Rou

The press like the story to seem balanced. They like to give both sides equal weight. They also like to reach out and find controversy and stir it up. These two features make the press very bad at educating the population. If people don't understand something, they trust the press to inform them. To give them all they information they need to make an informed decision.

That's the problem with teaching the controversy. Evolution is a not a controversy. The US did land on the moon. Vaccination isn't harmful to your children. The planet is over 4 billions years old. There is no chance of the LHC causing the end of the world.

That's just the way it is. But those are not interesting stories. So, reporters seek out opposing views to juice their stories up. They spread lies and distortions in order to grab ratings and sell copy. A story about the evolution of man isn't interesting. But push a few buttons and put the one moron who believes in the literal translation of the Bible on with equal time, and suddenly, the disease of disinformation is spread.

Vaccines are responsible for ridding the world of many serious illnesses and making many more much more manageable. But put Jenny McCarthy on the radio to spread lies about a imaginary link to autism, and you've set back the health care of the country dramatically.

The LHC is a big deal to scientists. It's such a big deal, that the press feel obligated to talk about it. But it's not sexy enough for general usage. So they go out and try to find some fringe scientists looking to make a name for themselves. Someone with really off the wall ideas. Put them up and tell the public this machine is going to cause the end of the world. Suddenly, the LHC is on your morning radio and in the news around the world. But it's such a complicated thing that most people don't understand it, including the reporters. The fuck up the story and just lace it with extra panic.

Then, once the fear mongering hits a crescendo, you open up a paper and see a little Indian girl, so terrified that the world is about to end that she drinks pesticide and kills herself.

All because reporters feel an obligation to teach the controversy.

All my rage and disgust for every low-life slime-ball piece of horseshit who peddle bullshit stories and distortions onto the public to make a few quick dollars. May your sexual organs become gangrenous, and your children all drink pesticide. There is no punishment too severe. Die screaming.