Trash Values
Through a fun house mirror
The drift from news to Tik Tok has gotten a lot of attention. David Brooks opinion in the NYT 09/04/24 turns a sharp analytical lens on the subject that is worthy of a visit. He explains, “Our dopamine driven brains drive us to choose cheap distraction over entertainment and art.”
Today’s NYT holds a fun house mirror up to our election process as viewed by Europeans. A Polish professor, says it best, “Style over substance. Image over issues. Lies over facts. Distractions over policy. Repeated violence.” According to some polls, 40% of Americans still believe that the last election was stolen.
Your Trash Values, Sheldon, are that mirror of the funhouse. David Brooks is breaking down our dopamine hunt on news to the cheap thrills of TikTok over a real picture, then Europeans staring at our circus of elections: show-business over craft, fake news burying the truth, the violence on the repeat button. Polish prof hits the nail: image > issues, distractions > policy. And 40% yet purchasing the stolen election line? Oof, values in the trash compactor.
Trump/Vance settles two years later, TikTok has its hooks in, it reads like prophecy. But there are some really tough questions: Is the funhouse distorted worse than it was in 24, or are we too numb to notice now? Any dopamine detox in view? Europeans continue laughing, or falling into their own circus? Is your nonagenarian advantage a cutter of more mirrors up the sleeve?