tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post3774761318284990320..comments2024-03-28T14:52:13.218-05:00Comments on Stonekettle Station: EthicsJim Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-80489760057765921512009-02-04T10:38:00.000-06:002009-02-04T10:38:00.000-06:00Raven, While it's true that I will unload on comme...Raven, While it's true that I will unload on commenters who act like assholes, I'm really <I>not</I> big on flame spraying dissenting commenters, by myself or anyone else, <I>so long as the comments are reasonably polite and intelligent</I> - as yours are. You are certainly entitled to your opinion, and you are certainly entitled to disagree - again providing that you stay within my commenting guidelines. So far you seem seem like in interesting and intelligent person - and obviously a nightowl since you typed all of that in the small of the morning and managed to remain coherent :)<BR/><BR/>I think you'll fit in fine around here.<BR/>___________________________<BR/><BR/>As to the gist of your comment, I think you'll find most of us agree with you in spirit, if not the particulars. I certainly agree that overpopulation is, if not now then <I>soon</I>, going to be <I>the</I> pressing issue of the 21st Century. The vast majority of the problems we face as a people stem directly from over population. I do think you've over simplified the causal effects of the conflict in the Congo, but I do agree with you in principle - especially your allusion to consumerism here in the US. <BR/><BR/>The thing is, <I>one</I> women acting like a human clown car is hardly a trend - when twins, triplets, quads and etc become the norm I think we've got major cause for worry and action. But the truth of the matter is that multiple births and large families are a declining trend here in the US. Prior to 60 years ago, 5-6 kids was the norm, and at least one of those wouldn't make it to adulthood due to polio or scarlet fever or infection or some such. The average now is two children - which, of course, is part of the immigration issue, immigrants tend to larger families and the concern is that "they" are outbreeding "us." And the number of search hits I'm getting for "Suleman Muslim babies" or variations of the same, most of which originate in the Midwest and from Texas in particular, indicate that the lowest common denominator is less concerned about the number of children per se, and more concerned that Suleman might be producing her own Muslim army. Which I'll come back to in a minute.<BR/><BR/>The women, Suleman, is the far end of a normal distribution curve - for every childless pairing there will be some who can't have <I>enough</I> kids. But, the average is far lower and declining. Still, the population is increasing and sooner or later we're going to have to deal with the question - just as China has to some extent (and I'm <I>not</I> standing here using China as a role model, only an example). <BR/><BR/>Raven, ultimately the ethics of having 14 kids, including 8 newborns, is something only time will determine. She may be a wonderful mother who has the love and support of family and friends, and those kids may grow up with a fantastic sense of family and community - <I>Or</I> - Suleman may end up like one of those crazy people you read about, living in a trailer with 40 cats and shit covered carpets. Personally, I think she's nuts - but the gist of my post is about the ethics of the <I>media</I>, who snidely condemn Suleman out of hand while pretending to maintain the cloak of impartial professionalism, and then go on to publish speculation as fact - or the illusion of fact, which the vast majority of readers obviously are incapable of distinguishing for themselves - and publishing irrelevant personal details, such as the father's precise monthly income or that he is named "Doud" and works in Saudi Arabia (obviously implying that he is a Muslim and a foreigner without actually saying it and directly pushing a particular button in a neocon population paranoid about such things) - all in a obvious attempt to stir controversy and pander to the lowest common denominator in order to drive up commenting. By writing the story this way, abcNews knew they'd create a comment stream full of flame wars and vicious commenting, which in turn would drive up commenting. Keith Wilson above is spot on regarding commenting on news sites, it's free demographics research and immediate feedback on readership - quantity over quality. The problem with this is that it drives media into tabloid journalism in order to drive up commenting. It's an evolutionary trend, one that is driving a vicious feedback cycle.<BR/><BR/>This is a common theme around here, my particular specialty deals with the acquisition, analysis, and accurate collation of information - and the trends I see as the information sphere evolves around us are disturbing.Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-22024895503496706632009-02-04T03:29:00.000-06:002009-02-04T03:29:00.000-06:00While it may not be my business, it does raise som...While it may not be my business, it does raise some real concerns, not for the here and now, but for the not so distant future. Forgive me if this offends, but I really think this should be addressed.<BR/><BR/>We are indeed stretching our natural resources to the breaking point. There are 6 billion of us on this planet, and our numbers continue to swell exponentially. The very soil we use to grow our crops to sustain our burgeoning population becomes depleted with each round of corn, soybeans, and other various plants that go good in salad, or are used to make other foods. The soil has only a finite amount of nutrients in it, and while they can be replenished with the use of good farming practices (such as crop rotation, organic compost, and no-till methods), it seems to be a matter of "can we keep up?"... <A HREF="http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/348200_dirt22.html" REL="nofollow">Our topsoil is vanishing</A> at the rate of 1% per year, mostly due to shoddy agricultural practices favored by the megafarms.<BR/><BR/>As the population swells, so does the pressure of agriculture giants such as Cargill to produce ever more "cheap" foodstuffs - and the costs are more than we can ever imagine.<BR/><BR/>While it may not be our business how many children this woman can squeeze out of her womb, it does raise some eyebrows. I have seen in the past decade more and more stories of women who have litters of children - all of them need to eat, all of them need clothing, all of which is dug and harvested from the ground we walk on.<BR/><BR/>There is also the sketchy topic of where our electronics come from. Coltan (columbite-tantalite) and its derivative, tantalum, is the chief mineral used in most modern electronics - a metallic ore that is only found in regions where the soil is over 3 billion years old. