There is no money over there to profit from so why bother? We can strong arm you over here to fatten our pockets.