Suggestion for New DU Forum: The "Wayback Forum"

[Bonobo]

Summary: One of the issues that Neil Postman addressed in his well-known bible on the subject was the fact that TV, in particular, is a good conveyer of how events are unfolding on a second by second basis. However, in-depth analysis is ot one of its strong points.

In short, TV has no memory. Once an "event" is passed, it is outside of our attention and is as if it never happened.

We all have short-term memory loss like that guy in 'Memento', if you saw it.

It is instructive to look back at how the "crises" and "media events" that occupied our attention so fully just a short while ago played out. You know the ones I mean -the mini-events that are on 24-hour news for a few days and then fade away-. Not only is it useful, it is necessary.

Why is it useful? Why is it necessary?

-Because we are being played by these creatures that never sleep. These 24 hour "news" stations, desperate for programming and stealing everyone's free soundbytes under the guise of public's "need to know" in order to make their own lame version of reality TV.

-Because we need to know how things played out so we can make accurate predictions about how they will play out on the future.

-Because EXPOSING the mechanism of our manipulation is an important step in turning things around so that we are no longer victims of unconscious brainwashing without realizing it.



In the forum, we could bring up individual topics that are not talked about anymore but which nevertheless we were influenced by at an earlier time.

It's hard to think of them, isn't it? Well, me too. But guess what? That's a sign of the NEED for what I'm talking about, not a reason for NOT doing it.

Our brains are being fired up with this crap, like marshmallow-filled breakfast cereal for the brain, and then we lose sight of what the fuck is really going on.

Who the fuck agrees with me? Damn, I wish I were more eloquent.

[tnlurker]

1. Start by giving an example.

That might get the discussion going.

[Bonobo]

2. EXAMPLE: "Remember that 2001 Cal. Blackout when Enron Shut Off a Power Plant to Raise their Stock?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=108x119705

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dm61gVae-I

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/02/03/enron.tapes/

Current Investigations by FERC links:
http://www.ferc.gov/industries/electric/indus-act/wec/enron/info-release.asp


SO, is this investigation working out? I mean... no one is watching it, following it, talking about it... So? Is it less important NOW because there is something else on TV, like that Wright guy?

See what I mean? And I'm just a dummy...!

[Sugar Smack]

3. Recommend. I love your idea and I think

you wrote it very eloquently. Much more so than I could have. I also had a little difficulty framing a few issues in your context at first, but I am aware at how this forum can solidify history as discussed on DU and become an excellent reference point.

[tnlurker]

4. I came back to read your reply

And recommend this thread.

I think it is a good idea.

[Sugar Smack]

5. I remember how we talked about the Bush Palace in Paraguay

for a few days, another few days another time devoted to the tazing of a sleeping man on his couch. These news items were intense while they lasted in the public eye, but I'm curious as to what's happening today, some kind of follow-up for those interested.

I wonder how we'd organize such a forum-- maybe by country, politics, entertainment, environment, Wall St.

[Bonobo]

6. Bush's Paraguay palace is another one, yes.