Watch ‘The Information Diet’: More ‘Conscious Consumption’ Needed? on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.
I need to buy Clay Johnson’s new book The Information Diet: A Case for Conscious Consumption, although the irony of a blogger recommending a book that seems to suggest that we should consume less media-wise is not lost on me. Johnson appeared on PBS’ Newshour on Friday, dropping this particularly interesting quote:
It’s important to realize that no matter what crazy thought that enters your head, there’s now a minor media outlet out there willing to tell you that you are right.
And who wants to hear the truth when they can hear that they are right? And so now, whenever we feel uncomfortable, we can sort of go on Google or go and turn on our television set and tune in to someone who is willing to affirm our beliefs. And we get trapped in the sort of reality dysmorphia, this idea that we can just view what it is that we want to see in the world without that actually being attached to reality.
And that’s really troubling for the electorate.
[HT: ShortFormBlog]
This article appears in May 17-23, 2012.
Good point. This is exactly why I read Tucson Weekly. The free bonus is that it gives my heart a healthful dose of stress.
Just because someone is a thickheaded dutchman does not mean they can’t stick to their opinion…..there are lots of people like that in the world…..look at obongo……