The fear of an impending disaster!
Growing up in the Boston area, I'm a grizzled veteran of the "oh my god, we're all going to die!!" (or run out of coffee, which would be much worse!!!!) panic that follows a weather report hinting at snow.The "media" has been revelling in the graphic depiction of misery for much longer than I've been watching. But now the graphic depiction( in the form of a brand name and musical score ) actually precedes the event!I can't pinpoint the exact event that unleashed the first hint that TV news was beginning to "brand" horrific events, but the Columbine Massacre comes to mind. Of course, since that time, we've all had to grit our teeth and martial on in the face of "9/11," where the graphics and musical score and brand identity receeded into the background of the up-close horror.And, its happening again, right now, and we are participants in this theater of misery. Whether its called "The Economic Collapse," the "Economic Meltdown" or "The End of Life as We Know It," its all having the same negative effect on the country's psyche.Here's a question for everyone: if you were living your life without TV, internet, radio, would you be so certain of the impending crisis?We have become a nation of people easily distracted by shiny things.
