For the past few weeks, I've been following several discussions on this topic (mostly regarding media and not Hollywood, but along the same lines) and there's been a lot on my mind which I've mostly kept to myself since the standard of those discussions used to deteriorate rapidly. But I feel like I need to address this - and be it for self-therapeutic reasons - and I'll use this thread as an outlet, so bear with me on this



This is what triggered me. Because it's the expression of a sentiment that I'm seeing and hearing more and more often both in Germany and all over the internet - that the media is rigged, controlled by "them", "them" varying quite a bit, and it's often (though not always) declaimed with a sense of self-righteousness. Let me elaborate:



This is another statement I read often, and mostly combined with the one above. The complete lack of differentiation. Even if you've never watched a movie or read a news paper, the implied affiliation to a bigger complex justifies discarding it entirely. And before you point out that you said you can't be sure: Then don't say it in the first place. Or at least be true to your opinion and don't open that back door.

Also, by doing so (condemning certain content from the outset), you fall victim to the behavior you so harshly criticize in others: Blindly following a certain doctrine. Only that it expresses itself by rejection instead of approval, which gives it the impression of skepticism and thoughtfulness; but it's just that: the impression of it.

Which would be fine, wouldn't it be for the implication that often follows that train of thought: that the media outlets "outside" of the "mainstream" in turn tell nothing but the truth (which brings us back to the "you have to look elsewhere"-part from above).

In my experience, people tend to believe sites like Russia Today or Politically Incorrect the same way they condemn the "mainstream media" (god I hate that expression) - without really questioning it. Be it because they often report the exact opposites, or because they are seemingly independent. And I think that is highly dangerous.

My point here really is: You should get as much input from as many different sources as possible. And yes, you should be aware that the information you receive is most likely filtered. "Established" journalists and creative people (like Hollywood) tend to have very strong political opinions, I suppose it's a big part why they got into their metier in the first place, and they're not able or sometimes willing to leave that behind. And the opposite site (granted, RT and PI were the extremes) have their filters as well, be it for click bait or the justified or unjustified notion that everything the "establishment" says or does it inherently evil.

But it's only when you yourself put input from all sites together that you can really form an informed opinion. And it still won't be "the truth", whatever that might be, and we will all have different opinions, which is extremely important. But I cannot, for the life of me, think that the sentiment of "they are all blatant liars ruling the world and keeping us stupid with their secret weapon: the TV" can stand at the end of that process. The world simply isn't that black and white.

One last thing:



I think it's sad and, again, dangerous, that more and more people deny their political opinion. I'm explicitly not saying that you have to bind yourself to a system or an ideology, but at least admit that your opinion is political. And don't just admit it, but be proud of that. I think it's incredibly important to have a political opinion, and I think the fact that so many people seem to think that having a political opinion means taking the side of a particular party is a big reason why there's so much disenchantment with politics all over Europe at the moment, which in turn benefits the extremists.



At this point I feel the urge to apologize for the harsh words, but I also hold those opinions very firmly and I think it's important to stand by them.

So all I can do is to underline that this is not a personal attack on you, Ian, but that I merely used your words to express my views on a problem that preoccupies me a lot at the moment - just as I don't assume that you, for instance, blindly believe sites like RT, in those cases I included experiences I made with lots of other people who made the same basic statements that I quoted at the beginning or I wanted to expresse the dangers I see with following those arguments to the very end. And that I would be glad if this discussion would continue a bit as well, for that reason.


Also, if anyone thinks this is a bit over the top and too much for this topic (do we still have that political discussion thread?), that's fine, as I said, I just had to get this off my chest