Do you feel the Media Age offers little in actual substance?
825074
yes.  everything is style over substance.  we are given so much information so often that we cannot process any of it.  technology is speeding up our lifestyle so that we cannot have conversations that consist of anything more than soundbites or cliches or a quick answer.  \nsometimes don't you converse with someone and after it's done, you think about what you said, and think "man, i didn't really mean that.  but i didn't have enough time to really weigh the question (or problem or idea) and give an intelligent and informed response."?\n\nmovies are released 5-10 at a time, weekly and the ads are everywhere and the trailers are 30 seconds to a minute long.  \nwe don't have a chance to enjoy anything anymore.  \nit's all consume, consume, consume.  and people are desensitised to real feeling, it's all just reactions to the present stimulus and then the next one.\n\nhow would you feel if someone came up to you with a box of cologne (for example) and took out a bottle and sprayed it on you.\nthen he says, "how do you like that one?"  then before you even smelled it he takes out another and sprays it and asks you about that one and before you answer then he takes out another and sprays and asks and sprays and asks and sprays and asks...\nit would make you crazy (and smelly).  \ntelevision is a drug consisting of nothing but one-way information called "programs".
89785
nah...\n\nPeople have been complaining that the current generation is worse than the past ones literally since Aristotle. Times changes, as do attitudes and fads. Sometimes the old folks (and that would probaby include me at 44) sometimes don't keep up with it and have a lot of nostalgia for what they *think* was there youth.
1152338
No you just have to deep a little deeper nowadays.  The difference is, when I was at school, I had a lot of friends and we were all into Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Breeders etc etc, so it was easy to find out about new music in the same genre.\n\nNow I am old(!) all the stuff that's 'mainstream' is dire, I agree, but listening to 'rock' radio stations, there is still some good stuff out there - it just needs 'finding' now that my friends have grown up, and out of their angst dammit!
125647
It has sadly become far too focused on itself.  If you need more proof, just take a look around at the number of people engaged in a cell phone conversation in public.\n\nIt seems to me our entire culture has turned in on itself, making it ever more convenient to separate ourselves from the world.  Technology has become a double-edged sword, providing us with amazing new ways to be more productive and organized, but often at the expense of human interaction.  Communicaton and entertainment devices provide us with amazing mobility, but our Blackberrys and iPods only further cut us off from one another.\n\nOf course, technology isn't the whole problem.  Our culture has also become incredibly jaded and disenfranchised, always expecting the worst from others and usually getting it.  We use childish, egotistical athletes as role models, making life all about "getting paid".  Our fascination with celebrity has become an obsession--just check out the ratings for "reality" shows.  And our domestic and international political views are too often shaped by sound bites and media talking heads.  Apparently it's just easier to agree with someone than figure it out yourself.\n\nI don't believe it has to be like this.  Our technological advancements don't have to come with a price that devalues our very existence.  And we do not just have to accept that the world with all its troubles is simply beyond redemption.  We simply have to want to be involved in the lives of others. How do we do that?  Parents have to care more about their kids' relationships with others (not to mention their own) than they do about making sure they're doing the right things.  We have to educate on how to use technology to collaborate, instead of to isolate.  We have to look harder for our heroes.  Let's face it--the one thing 9/11 taught Americans was who they really were.  In short, we all have to love ourselves and life and be obsessed about them less.
442647
why can't it be all of it? \n\ni'd say that if you pick a crappy subject, you're doomed from the start. language appropriate to the audience is also very important too. \n\nthe other 2 are less important, or so i feel.
716367
Most importantly, the generation of youth is the biggest it's ever been!\nWe're more than the post-war baby-boom, or the x-generation.\nWe control money, up to 3.5 billion dollars of spending each year, just teens.\nWe have become more independant, but we rely on the media to tell us what to say and what to do. Every secondgirl wants to be Britney Spears, every second guy thinks he needs a sixpack to look good...\nThe media plays a big part in our lives now.\nYoung people have become more aware of what lies out there in the world, we have become much more competitive in preparation to fight for ourselves once we have to work for a living.
822126
who cares about more than half the things the media in general talks about.
1092982
its not bad, but you need more content :)
174071
It hasn't shaped ANYTHING for me.  Only weak minded idiots allow the media to influence their thought patterns.
238308
No I kind of figure that the youth of today just aren't that stupid
204284
Because this is the age of materialism. This is the era of instant Coffee, fast food, instant sexual gratification . This is the age where hype is more than the content. The age of outward show , but empty inside. This is true for  majority of people. Hence the word "sincerity" has lost it's true meaning . But do not worry there are a few or rather very few almost a minute percentage like me who are  "stupid" to treasure and value such words as sincerity , honesty etc. I appreciate that you have actually raised such question. I could go on and on.......if you agree to what I have written in brief then email me at kamalata2000@indiatimes.com
1080485
Other than violence? Well tv and internet is in almost every household in north america, therefore, the impact is significant.  In addition to easy accessability, parents seem to be busier with their own lives and less involved with their childrens. This combination is not a positive one, kids at incredibly early ages feel as though they know everything there is to know, and often they have absorbed much info, unfortunately too much of which is of a negative nature. In addition, our young people have not had the opportunity of much life experience to go along with all of the knowledge and ideas being blasted at them. Essentially, the old players who used to have the big impact on our kids, parents, teachers, churches, neighbours, etc., no longer have as much influence.  As a result, life ends up imitating art, as the kids have much more interest in what's on the tube or internet than they do from the old community staples of learning values. Again, with limited life experiences to sort out all that they have learned, as quickly as they have learned it, at the very least makes for a very confusing time for them, and in the extreme causes real issues more often than not bad behaviour stemming from lack of understanding real life. I do not believe that this is ever going to be an overly positive step in our evolution as it is clear to me that it is becoming harder and harder for kids today to differentiate between "entertainment" and real life.
709871
Yes I agree with you, the media of the world are dead set on causing trouble when they could do sooom much to assist in relieving it... they sensationalize everything and blow things out of proportion to sell a paper, they have no conscience or moral fibre and that's why i never read or buy newspapers or glossy gossip magazines , i think for myself. I treat everyone on how they treat me, always have, always will. PEACE TO THE WORLD.
420937
Yes, the media was " alive " when Communism was a bad thing. Actually, Communism is still a bad thing.\nLiving under Communism would be like living under your parents only on steroids.
930041
Absolutely, this is the crux of the problem in the United States today. Sensationalized news for the sake of ratings has deteriorated the truth of how the world actually operates and interacts economically The impacts of different policies from all countries effects eveyone one of us globally. The shame is we in America have the most capacity to educate via the mass media. The conundrum arises because our current capacity to educate has stemmed from greed perpetuating the sensationalization of "Real News". Personally I don't care about the Scott Peterson case or O.j. Simpson. Real news is happening and people are dieing because the misinformed public prefers to be distracted with Paternity tests on The Maury show and an "MTV" culture of who's dating, marrying, and or divorcing who.\nCapitalism is a breeding ground for greed and the result is ignorance on a mass scale. I love my country and what it truly stands for. I just don't think our founding fathers would be too pleased with our outcome at this time. God Bless.
1129686
does seem that way doesn't it? personally, I don't even watch tv and even when I do I know that most of what is said in the media is bullshit and half-truths.
629461
enhanced communication and many media choices where we are not limited by the old communications media but able to spread it via many means.\n\nIt is a great day to be alive!!\n\nGood luck and God Bless!!