Forum Post: In the New America, the mass EXPERIMENT IN COLLECTIVE CRETINIZATION that is American television must stop!
Posted 12 years ago on Oct. 16, 2011, 4:38 p.m. EST by TIOUAISE
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"Turn off the TV!" recommends the Dalai Lama to his American audiences, with a kindly smile.
99% of American TV programming is basically part of a MASS EXPERIMENT IN COLLECTIVE CRETINIZATION unparalleled in human history. When that realization finally dawned upon me last year, I cancelled cable... and have never looked back since.
In fact... I celebrate my decision every day 'cause I GOT MY LIFE BACK!!! I began to exercise, lost 30 pounds, wrote a book...
99% of TV programming is an ASSAULT ON THE INTELLECT AND ON THE SOUL. The FREEDOM TO CRETINIZE is not, to my knowledge, one of the basic human rights... I hope that in the New America, shows like "Jerry Springer", that wound the national psyche, will be banned outright.
I know... many will scream: "What about freedom of speech"???
I have always fought for freedom of speech and always will. But that freedom was NEVER absolute - nor should it be. Incitement to violence or hatred, for example, are forbidden by laws all over the civilized world. The active promotion of CRETINISM should be similarly banned. The dumbing-down of America must stop !
I also do not own a tv, and haven't owned one for the past 8 years. As more people reject television it will correct itself though, without the need for government intervention. The freedom of speech and press must be upheld, as must the individual right to choose. Therefore I must disagree with you.
No scholar worth his salt has ever defended the idea of freedom of speech and freedom of the press as being ABSOLUTE. They need to be curbed IN A FAIR AND REASONABLE FASHION and ARE in effect curbed in all civilized countries. And no reasonable person screams "FASCISM!!"
Great post. I donated my TV about two years ago and have yet to regret that decision. I can watch documentaries and the occasional movie on my computer, and get my news from reliable websites (as opposed to having my news filtered through the Washington DC establishment).
Watch the film "Network" if you really wish to open your eyes.
we need the fairness doctrine. money in the media will never let it happen
In the NEW AMERICA, NOTHING will be impossible. Money will no longer rule. THE RULE OF MAMMON is coming to an end, thanks be to GOD!
we need the fairness doctrine. money in the media will never let it happen
"Collective cretinization!" Now that's a great phrase. Television is the biggest brainwashing tool ever devised by man. If you want to find how bad it really is go to the website "Vigilant Citizen." Although a bit extreme at times, it's a real eye-opener to how pervasive the brainwashing of our youth has become.
As a particularly cynical Roman Emperor used to say, "panem et circenses"...(Give them "bread and games", in other words throw them a few moldy crumbs and plenty of stupid spectator sports, to keep them off our backs and allow us ro screw them in every possible way...).
The contemporary equivalent in America would be: "Give'em some Big Macs, a tall Coke and TV... that'll keep 'em dumb and occupied!
HOW MANY TV shows truy seek to enlighten and awaken the public? TV is the opium of the masses!
In the New America that we are birthing right now, that must change!
Give them bread and games, indeed! Let them eat cake, I say!
It is the abuse of TV, not the medium. TV could have been an excellent technology for educational purposes; in a limited sense it is. However, most commercial programming is garbage.
But we share some of the blame. If we did not watch it, it would have improved.
NOTHING wrong with the technology... In fact, I still use it to watch my DVDs. The technology is brilliant, it's what we dit with it - or rather, what the big corporations in control did with it - that constitutes a full-frontal ASSAULT ON THE INTELLECT AND ON THE SOUL of the American people.
The main thing positive that came out of tv, is we all wouldn't be connected on the internet if tv didn't pave the way, technologically speaking.
Correct.
I agree. Same thing for me, get rid of cable tv. All junk and commercials anyway.
To fight corporate media influence we need the Fairness Doctrine back:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairness_Doctrine
There is such freedom in having a TV-and-radio free environment... FREEDOM AND JOY!
If in doubt, try it for only a week or two... then decide.