Electronic media is wonderful. The fact that I can sit here at my desk (or even on my boat) and write this knowing that readers globally will be able to read it rapidly, stuns my technology-retarded brain. How we go about our global business now could not begin to be understood not so many decades ago; the way we move money around the world – here now, gone a nanosecond later. There’s no doubt it has given more opportunities to more people than perhaps any previous man-made invention.
It is also a pain in the ass. Consider those who “work” in politics; basically what they are doing is playing verbal table-tennis and use the speed of electronic media to get their “message” to as many people as quickly as possible. And, ignorant as they are, they are not aware that what we, the people, want is for all these “messages” to slow down as we are bombarded with their rubbish 24/7. It doesn’t seem to matter to them what their “message” is – a world event, a pseudo-event, scoring points off the opposition – they seem only interested in sound bites and their impact falls with the amount of noise they make. Thus, it is becoming increasingly difficult to gain the attention of people, unless it is perceived as urgent which then devalues the meaning of the word.
The problem with turning everything into an emergency is that it is no way to govern, especially in the long-term. But, as any politician will tell you (if he’s honest and usually he’s not) their time horizon is extremely short and immediacy is the only way they can see of getting and keeping the attention of the “masses”, since their time horizon is similar. So all we get is an endless barrage of bites, which are not thought through, are shallow and do nothing to move the process of governance forwards.
I believe in the old saying
“A silent tongue never betrays its owner”
Until next time (no emergency, no sound bites, just commonsense),
Peripatetic Scribe
From UK - a most interesting point of view. Personally, I think this is one of those articles that should be read by all politicians, executives and anyone in the public arena. The quote at the bottom (from Africa, I believe) is something that all of us should keep in mind. A good Sunday read!
ReplyDeleteHi, P.S. and another insightful piece. Down here we have another saying: "put brain in gear before tongue in motion" - another way of saying what you quoted. I agree that most people need to stop and do nothing before "spouting like a whale"!
ReplyDeleteA brilliant piece of writing that should be read by politicians all around the world and by the general public. There's so much "noise" today that we have almost (deliberately) forgotten about silence.
ReplyDelete"Silence is the universal refuge, the sequel to all dull discourses and all foolish acts, a balm to our every chagrin, as welcome after satiety as after disappointment." ~Henry David Thoreau
Looking forward to a new blog post!
Lucana
From Canada - so true what you say. There are times when I could happily NOT see or hear a "leader" and to remain in (so-called) ignorance. We need more like this! Merci!
ReplyDeleteThank you UK reader. The aim was to show how bombarded we are by "leaders" wishing to show us they "are on top of the situation" when in fact they are far away from it!
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous in NZ. Really enjoyed your "take" on the link between brain and tongue! And as for "spouting like a whale" - great (wish I'd thought of it!)
ReplyDeleteMerci, Canada. I understand how you feel - it would be nice just for a while to live in your so-called "ignorance". Getting away from this stuff is tough!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lucana and also for the quote. Thoreau was 100% right in my opinion....
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