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"There is no hard data on how common it is to believe in the paranormal ... But trends in television programming offer a sense that there is a widespread intere
by shubber 16y ago
"There is no hard data on how common it is to believe in the paranormal ... But trends in television programming offer a sense that there is a widespread interest in mystical phenomena that is becoming more common."
This is journalism?
- tzs 16y agoWhat do you find wrong with that? Considering that producers and purveyors of television programs, along with those who pay to advertise on those programs, do considerable monitoring to find out if they are attracting viewers, and have no qualms about canceling a show that isn't performing well with the public, a rise in successful shows about mystical phenomena is probably a pretty good indicator of increased public interest.
- shubber 16y agoPrimarily, that the original article is presented as a report on a scientific survey, the subjects are called "scientists" (which they may well be) and yet for the fundamental question of "how many people believe in the paranormal" we're falling back to prime-time line-ups. Which is to say nothing of the idea that the actions of a huge industry must ipso facto be based on correct data. Relying on entertainment media as a litmus of society, or even culture, is a huge discussion, completely off the point.