Pascal pointed to an interesting psycho sociological concept, the "moral panic".
"In sociology, a moral panic is a reaction by a group of people based on the false or exaggerated perception that some cultural behavior or group, frequently a minority group or a subculture, is dangerously deviant and poses a menace to society."
It is good to know that a term exists for this phenomenon, which has been making me uneasy for a long time. It tells you a lot about the supposed rationality of man.
8 comments:
That is indeed a good term to know, Eolake. We are the least sane species of all the great apes.
A lot of that going around for a long time. Any prescriptions for a cure?
Wouldn't that be wonderful. But I think it's one of the biggest and deepest demons in the human soul, so it'll take a long while.
You know why, Paul? Because of our invention of religion.
Corporate media intentionally create the circumstances that might incite "moral panic!" Every newscast where an issue is brought forth, the language used is shrill, lopsided, and overblown.
In other words, moral panic is political fuel.
You're assuming that all newscasts in all countries are like those in the United States. They're not. In some countries, they - gasp - at least try to present a balanced look at the world and don't just report on things that will induce fear.
That sounds nice. Which countries are that?
Don't know which ones he was thinking of, but the CBC usually does a pretty good job. That and hockey broadcasts are about the only things they do well. And I don't much like hockey.
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