I don't know why I'm so indecisive... or maybe it's because I've been trying to pinpoint what problem I actually want to focus on. In my writer's notebook, I ranted for pages about the general issue of the negative reputation that the U.S. has been getting based on our media, entertainment through television, current music trends, internet interactions, movies, magazines, etc. Having lived for a few months in Italy, I was bothered by what television shows were selected to be shown on MTV which, at least in my apartment, took up 2 of 8 channels available. I remember watching Teen Mom, Jersey Shore, and The Hills. The image Americans were getting was that we were all trashy, immoral, stupid, and care too much about celebrity life to take a stand on real issues. I remember some angry Italian college boys screaming at my friends and I that we should take our stupid selves back to the states. Even a priest said in front of the congregation that Americans are like King Herod and all we do is kill babies. Hmph. Anyway, I realize there are enough people focusing on the TV shows that are promoting negative behavoir and projecting a negative image of the general American public, so I think I might switch gears and focus on the internet. Specifically, youtube.com. Now I spend plenty of time browsing random videos and enjoy it as much as the next person, but it's what is in the comments that really bug me. Why is it that comments on a simple music video turn into heated battles between racial groups or countries spewing hate at each other? I believe the fact that these problems are so frequent means there is no hope for any of us. J/k. I'm just in a bad mood. The fact is that a great deal of people, including a large chunk of the world's youth, have taken a stand on many issues. However, this enormous public forum called the world wide web has shown that they are expressing opinions in the wrong way, communicating with slurs, ignorance, and impatience. Ignorance may very well be the key issue. How can we stop or at least decrease the lies told about each other, whether about religion, race, or nationality, to be able to conduct ourselves in a civilized manner?
I understand I still need to find a better focus. I'm still brainstorming trying to get it right. Hmmm...
I think youtube is in interesting forum to focus on. I too am a fan of frequently watching videos on youtube. I used to be annoyed by ignorant comments such as racial slurs, homophobic comments, excessing cussing, etc. But now i'm actually amused by it. The ignorance from the youtube comments is reflective of many individuals around this country and other parts of the world. One thing that I think we might be overlooking though is the internet culture itself and the anonimity that makes saying derogatory comments permissive(first ammendment right). So we cannot know for sure what kinds of people are saying these things, who they are where they are from (although some people do make themselves visible on their channels). But even if we did know them based on the information they give on their channels do we know their history? How they were raised? The values they were raised with? But for the majority we may simply not know. The only thing we know for sure is that attitudes that predate the civil rights movement haven't changed. Homophobia persists and that people who are discouraged from making controversial statements in public can do it online without having to face the consequences. The anonimity of youtube comments and arguments and discussions in the comments section is just a micro version of politics, news media, and even town hall meettings. In terms of creating more "civilized" discussions and public sphere that is just not going to happen. As long as there are differences in opinion and beliefs people will be ready to go on the defensive and sometimes offensive. And as long as people are not willing to try to understandthat we all have differences and that we need to be respectful of each others differences I do not see civilized discussion happening anytime soon
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