Gossip Gone Wild
I was reading Stranger in a Strange Land quotes the other day and came across this one…. it really hits home even more so now than it did then:
“Remind me to write a popular article on the compulsive reading of news. The theme will be that most neuroses and some psychoses can be traced to the unnecessary and unhealthy habit of daily wallowing in the troubles and sins of five billion strangers. The title is ‘Gossip Unlimited’ — no, make that ‘Gossip Gone Wild.’” — Jubal Harshaw (Robert Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land, 1961)
The sad thing is that he warned us about this progression towards such idiocy way back in 1961 and it’s just progressively gotten worse and worse… this country and well, this world, is obsessed with “The News” to the point that it’s truly becoming an unhealthy obsession. Far worse than even the worst addiction.
And what’s scary is that until it is recognized as a truly detrimental addiction there will be no real treatment for it. Of course the terrorists, insurrectionists, etc. all take this addiction to heart whenever they carry on the way they do…. They know that we’ve become a world full of whiny bitches who who are addicted to the news and can’t stomach doing what needs to be done for the sake of humanity anymore.
I truly am saddened and sobered by the thought that when the WWII/Depression generation passes on forever so will the last generation that had the balls to make a difference in the world for the sake of posterity… for the foreseeable future. Perhaps someday Mr. Heinlein’s wise advice through his books will be heeded… but it will take a disaster on the scale of those described in his books to make it happen. I guess we’ll wait and see.
Filed under: Life, News and Politics, Rants
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