Television lends itself admirably to the airing of debates on topics of public interest, but recently, courteous exchanges of view has degenerated into screaming matches between diametrically opposed factions. Hosts of live interview programs invite knowledgeable people to appear and express their views, pro and con, on subjects of social and political interest. I enjoy watching them even when I disagree with the opinions being expressed.
Traditionally, the discourse is carried on in a courteous and respectful tone as both sides of a subject is explored and opinions clarified, but recently many people appearing on these programs are so highly charged with emotion, the shows erupt into screaming matches with waving hands, pointing fingers and yelling over each others voice.
Not long ago, Wolf Blitzer on CNN had two women screaming at each other over the voting law in South Carolina. Hannity, on Fox, seems to enjoy having women scream angrily at each other because he never interrupts to ask them to speak one at a time.
This screaming fad seems to have infected many of the TV talk channels. Perhaps if the celebrity hosts of these programs instituted a little more control over the discussions, a listener would actually learn something about the topic being discussed.
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| Olive Branch |
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