HYPE AND SPECULATION

Hello people:
Sorry for the abscence. Nothing interesting to write about. Figure you don't really want to be bothered with a blog about my daily activities. But not to worry. I've found something worthy of comment....at least, before I go insane.

This is a revisiting of a topic I may have discussed before. I firmly believe that media hype and speculation is one of the reasons that our country and our world is in the shape it's in.

THE NFL DRAFT AND SPIDERMAN 3

Is it any wonder that MORE people don't go postal, with the inundation of hype in our country? I mean, last weekend's NFL Draft, like everything else, was hyped to the max for 2 weeks leading up to it. And the premier of Spiderman 3 this coming weekend, with it's product placement and merchandising, makes you wonder if you even want to see the movie. Of course, we all will.

Now, I realize that everything in our free-capitalist society is based on being able to sell. Hype and PR is what moves products, puts people in the seats at major events, sells you a service, etc... But doesn't it seem that oftentimes the end product doesn't live up to the hype? Aren't we all a little tired of people yelling at you to buy their goods. "THE PRODUCTS WILL BE FLYING OFF THE SHELVES! THE ACTION WILL BE HOT, HEAVY, AND EXCITING! GET THERE EARLY! YOU DON'T WANT TO BE LATE! THE WINTER-SPRING, TURBO, MEGA, HUUUUUGE, ALL-OUT, ALL-IN, LAST CHANCE GOING-OUT-OF-BUSINESS-FOR-THE-LAST-TIME, NATIONAL! NATIONAL! NATIONALS!!!! SALE!!!!! ONCE IT'S OVER, IT'S OVER!" (in small print on the bottom of screen..."until next month")

And the only thing we can do about it is turn the channel, turn the page, turn it off. We'll never be able to get it to stop because HYPE works. That's the bottom line. We're all, most of us, a bunch of sheep. I'll say it again. WE'RE ALL A BUNCH OF SHEEP. We allow ourselves to get worked up by hype. And why? BECAUSE WE'RE ALL DREAMERS. We hope that the hype of what they're selling is all it's cracked up to be and we can say to our friends and neighbors, "See how smart I am. I made the smart choice, just like millions of others. Why haven't you?"

Is there any hope at all that they can turn down the volume? Can we reduce the inundation so we can think and be at peace for just a few minutes?

SPECULATION

The NFL Draft is the perfect example of the Ills of Speculation. After getting hyped by Mel Kiper Jr. for 2 weeks before the draft, we also have to listen to all of the other experts come in and analyze the talent as if they were scouts themselves. "We think he's a Blue-Chipper for sure. A definite star and maybe Hall-Of-Famer in our midst. A Can't Miss." Unfortunately, they missed the fact that from 8th grade through Freshman year at college, the guy had at least one yearly arrest for violence or sexual assault. A week into the Regular season the guys is arrested for DWI, possesion of fire arms, a bag of crack, with 2 15-year-old hookers who've been pistol whipped and tied up in the back of his car. The police later find out the dude was on his way to hang them in a meat locker.

Even when the Speculation is right (in the case of Peyton Manning), it's all a guess. It's the same with politics and Elections. Speculation as to who will win, what the plan is, what will happen if this occurs, or what happens if the opposite occurs. How about just coming on and tersely giving a short list of Pros and Cons and knocking off all of the embellishment and blather. Jesus, you fuckers can be seriously long-winded when it comes to giving the skinny.

It is said that is better to focus on a Solution rather than dwell on the Problem when something negative occurs. The faster we can fix, mend, or find a new path to success, the better.

Give me the Facts. If you have to, show me, both, the Ups and Downs to the sides of the Issue, then let me decide, or let me watch it play out. In short, Hype + Speculation = Bullshit. The Inundation of Information at a level of Constant Barrage will be a big factor in the downfall of humans. In fact it already is. And you know that LEN IS RIGHT.

Please be at peace and try to relax in this Mad World.
I am,
Len Tollerton