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This may be somewhat off-topic but I think it relates to the way our current punditry operates - you know, the shout-over-each-other-until-nothing-intelligible-is-heard-from-anyone routine that has become the norm in newstalk these days.
Jon Stewart's Daily Show now has a news segment called "Great Moments in Punditry: As Read by Children. It's hilarious to watch 10 year olds read the ranting, crazed transcripts from shows such as Hannity and Colmes, Scarborough Country, Crossfire, et al.
The sad thing is that none of the current crop of talking head shows have any interest in actually discussing an issue. The current mindset, it seems, is to shout down your opponent and make them look as wounded as possible. Anyone who discusses an issue with intelligence and patience is not welcomed back. Anyone who shouts, froths, and insults is an instant hit and is guaranteed a recurring appearance. It's all about confrontation and it's a huge hit because we are glued to our screens, even as we are disgusted by it. Interestingly enough, we're only disgusted by it when we disagree with the prevailing point of view.
I remember when pro wrestlers were caricatures of themselves when they spoke. Now, they are the model of how pundits debate their points.
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"I can normally tell how intelligent a man is by how stupid he thinks I am" - Cormac McCarthy, All The Pretty Horses
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