Re: doom and gloom
Losos said:-
"The question one has to ask is "Is that a good thing"
I think Losos was referring to information comunicated to us from all over the world, quickly and effectively by sophisticated modern methods relayed to us on a 24 hrs. a day 7 days a week basis for those who wish to know about it.
I believe that this has got to be a positive thing and we have a need to know and should be informed of what is going on around us. So, my opinion is that it is a good thing. We don't live in isolation anymore - we can't bury our heads in the sand and pretend things are not going on. Much of what happens in other places throughout the world will have an impact on our lives.
The tricky and very important thing is to be aware of the motives and biases of the communicator and to be able to analyse and discriminate reasonably accurately. This sorting and interpretation process will vary depending on an individual's perception, beliefs, their own biases, what is important to them, etc. etc.
I believe that the media for their part have a duty be ethical, reasonably unbiased and honest in their reporting and presentation. There should be consequences for them if they are not because they have an huge amount of influence and, therefore, a great responsibility.