Sorry...but I feel like this must be said!

[Rocky]

Wanted to post this in the Paris Hilton thread before it got closed.

Not really frustrated about it, just more of an observation. It seems like nobody cares about true, genuine talent anymore. Our media has become so outrageous that they'll ride the most controversial, most combustible entertainer that they can find. No reason why Lindsay Lohan should be getting more publicity than an actress who can act circles around him. I've heard more about Leo's love life than his awesome performances in Departed and Blood Diamond. I know people like juice and controversy but I am starting to get the feeling that the media is gravitating more and more to these types of people. This is more than just a Paris Hilton problem, it's a societal problem in general and I'm starting to really wonder if talent means anything these days.

Any other thoughts?

[The Chef]

Re: Sorry...but I feel like this must be said!

This isnt a new trend, the bigger and juicier the story is the more attention it will get and when its a celebrity it causes more people to take notice. Lets face it, I dont know very many people who would tune into the news to hear how Leo did on the Departed, thats what those movie critic shows are for, not to mention shows like Entertainment Tonight, amongst others, but people will tune in to hear how bad someone else's life is for the same reason why so many people rubberneck when there is an accident on the highway.

EDIT- Isnt the slogan in the news industry something like, "If it bleeds it leads"? Thats just the way the news is and always will be I guess. There is a reason that everytime you turn on the news you will hear about how many troops have been killed in Iraq but its pretty rare to hear how many of the terrorists have been killed.

[ODogg]

Re: Sorry...but I feel like this must be said!

Wanted to post this in the Paris Hilton thread before it got closed.

Not really frustrated about it, just more of an observation. It seems like nobody cares about true, genuine talent anymore. Our media has become so outrageous that they'll ride the most controversial, most combustible entertainer that they can find. No reason why Lindsay Lohan should be getting more publicity than an actress who can act circles around him. I've heard more about Leo's love life than his awesome performances in Departed and Blood Diamond. I know people like juice and controversy but I am starting to get the feeling that the media is gravitating more and more to these types of people. This is more than just a Paris Hilton problem, it's a societal problem in general and I'm starting to really wonder if talent means anything these days.

Any other thoughts?

People have a need for seeing destruction. It's human nature. I agree with what you say, the gravitation to it is somewhat disturbing. However, I think that even though the media may talk more about Leo's love life than his great acting job in Blood Diamond, realize that does not mean more people care about his love life than his acting in said movie, it just means that more people will buy the paper because of "dirt" than a review of his abilities in the movie.

Papers selling more for sensationalism does not necessarily mean that is what people want, it's just they go to other sources for talent-related or mundane news. Such as their friends or family who have seen a movie for example.

[X*Cell]

Re: Sorry...but I feel like this must be said!

It's the people ultimately... the media has to make their living and the best way is to give the people what the people want.

The people want trash.

Pimping219 (2nd time i've quoted him today) mentioned about hearing about soldiers being killed and not hearing about terrorists being killed.

It's sad, because "the people" wanna hear how the gov't screwed up 24/7...

and I'm the one who would like to hear that comparitive score... Soldiers killed vs. Terrorists killed... GO SOLDIERS!!!

I cheer for the good of my teams, my nation, and my well-being.

People want to hear about downfalls, disasters, and destruction. The 3 D's for the *******es that make up society.

[ODogg]

Re: Sorry...but I feel like this must be said!

It's the people ultimately... the media has to make their living and the best way is to give the people what the people want.

The people want trash.

Someone mentioned about hearing about soldiers being killed and not hearing about terrorists being killed.

It's sad, because "the people" wanna hear how the gov't screwed up 24/7...

and I'm the one who would like to hear that comparitive score... Soldiers killed vs. Terrorists killed... GO SOLDIERS!!!

I cheer for the good of my teams, my nation, and my well-being.

People want to hear about downfalls, disasters, and destruction. The 3 D's for the *******es that make up society.

Amen, the movie Idiocracy is what we're all headed toward..

[X*Cell]

Re: Sorry...but I feel like this must be said!

Amen, the movie Idiocracy is what we're all headed toward..

God, what a horrible movie. Like wow, what a waste of life. Ironically, idiots must have worked on that movie.

But yeah, I agree. hehe.

[cliburn]

Re: Sorry...but I feel like this must be said!

What really hit home for me earlier was when I logged on to cnn.com and there was a huge front page article about Paris Hilton crying on her way to jail . . . on the right, five headlines down read "Troops Deaths in Iraq hit 3,500." I'm so angry and disappointed that I can't even show any emotion; it's just a shake-your-head moment.

[ODogg]

Re: Sorry...but I feel like this must be said!

What really hit home for me earlier was when I logged on to cnn.com and there was a huge front page article about Paris Hilton crying on her way to jail . . . on the right, five headlines down read "Troops Deaths in Iraq hit 3,500." I'm so angry and disappointed that I can't even show any emotion; it's just a shake-your-head moment.

As X*Cell said, it's not a shame that the Troops death is not front page, it's a shame that the terrorists deaths isn't. But with that being said, and in defense of CNN (I can't believe i'm actually saying this LOL), the Paris Hilton story is a recent one, even if it is quite silly to a lot of us, whereas the ongoing war is...well an ongoing one. We as the public can't really expect to have news items that span across years be headlines every single day.

