Neil Postman - Amusing Ourselves to Death [Foreword]

[jnnx]

It is 2011, and we now know both Huxley and Orwell were correct.

RIP Neil Postman

[MrCyberspaceman]

1984. The year came but the prophecy didn't.

But the end is nigh, mark my word, 2012 is soon upon our nation.

Death shall overcome us.

[psycomedia]

turn off

tune out

drop dead

watch?v=FmgKwJhodZw

[MckyMseNTarotCrds]

Such a great book. One of my faves, read it five times. I'd love to know what Postman would say now, w/ the rise of reality t.v. and smirking crap like "The Daily Show." My only issue: I think he represents Brave New World a bit incorrectly. The citizens in BNW aren't the willing participants he describes. They're not allowed to participate in anything deeper than entertainment, and are even bred to be shallow. It's not a choice. Anyway, 1984 is a way better novel than BNW, imho.

[noonej]

@egoistorms Yes! The Shallows is an excellent book. I have to respectfully disagree with hexnyc's recommendation of Everything Bad Is Good For You. In my opinion, the arguments made in that book are INCREDIBLY weak. The questions that EBIGFY raises are better addressed in the book The Flickering Mind by Todd Oppenheimer.

[Tarik360]

creepy D:

[Patriol666]

but they say, we have to fear inflicting pain. i fear the inflicted pleasure, as huxley told us...

[zennreiki]

well done

[starlo3]

however when i got to the page of the actual report, the headline was as follows: Police with beanbag guns at UCLA protest. (fucking liars) And it did not say ANYTHING about police firing guns at all. All it said was how the students were pissed at rising tuition costs. Nothing about who we REALLY should be bringing to. Okay so what? students are fucking mad, and the school board obviously doesnt give much of a shit, as they pretend to. right? Thus the article is worthless

[starlo3]

I have to agree with Aldous Huxley's perception of society today. This fuckin country is overly saturated with entertainment and not only that but FEAR as well. Every time i hear about something bad that has happened, we are never told what we CAN do about what's going on, thus our feelings of helplessness are enforced. The media lies as well, its all based on entertainment and profit. Example: just a few weeks ago i had read a newspaper headline saying "police fire guns at UCLA protest."

[hexnyc]

Thank you for the recommendation. I've started to pay attention to the information he has to offer.

[prophetofdoom]

Is that what Neil's book is about? I definitely got to pick it up then! I read his speech about Informing ourselves to death and I've been a fan ever since.

[SappyRomantic]

It really is a great book.

[hexnyc]

Read Everything Bad Is Good For You: How Today's popular culture is actually making us smarter.

[zxc545454]

@hexnyc No.

[hexnyc]

@zxc545454 Listen to the Pixies?

[egoistorms]

@hexnyc not much but this is good: watch?v=OD-prjxwfh0

[1000101er]

Thanks for posting this. I love this book and I've given dozens of copies to friends.

You can find scores of youtube clips arguing that the corporations, the wealthy elites, the Jews, the global new world order, etc. are using to TV to dumb down the population and cover up truth.

What this book explains is that there is no grand conspiracy. It's just the nature of TV to interrupt the flow of deep and rational discourse. Human nature is causing us to destroy ourselves with apathy.

[Stoney514]

Very good video. Ironic that a video on a book such as this exists since its proving what he foresaw. Im reading this book right now for A.P English and it is riveting and deep. Probably why most of my classmates hate it :)

[abromski7]

mmmmmm ... "teaching" Postman through youtube ... seems Huxley wasn't right at all

[xxdonaldqxx]

With only 586 views as opposed to millions for Brittanny Spears maybe you should rethink that comment.

[KombiPode]

@abromski7

its JEWtube, not YOUtube. Owner by Joogle.

[blackpanther6389]

@abromski7 Obviously your "capacity to think" is gone.

[skilledtrailers]

Awesome job. I was introduced to Postman this year in English and Im so glad for it. His work really provides great perspective on our current culture, and understanding his points really makes you feel empowered over media and technological control.

[d413blake92]

This is very intriguing. Loved the book btw. It was a great read. Where did you get the background music?