I'm torn on this issue.
On one hand, I'd really hate to revoke the freedom of speech from someone. Usually, if it's someone as stupid as Glen Beck or Bill O'Reilly, the best way to counter their hate is by letting them speak. Then, when they get crazy enough, the rest of the world will realize how crazy they are. The old line about giving them enough rope and they'll hang themselves. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be working here. They have fringe, extremist, bizarro crazy guys like Alex Jones coming along and, suddenly, compared to that, Glen Beck seems downright moderate and even reasonable.
Perhaps it would be nice if news stations had to meet a certain criteria with fact checking. Say, at least 80% of what they say has to be proven correct by a fact checker or they don't get to call themselves a news source or something along those lines. I mean, I don't mind they saying stupid shit, but it scares me when people hear their stupid shit and take it seriously.
On one hand, I'd really hate to revoke the freedom of speech from someone. Usually, if it's someone as stupid as Glen Beck or Bill O'Reilly, the best way to counter their hate is by letting them speak. Then, when they get crazy enough, the rest of the world will realize how crazy they are. The old line about giving them enough rope and they'll hang themselves. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be working here. They have fringe, extremist, bizarro crazy guys like Alex Jones coming along and, suddenly, compared to that, Glen Beck seems downright moderate and even reasonable.
Perhaps it would be nice if news stations had to meet a certain criteria with fact checking. Say, at least 80% of what they say has to be proven correct by a fact checker or they don't get to call themselves a news source or something along those lines. I mean, I don't mind they saying stupid shit, but it scares me when people hear their stupid shit and take it seriously.
I live on facebook. Come see me there. http://www.facebook.com/tara.rizzatto
"If you cling to something as the absolute truth and you are caught in it, when the truth comes in person to knock on your door you will refuse to let it in." ~ Siddhartha Gautama
"If you cling to something as the absolute truth and you are caught in it, when the truth comes in person to knock on your door you will refuse to let it in." ~ Siddhartha Gautama