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Does Bad News Really Sell?

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Al_Gore the Idiot Posted: Tue, Aug 7 2012 7:03 AM

You've all heard the saying, "bad news sells." But is that really true? Is this what the public demands? Or do you think bad news is a way of indoctrinating the public? That is, an excuse for tighter gun control and/or authority whenever we hear of a murder or shooting spree.

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You've all heard the saying, "bad news sells." But is that really true? Is this what the public demands? Or do you think bad news is a way of indoctrinating the public? That is, an excuse for tighter gun control and/or authority whenever we hear of a murder or shooting spree.

If it is indoctrination then who is deciding on the doctrine? Who is enforcing it? Is there some sort of conspiracy out there? Besides, a news item detailing some horrible killing/massacre is just as likely to result in calls for loosened regulation on guns than it is for more gun control. My suspician is that yes, bad news does sell. Or at least media outlets believe that it sells.

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I don't think most people will admit this, but I think most news serves as a diversion for people. Just as reading a tragic fictional story is a diversion for some people, so also is reading a tragic real-life story. Bad news sells because of this.

The keyboard is mightier than the gun.

Non parit potestas ipsius auctoritatem.

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eliotn replied on Tue, Aug 7 2012 12:29 PM

"I don't think most people will admit this, but I think most news serves as a diversion for people. Just as reading a tragic fictional story is a diversion for some people, so also is reading a tragic real-life story. Bad news sells because of this."

This is a good point Autolykos.  +1

 

Schools are labour camps.

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cab21 replied on Tue, Aug 7 2012 2:06 PM

there are many channals that share the good news, but they don't seem as popular.

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Neodoxy replied on Tue, Aug 7 2012 2:58 PM

I think it's definitely true, bad news is more exciting.

Picture two news articles:

A new school was built recently and it has had good academic results

A school shooting was performed today and dozens were killed

Which one of these things grabs the eye more for you? Well fine, maybe it's not as definitive as it might be around here because we're interested in the world, but imagine someone who is not very interesting in learning about things and who has a job, not too much free time, and more importantly no desire to really understand their world?

At last those coming came and they never looked back With blinding stars in their eyes but all they saw was black...
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