Out of Context



In a comment on my post about being interviewed by the Dallas Observer, our friend Will made referece to the time I was on the local news about four years ago. A pawn shop owner had the Iraq death toll up on his marquee, and our local NBC affiliate had a remote crew out covering the story. We happened to be in the store at the time, and the field reporter asked me what I thought about it. I gave what I considered a well informed, balanced and lengthy (of course) answer. We rushed home to catch the newscast, and were deeply disappointed at my brief foray in to the limelight. When it aired it was cut down to:

VOICE OVER: This customer was in favor of it... [CUT TO SHOT OF ME IN PAWN SHOP]
ME: ... I think it's great [AUDIBLE BREATH]...
VOICE OVER: Other's thought differently
OLD WOMAN: I think it's disgraceful.

I thought it was hilarious. It was a real eye opener regarding the malleability of information and the news media. It wasn't as if I had stars in my eyes over the local news prior to this experience, but it was certainly enough to solidify my belief that 90% of what's reported is either an outright lie, or at very least totally manipulated beyond recognition.

I could have been asked about Neo-Nazi hate crimes, and said "With regards to holocaust denial, I think it's great to be passionately opinionated, but when that passion impedes or harms others, the law must intercede." When it aired the reporter would be heard to say "This local man was very much in favor of burning cars owned by mixed race couples". Cut to a shot of me saying "I think it's great!"

Context is always everything.
- posted by Mason @ 3:54 PM