[KENYON06]

Re: Sorry...but I feel like this must be said!

Uhh, it's like that because we demand it, just because we talk about it. You have taken an interest in this Paris Hilton crap and have helped perpetuate it just by talking about it whether you like it or not. Did talent ever really mean anything, anyways? Is this a rant at the media in general, or just news corporations? I can see where you are coming from on this, I am definitely bored of what the media puts out, but I can also see it two ways, neither are necessarily wrong.

[dave360]

Re: Sorry...but I feel like this must be said!

Most of the major media will pander to the lowest common denominator and those folks like to read, watch, and hear celebrity garbage ad naseum. It's sad but true. More people want to hear about stuff like that than legitimate news stories, so that's why major media runs them. On a side note, I loved Idiocracy, and I think it's a brilliant study allbeit a comedic one about where we could be headed if some things don't change.

[X*Cell]

Re: Sorry...but I feel like this must be said!

Most of the major media will pander to the lowest common denominator and those folks like to read, watch, and hear celebrity garbage ad naseum. It's sad but true. More people want to hear about stuff like that than legitimate news stories, so that's why major media runs them. On a side note, I loved Idiocracy, and I think it's a brilliant study allbeit a comedic one about where we could be headed if some things don't change.

I thought the premise was great. The execution was poor though. Great avatar by the way. Even tho I like to see her go back to jail, I'd comfort her.

[ZB9]

Re: Sorry...but I feel like this must be said!

What really hit home for me earlier was when I logged on to cnn.com and there was a huge front page article about Paris Hilton crying on her way to jail . . . on the right, five headlines down read "Troops Deaths in Iraq hit 3,500." I'm so angry and disappointed that I can't even show any emotion; it's just a shake-your-head moment.

QFT

wow that certainly puts it in perspective

[ZB9]

Re: Sorry...but I feel like this must be said!

People love this BS circus. I guess the judge acted like he did (overriding the sherriff's department, etc.) because of the public outcry and he wants to see the circus continue. I would say there are obviously far more important things for the LA county sherriff's department, for that judge, and for the media to put so much time and resources into.

This country and it's "system" is getting messed up. As has been stated, politics and money drive our courts (and the justice of it). LA will probably have to let out a couple of violent repeat criminals to free up space to satisfy the public over Paris freakin Hilton.

[jim416]

Re: Sorry...but I feel like this must be said!

Paris Hilton was in a cell by herself, so overcrowding is not the issue, or the Sheriff would have used that instead of a "medical problem".

It's perception.

Look at our politicians. Congress has an approval rating of 28%, the President a point or so higher. Paris Hilton just walking out because of "medical problems" was a fix, in my opinion. If we the people start getting the impression that our leaders and people in position of power are all frauds, then we may become frauds ourselves, simply by not caring, or acting just like those who are supposed to set examples.

24 hour news cycles certainly don't help.

[ZB9]

Re: Sorry...but I feel like this must be said!

here is a post from someone that has worked in law enforcement:

"I'm not sure what the situation is now, but blowing a .08 (the very edge of the limit), there is a pretty good chance, at least when I did this program with Long Beach, that they'd have just dismissed it if she were a regular defendant who hired a decent private attorney and looked like she was going to fight because it wasn't worth the trouble. That or let her plead out to something so low, it would have involved a relatively tiny fine and she's done. That's not for charity reasons, but because it's pretty hard to get a conviction against good DUI defense attorneys with a .08 unless she's vomiting on the LAPD winshield in front of the video camera lens. I'm guessing the City Attorneys weren't going to give anything less than a wet reckless to Paris, if not just not to show celebrity favoritism, and Paris' team just took the wet reckless with the probation to avoid the publicity and chance of any jailtime.

As mentioned above, per the former LA City attorney I know, 45 days is pretty high for the violation given her circumstances. Not outrageously high, but higher than he'd seen in that kind of a situation.

As mentioned above, the real shocker (not given the case, but if it weren't a celebrity) was Sauer reversing the LASD re-assignment. Because of extreme LASD overcrowding, most women prisoners with misdemeanors and under 90 day sentences that also qualify as "low risk" get reassigned right after they walk into some kind of program, including electronic monitoring. Especially if they raise any issues at all. A lot actually just get booked and released. The City Attorney OSC and Sauer's world record LA county employee speed of reversal (I think maybe even without the med report) was extremely odd, to put it mildly.

In reality, were Paris not a (hated) celebrity, there's a good chance she'd have had her .08 DUI dismissed, or plead down to just a small fine offense (not a wet reckless). Even with a wet reckless probation violation, under those particular circumstances, she'd have probably gotten a 0-10 day or so sentence and then not spent 5 minutes in jail. Worst case there, 1 day in jail and a few days electronic monitoring. Best case, book and release 5 minutes after showing up, or a little community service sub."

they are doing this because of the media attention. The judge wanted the circus to continue. So now we get constant media attention on the menace to society Paris freakin Hilton, instead of covering important things. and it takes a lot of resources for LA county to accommodate all of the attention this is recieving. It's ridiculous.