I wanted to interrupt my Dancing with the Stars posts (but not the shameless plugs, call 1 800 VOTE 411 on Monday between 7pm and 830pm ) to discuss what I think has become the hallmark of media coverage.
Vulnerability.
Read any newspaper. Any Magazine. Watch any news program. Any gossip or entertainment program. There is one single them that runs continuously: The Search for Vulnerability.
It doesn't matter what walk of life you are in. It doesn't matter what profession or year in school. Whatever group you participate in or hover around. There is now a blog, website, social network, column, reporter, video, segment and ??? to cover it. The audience size can be 1 or 100 million. It doesn't matter. Someone is out there searching for your vulnerabilities to report or for the vulnerabilities they think you will be interested in knowing about.
There is someone hoping they can snap a picture or video of you at a vulnerable moment that can be leveraged into a payday, career or opportunity. There is someone who wants as many people as possible to think you aren't a good.... you fill in the blank, and then call your boss, senator, customers, friends and tell them why they don't like you and why they shouldn't either.
Why ?
It just seems like there are an ever growing number of people, particularly those in the media, who want to encourage people to find what they think is the worst of people. Their most vulnerable side.
Hopefully at some point this will change. That vulnerability will stop being currency and be a private matter that we all respect as a universal trait
Media and Vulnerability
Recent Posts
- The Internet Hammer and the everything Nail (7/04/2008)
- Ruh Roh - Porn could sink Youtube in Viacom case.... (7/03/2008)
- NBC vs Fanboys vs Sports Talk Radio vs The Olympics (6/29/2008)
Reader Comments
(Page 1)2. This is something that I'd like to see more people talk about and I'm glad you brought it up. It's really beyond out of control. And people that complain about it and then tune into those shows or those gossip sites...grrr. All the negativity just breeds more negativity and sensationalism...and people are getting numb to kindness.
Maybe when things calm down for you, you can come back to this topic because it would be great to get a discussion going on it.
Looking forward to your next DWTS post too! I was so excited to see your reaction to being safe this week. Can't wait for next week!
Posted at 11:57PM on Oct 17th 2007 by Shannon
3. Maybe when we are fully saturated, we will stop caring. Maybe it is just the cost of selling.
Posted at 12:15AM on Oct 18th 2007 by Morgan Warstler
4. I agree with you. What I see going on is what could be called the tail wagging the dog. The emotions that sell products seem to be anxiety, distress, and fear. So the content tends to put people in those states so that the commercials will work well and the advertisers will support the content. I don't know what the answer is, but I think that more stories that put people in contentment and admiration in the media would be a very good thing.
Posted at 12:16AM on Oct 18th 2007 by Bruce McL
5. Mark, I don't think anyone could say it any better. The media covers certain people as Gods one day just to tear them down a week later. It is terrible to try to explain to your children why their favorite stars are in the paper and you can't quite explain it. Maybe on day we will see these people as humans also, not just as products made for our amusement.
On another note, I love watching you dance every week. You have an energy that no one else does. Just an exuberance. My family watches every week and we always put in votes for you and Kim. Keep up your amazing job Mark! And my family will keep voting.
Posted at 12:42AM on Oct 18th 2007 by Christi
6. Mark,
Thanks for a thought provoking post. I think you have me hooked on your blog now in a way that will last long beyond DWTS. I can tell you that you have without a doubt earned a new person in your corner no matter what you endeavor to do in the future. Thanks for being so open and sharing your thoughts with the public this way.
Sharon
Posted at 12:45AM on Oct 18th 2007 by Sharon
7. I agree to a point. While I agree that people like to point out others vulnerabilities for whatever reason, but I believe that there are many people (even the occasional reporter) who looks for the good in people.
Perhaps those that look for the bad qualities in people are trying to make themselves feel better about themselves by tearing others down.
It brings to mind a quote that says there are two ways to build the tallest building in town. One is by building the tallest building and the other is by tearing others down.
You rock mark,
Brandon
8. Mark, The observation about reporters out to expose people's vulnerabilities is spot on. I favor this approach in politics and business. When our politicians and business leaders have serious vulnerabilities, we tend to get screwed. Take Larry Craig or the Enron guys as textbook examples. Great public leadership is a rare skill and requires some level of moral authority. Yet the outward appearance seems easily mimicked by really screwed up and flawed people. The press ringer needs to sort that out.
I dislike seeing this approach in sports, particular (so-called) amateur sports like college football and basketball. At the same time, I appreciate when they weed out the really bad guys like Mike Vick. He probably doesn't get caught on the dog fighting rap if he isn't elusive about the stealth bong he couldn't have one of his weed carriers bring on the airplane last year. So I guess we have to tolerate it a little and those who don't have disqualifying vulnerabilities (for their path in life) will survive the scrutiny just fine.
Posted at 3:57AM on Oct 18th 2007 by Brad Hutchings
10. There are alot of people out there that would like to see the misfortunes of others, because of their lack of success. This has been a draw forever, and the TV audience attracts those people with capturing vulnerable moments.
Posted at 4:47AM on Oct 18th 2007 by PPC Management
11. Hey Mark,
Interesting topic. I like what you have to say. However, I would say that this is more related to our appetites as an audience than the reporters reporting poorly. It tends to be that the spectacularly negative stories are the ones people read, watch, and clamour for. Lets face it, we are a bit of a voyeuristic society now. Reality tv, springer shows, shock jocks -- they all want to get in there and show you the messy parts of people's lives. (DWTS and Idol are exceptions to the rule.) We have all seen how the big stories take on a life of their own and are out of the hands of any one reporter or even news organization -- its the demand baby!
Also, as a more polarized society, "feel good" stories are often seen as fluff, or worse yet, propaganda for some opponent or cause. I guess people feel that way because its often true.
