It’s dumbfounding. But my expectations for people are low - they can be, and are, manipulated. Full stop. I’d love to fix that, but for the moment, this is a media problem. Clicks, views, engagement - all are supercharged by creating a perception of violence.
I’m sure many of these reporters are trying their best, but as you note, the simple recurring editorial adjectival choice of “violent” instead of “peaceful” can move the needle significantly. We’re walking on a razor’s edge and the smallest breeze is all it takes to lose the country - if only the mass media understood this.
It’s dumbfounding. But my expectations for people are low - they can be, and are, manipulated. Full stop. I’d love to fix that, but for the moment, this is a media problem. Clicks, views, engagement - all are supercharged by creating a perception of violence.
I’m sure many of these reporters are trying their best, but as you note, the simple recurring editorial adjectival choice of “violent” instead of “peaceful” can move the needle significantly. We’re walking on a razor’s edge and the smallest breeze is all it takes to lose the country - if only the mass media understood this.
Actually, they do understand it. They just don’t care, because they simultaneously profit off of it. CBS openly admitted it.