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BLOG POST 1

I thought Postman’s assertion about how politicians’ appearances and physiques are key factors in the probability that they will get electected. Before the advent of television and internet, people rarely saw photos of politicians let alone video. Postman uses the example of President Taft to demonstrate how someone of such immense size would never be considered for the office of president today. Today, social media is an extension of that concept because how you present yourself digitally has a huge impact on your ability to be successful. 

This idea forced me to consider the candidates running for president in 2020 in which the overwhelming majority are in shape and stylish. Candidates are judged on their appearance before any political policy or ideology are considered. It should be noted that society is going down a slippery slope if such is the case. 

How much weight should be given to appearance on social media such as facebook or twitter when considering an individual for a job or other selective opportunities?

Blog Post 2

In this chapter Postman conveys concerns regarding the shift from a primarily print media society to a television society. Postman feels that print news was more thought out, logical, and rational. On the other hand, television focuses on sensationalism to the point it becomes “absurd”. Postman uses an African tribe to illustrate the idea that media determines what we consider “knowledge” and “truth”. Thus, this shift to television is negatively impacting society because what we consider knowledge and truth is becoming more frivolous and mindless.

I thought Postman’s assertion that media determines truth and knowledge which consequently impacts society’s collective intelligence to be particularly interesting. This phenomena is going on all around us in the digital age, yet we are blind to its occurrence. I never considered how the presentation of media affects my intellect. However, Postman’s assertion makes sense. By dumbing down news and removing its substance, we are effectively dumbing down society.  

A lot of people get their news from an audio source whether it be podcast or radio. Where do audio sources of media fall on Postman’s spectrum of epistemology?

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