What does mainstream mean to you?

[guardian]

I've been monitoring some of right wing radio programs this week. Not too much because I can only stomach these shows about 15-20 minutes then I have to turn off the radio and go watch Free Speech TV (yeah! Channel 9415 on Dish Network).

One thing I've noticed is that everyone claims to be in the "mainstream."

To me it's:

* supporting a democratic form of gov't
* paying your fair share of taxes
* conserving our planet so everyone can live
* treating everyone equally
* helping your neighbor in need
* thinking that war and killing are bad things
* people are more important than corporations

What does mainstream mean to you?

[Hissyspit]

1. Bland, conventionalized, inoffensive, anti-individualistic...

are some connotations.

[havocmom]

2. used to be 'mom, apple pie & the girl next door'

Now, it's Baa baah baah baaahhhh and it is NOT a good thing.

My daughter thinks the worst thing you can say about someone these days is that they are 'normal'.

[tulsakatz]

8. 'normal'

your daughter is right! I've always preferred to be an individual over being normal or mainstream.

[napi21]

3. To me it means anything that MOST people agree on.

No matter what the subject is, some on the fringes are going to be pissed. When there is a majority agreeing on something, no matter what it is, that seems to be the very definition of main stream.

[babylonsister]

7. I dunno. MSM covered Schiavo, Pope, but also

the runaway bride, MJ, and others ad nauseum. Most people might agree on the topic, but beating a dead horse is another story and some stations might shine if they let the old stuff go.

[Clark2008]

9. But, see, I don't consider that mainstream.

However, it has BECOME "mainstream."

I complained, long and hard, when I was reporting, that people spent too much time pretending not to read The National Enquirer. I told folks who asked me why the news didn't cover "good news," that, everything can be good news if it helps inform. I asked why the gossip rags didn't need much advertising - because they sold so much on the stand - if real news was more important.

We've let the lowest common denominator drive our news. Period. We've become a country of people who believe that reality TV is real and news is fake gossip.

And, we're paying for it, only most of us don't know that because we're too busy watching someone else's "reality" and paying lip service to no one's "news."

[napi21]

12. You're talking about mainstreet news. I wasn't.

I'm talking about politics. Things that are voted on in congress all the time. Things that go before the SC. When someone talks about a mainstream SC judge, I don't think of Ginsberg OR Scalia. I think of someone like O'Connor. Someone whose vote was never counted on for sure because she read each case and made her decision on the merits as she saw them. I didn't agree with her on every ruling, but isn't that the way it should be?

I don't really want all LW on the SC either!

[TahitiNut]

4. Well, that 'stream' sure has gotten polluted.

It's like all the septic tanks in the neighborhood are overflowing. Maybe that's why there're so many bottom-feeders - I hear they help clean it up by swallowing the fecal matter. (It doesn't seem to be working.)

[tulsakatz]

5. mainstream

mainstream, to me, means that a majority of people support it, whatever that may be. However, the majority is not always right!! Case in point, there still seems to be a large number of people in this country who support Bush. And after everything he has pulled, I don't understand why!!

Also, just because the mainstream supports something does not mean that it's a wise or rational decision either. Another case in point, just today I was talking to someone about the election results last year. I stated that I didn't believe Bush won in a Democratic way and I also illustrated reasons why. And this Republican I was talking to, said that the election has been supported by the mainstream. I told him that was a matter of opinion.

I think mainstream is another one of those words Republicans use to illustrate that the people are on their side. Whether they are on their side or not doesn't matter.......by using words like 'mainstream' it sounds like they are.

The reasons you listed, Guardian (to me) describe ideals.......what this country should be and that may or may not be mainstream. Just my opinion.......

[wli]

6. legal precedent and constitutionality

For instance, executive orders for policies requiring congressional approval (e.g. withdrawing from treaties) are not mainstream.

Unconstitutional laws (e.g. USA PATRIOT Act) likewise are not mainstream.

Mainstream is more religious, conservative, and right-wing than I myself am. Mainstream is fiscal discipline, not deficit spending. Mainstream lacks overtly discriminatory laws but does little to protect against discrimination. Mainstream resists almost all changes to policy, laws, or governmental structure.

Mainstream is not what's happening in Washington, D.C. now.

[Spider Jerusalem]

10. Dull, homogenised, unindividualistic, lowest common denominator....

Borg-like, etc...

[longship]

11. Here's what.

• One political party for everybody.
  
• One religion for everybody.
  
• Everybody is wealthy (nobody else matters).
  
• Large comfortable automobiles for everybody.
  
• Large comfortable home for everybody.
  
• Starbucks for everybody, every morning.
  
• Microsoft software for everybody.
  
• Disney, Sony, Viacom, AO-Smell-Time/Warner, and GE. Who needs more entertainment than that?
  
• Employment for everybody (male).
  
• Viagra for everybody.
  
• Sorry, no abortions or birth control.