Posted by artsybrute [ 68.196.185.14 ] on February 23, 2004 at 17:57:37:
In Reply to: Re: I guess I was unclear posted by Wayne Parham on February 23, 2004 at 13:40:03:
I couldn't agree more. People are not computers. We act on intuition and emotion a lot of the time, and with a mob psychology in many instances. "Right" or "wrong", that is what it means to be human.
As an aside, not many newscasters were playing down the Muslim terrorist angle either. Much of the media gives all the news that's fit to emotionally fuel. Just look at all the corrections in the beginning of newsmags like Newsweek.
I think it is really hard to get the news these days. At the time of the OKC incident, I think only business publications like the Wall St. Journal and the Economist played down the Muslim angle. But the same people buy their periodicals no matter what the news, unlike the tabloids.
Also, as you alluded, I think we are becoming accustomed to making judgement calls without enough data. The classic example is to ask how many people actually read the bills on which political candidates voted before choosing "their" candidate. Most people get all bent out of shape because of the bill's name or a description quoted by the opposition. We're just too busy.
As far as wanting to nuke the other guy, remind me to tell you where I was on 9/11 when we get together, Wayne.
To want to nuke the other guy is human. To refrain from doing so is also human. Conflict is human.
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