Why do the window lickers get to influence public opinion as much as they do?

[Midlife Sperglord]

There are a minority of genuine windowlickers on both the far-right and the far-left. Yet they are often loud and obnoxious enough to paint a straw man image of the entire right or left into the brains of people who would be more moderate otherwise.

Should I become a misanthrope because only the most exceptional members of society tend to get noticed on the theater of public opinion?

This thought came to me today when I heard somebody pretty much admit that they believe it’s only a witch hunt if Republicans are doing it to a Democrat.

When I was a child, I believed most people eventually grew out of middle school black-and-white thinking. Now I am thinking of drowning out my disappointment in Knob Creek - or, at least, I would if I could afford a bottle of that.

 

[dopy]

salience takes precedence at all times because, up until now, what was salient was what usually was pressing (for one reason or another). the problem is that we're awash in salience 24/7, so the only thing that grabs our attention is the most salient of the salient at the current moment. see: muh russia, muh Qfagnon, muh avengers, muh billie ellish (literally who), etc etc

 

[TerribleIdeas™]

There are a minority of genuine windowlickers on both the far-right and the far-left. Yet they are often loud and obnoxious enough to paint a straw man image of the entire right or left into the brains of people who would be more moderate otherwise.

Should I become a misanthrope because only the most exceptional members of society tend to get noticed on the theater of public opinion?

This thought came to me today when I heard somebody pretty much admit that they believe it’s only a witch hunt if Republicans are doing it to a Democrat.

When I was a child, I believed most people eventually grew out of middle school black-and-white thinking. Now I am thinking of drowning out my disappointment in Knob Creek - or, at least, I would if I could afford a bottle of that.

Manichean dichotomies are something we don't grow out of, they're things we consciously train ourselves out of, or we wallow in, like the misshapen, bipedal pig-apes that we are.

 

[RG 448]

Now I am thinking of drowning out my disappointment in Knob Creek - or, at least, I would if I could afford a bottle of that.

Just laugh at it.

 

[Wallace]

Just laugh at it.

In all fairness, a bottle of Knob Creek helps in making the stupid shit funnier.

 

[The Manglement]

The people with the most extreme views are always going to get the most TV time. As long as media is funded by advertising they're going to show what gets the most viewers, not what is the most representative of reality.

 

[PT 522]

Because the most human thing in the world to fear is fear itself social faux pas. It's an evolved trait that's impossible to shake. So naturally, telling someone that doing something lowers their social status in some way is a great way to make them stop. Extremists use this to their advantage.

 

[deodorant]

Why else?

Dumb people get paid attention to because other dumb people listen.

 

[Snake of Diamond]

I see it as a literal trainwreck. Even if it's awful and someone probably got hurt or killed people are still captivated and want to see it anyways no matter how bad it truly is. A lot of people pointed this out but insanity gets just as much air time as tragedy and it sales just as well too.

 

[BlueArmedDevil]

The rest of us have real important shit to do instead of just going reeeeeeeeee and shitting our pants.

 

[Midlife Sperglord]

The rest of us have real important shit to do instead of just going reeeeeeeeee and shitting our pants.

Damn, good point.

 

[Wendy Carter]

In all fairness, a bottle of Knob Creek helps in making the stupid shit funnier.

I thought Knob Creek was some sort of euphemism for gay sex.

 

[Clop]

As soon as you stop reading the local news everything seems a whole lot nicer.

 

[Midlife Sperglord]

As soon as you stop reading the local news everything seems a whole lot nicer.

The local news is all about level headed local politicians trying to figure out how to fund the local school district and repair the potholes in the road.

It’s the national news that really provides the negative mindfuck.

 

[Clop]

The local news is all about level headed local politicians trying to figure out how to fund the local school district and repair the potholes in the road.

It’s the national news that really provides the negative mindfuck.

Right, apologies. I meant domestic. When a country's small, local is domestic.

 

[Tasty Tatty]

I agree with the people saying press is responsible. They've always been like this. As a non-America, I can tell you that USA has always been known as a country of oversensitive people who make a fuss out of nothing and are quick to jump to sue at any moment because that's what media has always sold about you. The only difference is that most of these people were religions nutjobs or overprotective parents. I know it's not all, but the media always showed these type of people specifically. I know many Latinos who lean Left and are sensitive about Social Justice who say that everything progressives do is because they're "Americans" and they're like "of course it's them". So, the scale is now leaning to the other side of showing your crazy. It gives media ratings because crazy people on tv is something normal people love to watch.

Besides that, there is also the case that the influence and media power has moved to the Left and they're pathologically inclined to be too altruistic. All of those spergs screeching about "muh muhnorities" are highly weak individuals who can survive on their own. If we were living in a society that doesn't mind people like this, they'd be dead because they couldn't survive on their own.

 

[Pathos]

There is a theory that postulates that the media decides what is and isn't relevant in American society. So even if like 60% of people don't believe in media, in a way they still pick the topics you focus on...theoretically of course :^)

 

[RepQuest]

The loudest and the most extreme voice in the room is going to have more influence as a matter of course because they're the ones inclined to get their message out to people in the first place. The loudest, most bombastic people trying to get "the message" out usually aren't the most introspective for reasons that should be self-evident.

 

[QI 541]

You have a political system designed to encourage you to appeal to as many people as you can. Most people are stupid. Therefore, you have a political system designed to encourage you to appeal to the stupid.

 

[Y2K Baby]

Most people are stupid

Same, dude.