2 ms·

>The origin story remains entangled both in domestic politics and U.S.-China relations. I think this is the biggest story of our time and no-one, not even the

>The origin story remains entangled both in domestic politics and U.S.-China relations. I think this is the biggest story of our time and no-one, not even the United States government, knows what the hell to do about it.

benlumen 6y ago
Also, as should be obvious today of all days, the traditional media has completely outlived its usefulness. If Western civilisation was healthy, a major focus of public conversation would be what we are supposed to do about this. Instead? That royal kid and his actress wife. Despair doesn't cover it.
- donovanian 6y ago
  > Instead? That royal kid and his actress wife. Despair doesn't cover it. It's funny how the whole story is dripping in the victimization narrative too, proving that you can be literal royalty and claim oppression & injustice. They're among the most privileged people on the planet, and we're supposed to think this speaks to anything important, especially given the state of the world and immense suffering of average people.
  - benlumen 6y ago
    Completely agree. On a more fundamental level, it just annoys me that I should even know who they are. I'm not sure who decides what the story of the day is, but it feels like once there's a consensus, the entire legacy media competes to give the most over-the-top coverage. It's all utterly unfit for purpose.
    - donovanian 6y ago
      > it just annoys me that I should even know who they are Bingo, there's a weird curation of news and pop culture that seeks to fit everything into the media narrative. So you've got the upper echelon of society portrayed in ways that are supposed to key into the narrative applied to common people, as though there's anything relatable between the two. Of course, the people that inhabit the media are anything but down-to-earth, so it's an uphill battle already. They've got their own class bias and relatively monolithic, conformist worldview as a starting point. As far as anyone can generalize an entire profession like that, it seems like this is the only way to explain the mismatch between society & media. The conversation doesn't seem to correspond with reality or any sense of proportion.

benlumen 6y ago

Also, as should be obvious today of all days, the traditional media has completely outlived its usefulness. If Western civilisation was healthy, a major focus of public conversation would be what we are supposed to do about this. Instead? That royal kid and his actress wife. Despair doesn't cover it.

donovanian 6y ago
> Instead? That royal kid and his actress wife. Despair doesn't cover it. It's funny how the whole story is dripping in the victimization narrative too, proving that you can be literal royalty and claim oppression & injustice. They're among the most privileged people on the planet, and we're supposed to think this speaks to anything important, especially given the state of the world and immense suffering of average people.
- benlumen 6y ago
  Completely agree. On a more fundamental level, it just annoys me that I should even know who they are. I'm not sure who decides what the story of the day is, but it feels like once there's a consensus, the entire legacy media competes to give the most over-the-top coverage. It's all utterly unfit for purpose.
  - donovanian 6y ago
    > it just annoys me that I should even know who they are Bingo, there's a weird curation of news and pop culture that seeks to fit everything into the media narrative. So you've got the upper echelon of society portrayed in ways that are supposed to key into the narrative applied to common people, as though there's anything relatable between the two. Of course, the people that inhabit the media are anything but down-to-earth, so it's an uphill battle already. They've got their own class bias and relatively monolithic, conformist worldview as a starting point. As far as anyone can generalize an entire profession like that, it seems like this is the only way to explain the mismatch between society & media. The conversation doesn't seem to correspond with reality or any sense of proportion.