Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!cbnews!ran From: ran@cbnews.ATT.COM (Robert A. Neinast) Newsgroups: news.misc Subject: Re: Is the news media really that stupid? Message-ID: <2568@cbnews.ATT.COM> Date: 12 Dec 88 15:12:05 GMT References: <33065@bbn.COM> <4355@pbhyf.PacBell.COM> <5999@hoptoad.uucp> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus Lines: 36 In article , karl@triceratops.cis.ohio-state.edu (Karl Kleinpaste) writes: > ... > A particularly objectionable flaw to me was that the Columbus Dispatch > printed a front-page, half-page story w/photograph...of CompuServe. > CompuServe is not on the Internet, never has been. CompuServe runs > DEC-[12]0's, which were not susceptible to the worm. They run TOPS, > ... > What a load of crap. The media are consummately ignorant, stupid, and > irresponsible in that they positively flaunt their ignorance and > stupidity. Also, self-serving. Since CompuServe is headquartered in Columbus, they had to make sure they included the "local angle", despite its having absolutely nothing to do with the true story. I read somebody making the following comment, and I have also found it to be true: Whenever I have attended any event covered by the news media, their covering of the story has been materially different from what I have seen. Reminds me of one time Jack Ford (Gerald Ford's son) was giving a talk (1980 election). Somebody in the crowd asked about Ford's pardon of Nixon; Jack responded with the standard reply that Ford wanted to put Watergate behind the nation. One person in the back of the room shouted, "Bullshit." The local newspaper reported this as, "The crowd responded by chanting Bullshit." Bob -- ". . . and shun the frumious Bandersnatch." Robert Neinast (cblpe!ran) AT&T-Bell Labs