I think, bottom line, the news media is about fulfilling demand for negativity, or manipulating people for some perceived public good. Many reporters live with doing the first so that they can change the world by doing the second.
Posted at 6:27AM on Oct 18th 2007 by Scott
12. Aloha Mark ~
Oh, I hear you and it is terrible.
All negative energy and a waste of energy to create, report and distribute. Negativity Pollution.
Yet the public in it's viewing of the tabloid news, the magazines etc. does feed this monster.
The world is so negative with war and all the news, people dwell here.
I think the solution is people need to live with some passion and pleasure.
To be hedonistic in a positive sense and avoid all the negative.
Not only would that stop a value of this nonsense, but it can actually change the world.
Dreaming Big Passionate and Positive
Erik-Jan Artiest
IU 1990
http://www.eriktheartist.com
http://www.myspace.com/eriktheartist
http://www.youtube.com/eriktheartist
Posted at 8:03AM on Oct 18th 2007 by Erik the Artist
13. Mark, I'm a fellow Indiana graduate, and a huge fan of yours, and this has been without question your best commentary. The invasion of privacy our rapidly expanding and improving technology allows is frightening. Online, you can find out virtually anything about anyone if you know how to do it and how to exploit the information.
What bothers me is the huge rise in 'identity theft' crimes, since it is non-violent, and our prisons especially in Texas are so horribly overcrowded, there is virtually little if any punishment for these people who prey on hard-working I.U. grads like us. I personally have been victimized in this manner I assume by information that was a matter of public record and obtainable over the net.
Best wishes for your continued success on "Dancing" (courageous!) and in your business ventures.
Jim
Posted at 8:09AM on Oct 18th 2007 by Jim Bufkins
14. I agree with you, completely. It's a very sick trend, that needs to stop.
Count me among those brought here by your DWTS adventure, planning to keep readin long after.
You're an interesting person.
Posted at 8:32AM on Oct 18th 2007 by Susan Lewis
15. Mark
Keep up the great work on DWTS. You have already gone far beyond the point that your critics thought you would implode, and with a new hip at that. You and Kym are great.
Regarding the post, I think it goes even beyond the "gotcha" journalism and reporting of today. We, as a society, seem to feel that the only remedy for these unfortunate situations seems to be "fire the jerk, how dare he/she do that to us". I think this all started back in the Jimmy the Greek days when he got dumped off TV for his comments. It has continued to the Don Imus fiasco where everyone was sure the problem could be resolved if they just fired the guy.
What ever happened to forgiveness? Did your mother teach you the "Sticks and Stones" rhyme? Why do we seem to feel justified if we get some public figure fired or forced into quitting?
It seems to me to be rooted in jealousy. We live in a time when it is easier to hate the people who do better then we do and so any chance to put them in their place, as we define it, seems to capture the fancy of the vocal majority. I have seen this time and again in comments to your blog where people try to make you feel bad for being wealthy or try to minimize your accomplishments in the business world. Most of them don't know a thing about you or the many ventures that you are involved in including HD Net and your movie theaters. It is easy to criticize. It is much harder to put yourself into the persons shoes that you are yelling at and wonder how you would react if you were on the receiving end of the criticism.
Perhaps we will outgrow this juvenile and unsophisticated view of the failings of our fellow man but I don't think it will happen in our lifetime.
Posted at 8:37AM on Oct 18th 2007 by Mike Genette
16. Thought-provoking entry. While the world's standard may be to exploit the vulnerability of others, it's interesting that our most valued relationships thrive only when we make ourselves vulnerable to another. Let's choose not to feed the frenzy of watching others stumble and fail.
You have provided such fun for me and my children over the last few years with all you've done with the Mavericks. I love sharing that excitement with my family. Who knew watching you dance would also be so entertaining?!?
Good luck to you. It's encouraging to see you stay so far above the constant current of negativity that's out there.
Posted at 9:17AM on Oct 18th 2007 by clb
17. It's shameless. I can understand why it's done, (money) but can't understand why people care.
Maybe it's like bad news becomes good news in reverse because it's not happeneing to you.
It will stop when people stop watching. We all know that.
Posted at 9:55AM on Oct 18th 2007 by Toni
18. That's not right. I feel it's better to try to look for the best in people but it seems the best isn't what makes money for the media. They'd rather exploit the least common denominator of someone's personality or life. Everyone had their bad points but, so many more times than not, they are outnumbered by the good points. The media need to realize, no matter the level of celebrity, one thing is the same: we're all human and no one is immune to mistakes.
Posted at 9:59AM on Oct 18th 2007 by Rebeccalee Coventry
19. Mark,
It's unfortunate that we live in a society that instead of "no news is good news" it's "bad news about someone is good news". It is even sadder that more people just can't be happy in their own lives instead of thriving off from the "wrong" that others are supposedly doing. We are all imperfect but because "famous" people are followed around and photographed and video taped then their imperfections are shown nationwide. I do feel for you man because everything from the smallest to the biggest decisions you make AND anything and everything that you say or do will be scrutinized by someone OR some organization :-(
James
Posted at 10:10AM on Oct 18th 2007 by James
20. "Live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about his religion. Respect others in their views and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and of service to your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide. Always give a word or sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, or even a stranger, if in a lonely place. Show respect to all people, but grovel to none. When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself. Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision. When your time comes to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home."
Tecumseh
Posted at 10:15AM on Oct 18th 2007 by Dave Starks
1. Mark,I agree 100%.I have always said that to my wife.The press and most of America thrive on the unfortunes of others.People will sit and watch for hours if something bad happens.But a feel good story just has no interest.They are to boring.
Posted at 11:51PM on Oct 17th 2007 by Kurt Francis