1984. in China.

[Brian D. McCary]

> From: "Gillies, Lindsay" <Lindsay.Gillies at FMR.Com>
> 
> re aaron's two gulf possibilities (massive conspiracy or stupidity).
> 1984 - War is Peace - didn't that book have s-something to do with media 
> molding opinion?  Seems like it also dealt with the case where people have 
> given up any belief that they can influence the course of events---I dunno. 

Yes, but there is a big differance between giving up any belief and having
a realistic understanding of one's true impact on the world.  Believing
in a non-existant (or unlikely) conspirisy is no more useful for
understanding the world than ignoring the symptoms which suggest (among
other options) the possiblities that some conspiricy might exist.

The media is much like hypnosis: it cannot make people do things they are
unwilling to do otherwise.  The media leads and follows, simultaineously.
If it holds an enourmous amount of power today, it is because it's messages,
bad or good, resonate in some inner ear of the public body.  We don't have
to like this, but we do have to recognize it.

Of course, as advised,
In good times and bad,
This too shall pass.

Brian McCary