The picture above is of one Phineas Taylor Barnum (P.T. Barnum), Sideshow Mogul, Circus King, and generally cruel bastard. He made a living off of exploiting those suffering from horrible defects & malformations, and parading fraudulent Exhibits as centerpieces of an Empire of Hoaxes and Exaggerations. He raised the idea of a "Publicity Stunt" to new heights of profitability. Today, with the advent of "Reality Television," his feats would likely barely raise an eyebrow. On the Evolutionary Chart, P.T. Barnum probably would not sit very prominently as a prime example of an "Evolved Human Being." Then again, at least we can be thankful that we don't see his face in ads attempting to sell us Timeshares, Luxury SUV Leases, or Beers with that promote Pride in their Consumption.
Though Barnum was not the first soulless and greedy twit to exploit the defenseless and outcasts of Society, he was one of the first to be World Famously successful at it. It is quite likely that he inspired Shows like "The Gong Show," "Cops," "Big Brother," "Survivor," and a slew of other degenerate shows that have followed since then. Comedian Daniel Tosh, (see photo below), has taken his cruel sideshow mentality into the Internet Age with the Comedy Central show "Tosh.0." The show features Tosh contacting people of questionable intelligence and sanity who have foolishly posted videos on the Internet, so that he can cruelly and relentlessly make fun of them.
What strikes me about shows like Tosh.0 is the total and absolute disregard for the Humanity or Dignity of the poor hapless people it targets. Daniel Tosh is an androgynous character, whose comedy is reminiscent of Dennis Miller, only from a slightly more intellectual base. And let me add that while many people found Dennis Miller to a clever Social Commentator, the truth is that he was little more than ill-informed tool of people much brighter than himself, with an unjustified sense of arrogance that fooled many people into believing that he was something other than a cruel Toad. [No, I do not like him] Tosh dispenses with the self-important smugness, but keeps the cruel and exploitative tone in his "Web Redemption" adventures. The people he features have their interactions with him edited in a way to make them look cartoonish and less than Human. That gives the viewer license to laugh without conscience, and feel a sense of superiority over them.
But why have I chosen to focus on these Sideshow Kings now? Well, aside from my own personal loathing of both the cruelty and inhumanity of such exploitative shows, I think such shows have led us to something even more reprehensible:
No, that is not Jabba the Hutt, from the Star Wars Movies, though he could easily be a less scrupled relative. It is Roger Ailes, Head of Fox News. Where as P.T. Barnum and Daniel Tosh have conducted their shows for much smaller audiences, Fox News has an audience that actually spreads around the World. If Barnum and Tosh are Show Business Tools that simply use others to make themselves rich, then Roger Ailes is the God and Lord of such types. Fox News uses a similar type of sideshow technique to promote the interests of large corporations, and wealthy scumbags around the World. So to expand the analogy, if Barnum and Tosh are minor Demons, Ailes is the Prince of Darkness, Satan.
In the world of cruel exploitative Media, Ailes has done things that might likely make even P.T. Barnum blush with shame. Fox News does not solely make a mockery of poor misfits and outcasts, it makes a mockery of Reality as an Objective and Verifiable Commodity. That is why, even though it might seem more logical to compare Ailes to Yellow Journalism Giant William R. Hearst, Hearst ultimately did not achieve the levels of depravity and exploitation that Ailes has. Ailes has engaged in practices that takes "News" in a direction that really has little to do with "News" at all.
Aside from the fact that Fox News has no "News" absent editorials at all, it also presents its "News" in the most cruel and inflammatory manner possible. Fox News does not simply "Report" on any event, newsworthy or otherwise; it also assassinates Reality. Exaggeration involves the idea of adding things to a story that might not be completely accurate. Fox News moves far beyond exaggeration, into the realm of overt Lies. They do this in a manner that not only dispels truth and accuracy, but also seeks to exploit the ignorance of their audiences, and harm those who Fox News has determined to be their "Enemies." And unlike Barnum or Tosh, they do it for the hidden Sociopaths that own Newscorp, and the large Corporations that hire Newscorp to do their bidding.
Now, do I have ALL the information/proof necessary to make a conclusively solid case that Roger Ailes and Fox News act in a deliberately deceptive manner? No. I have some information to this effect, but probably not enough to act in a legal manner against them. Therefore, I am required to add the caveat that I make my assertions as a matter of opinion. I do not represent these ideas to be anything but my opinion, but I do implore my readers to do their own research on Fox News. I think that, if you have not already been convinced that Fox News is "Fair and Balanced" by their propaganda, you may find that you agree with my opinions.
Oh, and as to the other sideshows on Television and Internet, I would hope that Humankind might grow away from laughing and gawking at the misfortunes of others for cruel and inhumane pleasure. If that is not the case for you, then I hope when someone sticks a camera and microphone in your face during a dark time in your life, you have the ability to find the sideshow exploitative "News" experience entertaining. Peace and Compassion to you.
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