Tags
I’m going to come right out and say it: I am SO. OVER. CONFLICT.
Cable news network anchor? Poopy diapers? Who can tell...
Of course, six billion or so human beings are going to have conflict, and war, and disagreements. That’s to be expected.
What I’m talking about is the conversations we’ve been having in this country for the last fifteen to twenty years, especially the ones that have been broadcast in the last decade, and the narrative of what we see and hear and read on TV, on the radio and in our newspapers.
I’ve been around long enough to remember when it was different. And I don’t think it’s simply a case of misty watercolor memories that I’m remembering a time when media dialogue wasn’t so contentious or so dangerous. A lot has changed since then – multiple 24 hour news organizations, social media that allows anonymous conversations….and little of it has improved the quality of the dialogue.
Lately, it’s been UNBEARABLE. I can’t even watch a full hour of a news program without switching to something – ANYTHING – else. Reading comments on an online post? Forget about it. Blood pressure through the ROOF. Some nights I can’t manage anything more provocative than a repeat of The Waltons.
This is a bad thing, folks: I’m a writer and a journalist. Trying to avoid conflict is sort of like a scientist saying they won’t work with hydrogen or oxygen.
My main issue? It all feels so pointless. No one is discussing issues. No one is looking for solutions. Very few people want to make a nuanced, fact-supported argument. About ANYTHING.
I don’t need someone to pat me on the head and agree with me. But it would be nice if we had real arguments. Arguments in the academic sense of the word: I have a point of view, and have proof or supporting documentation to further prove my point. (Spoiler alert: Name calling and labels aren’t arguments.)
I think most people know (or could guess) my political affiliations, but both “sides” are guilty of contributing to the conflict. So much of the discussion has become a PR game and a screaming match. And the best way to put positive spin on yourself is to demonize the opposition.
And it’s impacted the generation that follows us. It’s become a church of absolutism. Check any YouTube video for comments and you’ll see what I mean. Either you agree that Taylor Swift is the most talented person that ever drew breath and walked on terra firma or you must DIE IN A FIRE.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, because as I dig deeper into my writing and pursuing a career as a writer and journalist, I want to be very, very clear about what my intentions and boundaries are. At some point, I’ll need that clarity for an organization I’ll work for. For right now, I need it for myself.
I think that some media outlets are partly to blame for this. Whether it’s diminishing circulation, shrinking budgets or the blurring of lines between information and entertainment, we don’t always see all the beats of a story anymore. The lazy approach to reporting is now find a point of view in a story……then look for the polar opposite. And once that’s in place, ramp up the conflict.
There aren’t two sides to a story. There may be hundreds, if not thousands. And while news writers and editors have to shape a story into a manageable narrative, it can be done without losing sight of the nuances of the who, what, when, where, why and how.
I fail miserably when I try to follow someone else’s template, or write in another narrative voice. I know I may have to write outside of my comfort zone, but I don’t know if I’m the guy that needs to show you 10 ways to make your cat look like Lady Gaga.
My best work has been telling people’s stories – particular the stories of people who don’t always get to be front page news, or fit neatly or easily into any demographic. And those are the stories I want to tell.
It’s going to be hard to keep that in mind when I’m in the middle of the screaming, name-calling and anger. And I know many of us have reasons to be angry – many people have lost a lot in the last few years. I hope that the work I do can bring the volume down to a low roar, instead of ramping it up to the Spinal Tap eleven.
Of course, I’m probably being really unrealistic about my hopes and expectations. After all, 2012 *is* an election year….And if this post has you angry and your blood pressure up, well, then here’s your tonic.
Good night, John boy….
