So True: Read THIS for people who are addicted to SPORTS

[- Femme -]

Now there are other media too whose basic social role is quite

different: it's diversion. There's the real mass media-the kinds

that are aimed at, you know, Joe Six Pack -- that kind. The purpose of

those media is just to dull people's brains.

 

This is an oversimplification, but for the eighty percent or whatever

they are, the main thing is to divert them. To get them to

watch National Football League. And to worry about "Mother With Child

With Six Heads," or whatever you pick up on the

supermarket stands and so on. Or look at astrology. Or get involved in

fundamentalist stuff or something or other. Just get them

away. Get them away from things that matter. And for that it's important

to reduce their capacity to think.

 

Take, say, sports -- that's another crucial example of the

indoctrination system, in my view. For one thing because it -- you

know, it offers people something to pay attention to that's of no

importance. [audience laughs] That keeps them from worrying

about -- [applause] keeps them from worrying about things that matter to

their lives that they might have some idea of doing

something about. And in fact it's striking to see the intelligence

that's used by ordinary people in [discussions of] sports [as

opposed to political and social issues]. I mean, you listen to radio

stations where people call in -- they have the most exotic

information [more laughter] and understanding about all kind of arcane

issues. And the press undoubtedly does a lot with this.

 

You know, I remember in high school, already I was pretty old. I

suddenly asked myself at one point, why do I care if my high

school team wins the football game? [laugbter] I mean, I don't know

anybody on the team, you know? [audience roars] I

mean, they have nothing to do with me, I mean, why I am cheering for my

team? It doesn't mean any -- it doesn't make sense.

But the point is, it does make sense: it's a way of building up

irrational attitudes of submission to authority, and group cohesion

behind leadership elements -- in fact, it's training in irrational

jingoism. That's also a feature of competitive sports. I think if you

look closely at these things, I think, typically, they do have

functions, and that's why energy is devoted to supporting them and

creating a basis for them and advertisers are willing to pay for them

and so on.