IP: Fox TV: The scapegoat channel

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> From: "Bob Frankston" <BobRMF17 () Bobf Frankston com>
> To: "Dave Farber" <farber () cis upenn edu>
>
> I was tuning through channels late last night (AKA this morning) and 
> caught a segment on Fox TV that, unfortunately, was not a Daily Show 
> parody. Too bad it is so hard to tell the difference. A more charitable 
> view is to consider that they are just observing the old biblical ritual 
> of using a scapegoat to find comfort by blaming them .
>
>
>
> This particular segment was aimed at those taking the trains because they 
> were afraid to fly. It was meant to remind us that trains were just as 
> unsafe because they didn't have metal detectors and don t always check 
> people's IDs before boarding. And worse there is a train simulator 
> computer game that kids (AKA terrorists) can use to learn how to crash trains.
>
>
>
> I fear the next segments:
>
>
>    * The dangers of taxis: Passengers are allowed to ride without a full 
> security check. They don t even have to carry an ID to prove who they are.
>    * The need for safety in subways. Why shouldn t we require all 
> passengers arrive three hours early to be cleared before boarding the 
> trains. It s one thing to complain about Amtrak which is in under a city 
> for a short time. We should make sure that all passengers in a subway 
> pass through x-ray machines. Same thing for highways in cities toll 
> booths need to be enhanced with metal detectors.
>    * The danger of naïve faith in IDs. Actually, I don t expect to see 
> this segment since that would make it harder to sensationalize a complex 
> issue and then close the segment with a simplistic solution. Just as the 
> In Search of TV series created mysteries by ignoring solutions, these 
> segments create certainty by ignoring the real issues.
>
>
> At Comdex in Las Vegas there was security checking. Though many have 
> argued that all the people at security checkpoints must be highly educated 
> we were sniffed by trained dogs (same thing?). For some reason there were 
> also metal detectors which were ignored I guess they are viewed as symbols 
> of security whatever the reality is.
>
>
>
>
>
> Bob Frankston
> <http://www.frankston.com>http://www.Frankston.com


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