3 ms·

One of the original culprits in the dumbing down of America. Trash tv largely scripted as he punched down from his Ivy League, wealthy throne.

imbnwa 4y ago
Talks shows and COPS largely preyed on the post-industrial American working class, bereft of opportunity, and gave the mass of socially conservative, a band that crosses party lines, an anchor for their anxiety of the growing plurality of identity.
- jamiek88 4y ago
  Yeah, it’s gross.
- okdood64 4y ago
  What does "plurality" mean in this context?
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
  - dredmorbius 4y ago
    I'd interpret it as "more than one", rather than "largest number shy of an outright majority" in the electoral sense. And "plurality" as opposed to a single identity or strictly bifurcated classification (e.g., male/female, black/white, Catholic/Protestant, etc.).
- misssocrates 4y ago
  How did you figure out this diagnosis?
fullshark 4y ago
All these media websites chasing engagement metrics, chasing TV ratings is the 90s equivalent, and the Jerry Springer show is what you get.
listenallyall 4y ago
> Ivy League, wealthy throne Jerry Springer was born during WWII in London subway station that had been converted to a bomb shelter, to Jewish refugees fleeing Nazis in Poland. He claimed 27 members of his family were killed by Nazis. Your opinion of his show and his contributions to the culture are yours, and are valid. But to group him into some ivory tower, privileged, "insider" class is disingenuous. His start was about as difficult as any -- fleeing the real, 6-million-Jews-killed Nazis (not today's tv-news "these people we don't like are Nazis"), no wealth or connections, immigrating to a new country. His success (and downfall) in politics was purely his own. Further success in news and then his TV show were again, his own making. He attended good colleges, indeed, but not any Ivy League schools, and certainly not because he had alumni connections or big donations. You're allowed to not like him, even despise him if you wish. But don't lie about his circumstances.

imbnwa 4y ago

Talks shows and COPS largely preyed on the post-industrial American working class, bereft of opportunity, and gave the mass of socially conservative, a band that crosses party lines, an anchor for their anxiety of the growing plurality of identity.

jamiek88 4y ago
Yeah, it’s gross.
okdood64 4y ago
What does "plurality" mean in this context?
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- dredmorbius 4y ago
  I'd interpret it as "more than one", rather than "largest number shy of an outright majority" in the electoral sense. And "plurality" as opposed to a single identity or strictly bifurcated classification (e.g., male/female, black/white, Catholic/Protestant, etc.).
misssocrates 4y ago
How did you figure out this diagnosis?

fullshark 4y ago

All these media websites chasing engagement metrics, chasing TV ratings is the 90s equivalent, and the Jerry Springer show is what you get.

listenallyall 4y ago

> Ivy League, wealthy throne Jerry Springer was born during WWII in London subway station that had been converted to a bomb shelter, to Jewish refugees fleeing Nazis in Poland. He claimed 27 members of his family were killed by Nazis. Your opinion of his show and his contributions to the culture are yours, and are valid. But to group him into some ivory tower, privileged, "insider" class is disingenuous. His start was about as difficult as any -- fleeing the real, 6-million-Jews-killed Nazis (not today's tv-news "these people we don't like are Nazis"), no wealth or connections, immigrating to a new country. His success (and downfall) in politics was purely his own. Further success in news and then his TV show were again, his own making. He attended good colleges, indeed, but not any Ivy League schools, and certainly not because he had alumni connections or big donations. You're allowed to not like him, even despise him if you wish. But don't lie about his circumstances.