Carl Sagan Predicted 2021

[karmakid]

 

[Videodrome]

Stepping in with Media Nerd hat on.


What is sad to me is the most sensible discourse is not on TV but is long form Podcasts spearheaded by Joe Rogan of all people. Now, Rogan is mostly an entertainer, but giving the medium attention probably helped make other podcasts possible and more easily discovered such as Dan Carlin's Common Sense or Lex Fridman's Artificial Intelligence.

I guess what I'm getting at is no one seriously looks how media is crafted or having the same disregard for it that Zuckerberg has for Facebook. I feel like Sociologists should be involved in some way if only to advise Congress.

Also, going way back some of TV did have a kind of Podcast or roundtable feel with shows like Firing Line ( and no compartmentalizing into panel boxes ) I think the color version was in the 70s.


These details might not seem that big a deal but I think the effects on the viewers and discourse is underestimated. Also, vastly misunderstood is viewer attention span which is often the excuse for quick-cut style news in between commercial breaks( another evil) . Another aspect of this show Firing Line below is they were introduced at the beginning with a sponsor then maybe an intermission break and one at the end. Ironically, a hardcore conservative show on PBS. Otherwise, the show allowed long form uninterrupted conversation and maybe audience questions.

The set of Eric Weinstein's 'The Portal' podcast. Just people talking, allowed be relaxed, taking time to discuss ideas.