General Discussion

The2ndWheel

(7,947 posts)

23. Most people probably don't know anything about anything

Tue Sep 16, 2014, 08:42 AM

Sep 2014

Which is probably accurate about what I just said.

If you think sports talk can get complicated, world affairs are however many times more complicated than that. Should I watch a highlight video of a game, or should I watch an ISIS beheading? Well, I can't do anything about either one, and at least one is just a game.

Who really has a full grasp on Middle East(or wherever) politics anyway? Everyone has their own agenda. You rarely change minds in any direction. No matter who you vote for, you're probably going to be disappointed somewhere down the line in something they do.

It's certainly easier to get emotional about a corporate logo, and cheer for strangers who make a lot of money, than to learn the various details about what's going on in who knows how many corners of the globe. If you know what Putin is doing these days, that's great. What can you do with that information though?

Take this site for example. We think we're all pretty smart and up on things. Yet how many different opinions do you get about various issues? Heated opinions at that. How many differing facts do you get from all sorts of angles? Where does it get us when all is said and done? To about the same place as being a fan of a team, which is at most a temporary shot of adrenaline, not much after that, and then you do it all again the next day.

Click here to purchase valentine hearts!

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

69 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Noam Chomsky: Why Americans Know So Much About Sports But So Little About World Affairs [View all] xchrom Sep 2014 OP

I could answer that question, but my reply would probably be hidden. Go figure. NYC_SKP Sep 2014 #1

Why would it be hidden? I can't really see what in answer to that question el_bryanto Sep 2014 #9

We have a significant number of sports fans. NYC_SKP Sep 2014 #10

That's true - and I know that we do have sports fans here el_bryanto Sep 2014 #11

Oh hell, I'm a sports fan but I wouldn't be offended. navarth Sep 2014 #49

Believe it or not, a significant number of alerts are voted down 7-0. NYC_SKP Sep 2014 #50

There is money to be made from sports fans PNW_Dem Sep 2014 #43

The first Super Bowl tickets cost just $6.00. NYC_SKP Sep 2014 #46

You have all of that right. And I notice sports reporters seem sharper and more willing and able to Fred Sanders Sep 2014 #47

Bread and circuses is exactly what came to mind when I read the ttitle of the OP Turborama Sep 2014 #60

I probably know more about sports than anything else really JonLP24 Sep 2014 #2

K & R for America's greatest living philosopher! RoccoR5955 Sep 2014 #3

No surprise here: he makes a brilliant observation. Old Crow Sep 2014 #4

+1. n/t Laelth Sep 2014 #14

Our media has taboos Billy Budd Sep 2014 #5

The media doesnt say that about Ukraine because its B.S. promulgated by Russian apologists stevenleser Sep 2014 #61

It's the exact same thing in Australia Buddha2B Sep 2014 #6

My dad frequently observed that local newspapers devote a page to local high school atheletes phantom power Sep 2014 #8

Great points, but to be fair merrily Sep 2014 #7

k&r for the truth, however depressing it may be. n/t Laelth Sep 2014 #12

Replace America with the name of ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD Bad Thoughts Sep 2014 #13

Americans are as poorly informed about sports as they are about world affairs mathematic Sep 2014 #15

^^ This ^^ dumbcat Sep 2014 #30

Well said...nt SidDithers Sep 2014 #32

Exactly!!!!!! HuckleB Sep 2014 #37

I think one of his major points still stands. F4lconF16 Sep 2014 #39

Sports has replaced religion as the opiate of the masses. Scuba Sep 2014 #16

Sports talk on radio and TV is baffling. Endless discussion among LeftinOH Sep 2014 #17

it is pathetic Skittles Sep 2014 #51

We could ban sports as a start. Progressive dog Sep 2014 #18

That's what you got out of what Chomksy said? YoungDemCA Sep 2014 #27

That was all there was to get, Progressive dog Sep 2014 #29

Thank you! Chomsky does not speak for me. n/t SylviaD Sep 2014 #54

45 Years of Monday Night Football Octafish Sep 2014 #19

One of many sponsors hootinholler Sep 2014 #26

k/r marmar Sep 2014 #20

I think, though, that it's something for many ... LisaLynne Sep 2014 #21

Sometimes Chomsky is just an elitist idiot. aikoaiko Sep 2014 #22

Most people probably don't know anything about anything The2ndWheel Sep 2014 #23

Great post. YoungDemCA Sep 2014 #28

I like most of your post F4lconF16 Sep 2014 #53

One of the most intelligent and true posts I have ever read. Bravo. n/t SylviaD Sep 2014 #55

One of the international channels did a piece about the KoKo Sep 2014 #24

Because malaise Sep 2014 #25

. snagglepuss Sep 2014 #31

Are we any different than other countries? LittleBlue Sep 2014 #33

Exactly. HuckleB Sep 2014 #36

Pathetic. n/t Comrade Grumpy Sep 2014 #66

Indeed. n/t HuckleB Sep 2014 #67

Eagles are looking good this year, Mr. Chomsky. (nt) Inkfreak Sep 2014 #34

They were amazing last night. Enthusiast Sep 2014 #44

Has Chomsky ever been anywhere else in the world? HuckleB Sep 2014 #35

It's a world wide problem. ozone_man Sep 2014 #48

LOL! HuckleB Sep 2014 #56

Sports is the new religion. ozone_man Sep 2014 #62

So, music, movies, books, gardening, are all religions? HuckleB Sep 2014 #65

I'm the opposite JI7 Sep 2014 #38

Excellent post. Noam is always so astute despite not exactly being the best speaker. Populist_Prole Sep 2014 #40

Insightful Analysis Martin Eden Sep 2014 #41

Kicked and recommended! Enthusiast Sep 2014 #42

Keith Olbermann has the best sports program. Enthusiast Sep 2014 #45

"The way the system is set up, there is virtually nothing people can do anyway. . . " ucrdem Sep 2014 #52

"Stay home and tend to your garden" < Your attempt to deflect what he said, not what he said. jtuck004 Sep 2014 #58

"there is virtually nothing people can do." That's Chomsky in a nutshell. Ipse dixit. nt ucrdem Sep 2014 #59

Those I know who are really into sports bet on the games. nt OnyxCollie Sep 2014 #57

Chomsky doesn't know enough about sports... SidDithers Sep 2014 #63

he admits he doesn't know Enrique Sep 2014 #64

Exactly! (And how dare those who do have hobbies!!!) HuckleB Sep 2014 #68

Exactly my understanding, people go where they can be effective... congress...us gov... not so much uponit7771 Sep 2014 #69