Fear sells

Freedom of press.

It's funny that what makes this little blog even possible is the same thing behind a significant portion of the topics we discuss with each other, our lifestyle modifications as a reaction to what we see and hear in magazines, on the news, and even on websites.

Unfortunately, freedom of the press can be a bit short-sighted at times; and it's definitely not free. To get news in front of people costs money. To get money, television producers sell advertisements. Newspapers sell advertisements and charge for the actual paper itself. Even the most popular news websites belong to giant corporations that can afford to buy advertisement on other media outlets to drive people to come check out their sites. If you'll look up there at the top of the page, I'm even advertising, hoping that you guys will see something you like and click, which gives me money. It's capitalism, pure and simple. It's how America works.

The problem begins with the fact that advertisers expect value for their investment. Therefore, reporters seek out the most sensationalist and fear-mongering of stories to tell you. If you hear about something that makes you scared, you want to tell your friends and family, right? You'll want to change your lifestyle to steer clear of the bad stuff, right? Lastly, you'll want to tune in again tomorrow to make sure you don't miss what the reporter is saying to keep you safe then, right? Tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year. By making you fear, that reporter is essentially guaranteeing that you'll be back tomorrow. That reporter is making sure that you're gonna be talking about his story to your friends and family.

That reporter is selling you fear.

Quick, by a show of hands - how many of you guys have heard about the cancer epidemic?

Bullshit. Read this excerpt.

How many of you guys know that schools are more violent now than they were 15 years ago?

Bullshit. Read this excerpt.

Everyone who knows that eradiated food could kill you or at least have serious side-effects, raise your hand.

Bullshit. Read this excerpt.

Noticing a pattern here?

ABC News correspondent John Stossel has written a book named Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity : Get Out the Shovel--Why Everything You Know is Wrong. Here's a link to it on Amazon.com

In case you missed it, there's an excerpt of this book here that I read earlier. After checking that out, I'm going to order this book and read it.

I highly recommend the excerpt, and I'll bet you'll like it also.