OTM #1

New Reality

Culturally, we love being able to receive information as fast as we can receive it. Our fingers are attached to our mobile devices, searching media sources such as FaceBook, Twitter and Instagram. Some of us millenials receive information from the ever trusty app, SnapChat. We use many different forms of meta voicing, whether it is retweeting, commenting on other peoples posts, or sharing posts. We can do that all in the matter of seconds, with one tap on the touch screen.

Immanuel Kant taught about intrinsic worth, "this dignity derives from the fact that humans are uniquely rational agents, capable of freely making their own decisions, setting their own goals, and guiding their conduct by reason."

However, regarding to trial balloons and preemptive tweeting, the Trump administration & media are not allowing us to be able to be rational agents. Preemptive tweeting as a form of diversion from the source of truth is distracting readers from the big, direct situation to problems that don't really matter.

Related to fog, it is covering up what the real issue is so they can divert the attention in order to take care of business. Immanuel Kant would argue that it unethical, yet humans are able to set their own goals and make their own decisions. Our leaders are able to do that, however, social media and other forms of mediums are not allowing ourselves to make those decisions by denying us the opportunity to have raw, unfiltered, unbiased news stories.  The media is framing all their stories according to their political views in order for readers to side more with their side. Again, Kant would claim this as unethical.

Jay Rosen, of PressThink, started the hashtag #sendtheinterns. That the interns are able to go into there, be bold and focus of the real story. With the presidental counselor Kellyanne Conway, he also said that she makes the reporters more confused. That the main reasons why they interview her is to avoid criticism of being one-sided and is a form of entertainment.

Opinion

We are unethical when it comes to posting online, depicting a perfect, harmonious, happy life. As we pick out the perfect looking picture. In search of that picture, we might have taken 20-50 shots just to get one we like. We are sheltering our life by not posting our raw feelings, our rough times, all emotions on the spectrum. We expect a double standard for those in political positions to do the same. I don't expect to hear about all of what is happening in our government. It is impossible to change a culture that is thriving based off of the joys on Americans, they feed off of battling with opposing views on social media. However, I'm a naive college student who hopes and expects the best in everyone. That they will be genuine, raw and truthful. I take a little bit of Kant in me, that those I commune with will tell the truth. 

keywords:  diversion, dismissing, unethical, social media, distraction

Notes

1. telling the truth then back it up with facts
2. preemptive tweeting - diversion
3. trial balloon - trying a tweet to see reactions
4. trump supporters, anti-trump peeps (dedicated opponents)-keep trying to piss them off, the neither-nors (opposition, nor supporters) - 'everybody is shouting again, the spectacle is getting louder. go on an live your life" the trump world is 'search-costs' search for evident research and facts
5. fog- can get a lot more done - unpopular
6. introducing more confusion - kelly ann conway - entertaining, avoiding criticism
7. texas tribune - getting data, 'specifically to listen to texans', policy reporting