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of those places, and it's demand has been speculated to have fueled the recent unrest and war in that region, where thousands are butchered, raped, or forced to work in labor camps for little to no pay. Not to mention, the plight of the mountain gorillas. <BR/><BR/>I'm sorry, again, if this offends, but you can't sit there and tell me that you'd be able to convince a teenager that they don't need a cell phone, a PS3, an Xbox, or a laptop...<BR/><BR/>While it may not be our business how many children one person should have, it does beg to question - how much is too much?<BR/><BR/>I know I'm gonna get flamed for this :(alaskanimehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08299289638870579061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-43049328198726819132009-02-03T14:47:00.000-06:002009-02-03T14:47:00.000-06:00Oh, don't get me started on neswpapers!! I'm so pi...Oh, don't get me started on neswpapers!! I'm so pissed at the local paper here I can't see straight and they used to be a truly good paper. <BR/><BR/>The problem with newspapers is they're trying so hard to cater to the tv/internet/messaging instant gratification junkies they've forgotten those of us who really LIKE a good read for our news. <BR/><BR/>In the past six months, the paper here in Atlanta (Atlanta Journal Constitition or AJC) has cut its workforce 8% across the board. All levels, all jobs. At the main office across the street, that was around 80 individuals. I seriously believe it was most of the clasified advertising department AND the people high enough in the food chain to properly edit the articles. <BR/><BR/>Now, you would think in our present economic state, that JOB classifieds would be a priority. NO. NO. NO. "We've partnered with HotJobs (read not-so-hot-jobs) on line so you can more easily access our classified job listings." The Sunday job classifieds? you might find 3 or 4 pages with mostly display ads for nurses or sales. Absolutely useless. <BR/><BR/>Then there are the typos, dangling phrases, orphaned sentences, stories that stop in the mid<BR/><BR/>You get the picture. New? Well, what news they do report seems to be ok, but like everyone else, they're putting their money and talent into the .com side and not the print media. AND, yes, you guessed it, they're now playing tabloid just like everyone else and I really don't care about most of it, it's not my business. <BR/><BR/>I refused to renew my subscription when it ran out last month. Their autodailer like to drove my voice mail nuts until I happened to be home one day. I told them why I wasn't renewing, the ditz at the other end just didn't get it. Would I like to just put that charge on the card I have on file? <BR/><BR/>What part of NO did she not understand? The N or the O??? Please delete my file, I'm a very dissatisfied customer!!!<BR/><BR/>[gets off soapbox, thanks audience for their short attention spans and goes back to work..]<BR/><BR/>WendyB_09WendyB_09https://www.blogger.com/profile/03788918629240949526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-52348619433802991862009-02-02T23:55:00.000-06:002009-02-02T23:55:00.000-06:00To quote Roger Waters: "everyone deserves to have ...To quote Roger Waters: "everyone deserves to have a source of news that isn't selling corn flakes". It seems the media eveywhere has been commiting slow moral suicide for a long time now and there appear to be few exceptions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-40931143126315657342009-02-02T22:04:00.000-06:002009-02-02T22:04:00.000-06:00I'd probably just pile the snow against the door a...I'd probably just pile the snow against the door and brick them all in.Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-7231064563192916962009-02-02T21:49:00.000-06:002009-02-02T21:49:00.000-06:00Just 4 Jeri?Michael and I go through at least two ...Just 4 Jeri?<BR/><BR/>Michael and I go through at least two gallons of milk a week with just the two of us.<BR/><BR/>And that doensn't count the milk I have for lunch.<BR/><BR/>Jim, do you really think the boss would let anyone other than you shovel the snow?Random Michelle Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13817444379694818074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-65935554281599727462009-02-02T21:43:00.000-06:002009-02-02T21:43:00.000-06:00Jim, on the garage shoveling - that'd be good, 'ca...Jim, on the garage shoveling - that'd be good, 'cause you don't even wanna THINK about the number of gallons of milk you're gonna be hauling up that driveway with 14 kids. :D<BR/><BR/>We're at 4 gallons a week with just two teens. Do the math...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-71014075679514230302009-02-02T20:56:00.000-06:002009-02-02T20:56:00.000-06:00See, I was thinking 14 kids - my own personal labo...See, I was thinking 14 kids - my own personal labor force, that damned driveway would be shoveled out in no time.Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-46469302207879883702009-02-02T20:11:00.000-06:002009-02-02T20:11:00.000-06:00People are sometimes entirely too mean.On to brigh...People are sometimes entirely too mean.<BR/><BR/>On to brighter topics, while sitting in a waiting room I once read an article written by a woman who had five or six babies (can't remember this). She said they were *really* easy to potty train. <BR/><BR/>She and her husband lined 'em all up on potty chairs, first to do their business got a reward and everyone else caught on almost immediately.Random Michelle Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13817444379694818074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-2293753118961839192009-02-02T19:45:00.000-06:002009-02-02T19:45:00.000-06:00Objectivity and journalistic integrity is long dea...Objectivity and journalistic integrity is long dead. News gathering organizations are in the business of readership ONLY. They are in the business of exploiting anything to make a buck and outdo the next guy. It's a frickin' business now, started by the tabs. News providers now are only concerned with their own profits and this is how they will do it. The stupid thing is the idiots who read this crap and feel the need to add their two cents. They're fueling the fire. The comments are simply cheap demographic research. If ABC, CNN or anyone else posts a piece of trash like this and get responses, of course they will do more. Their ratings just went up.<BR/><BR/>I work in newspaper and magazine publishing - and oh, what I would give for that kind of instant feedback. The difference is the attitude of the news director and the almighty buck. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that major supporters of ABC news swayed the decision to go that route. "Throw a bone to the white trash element or we'll cut our spending with you". <BR/><BR/>The editor's name wouldn't happen to be Jaimeson by chance?<BR/><BR/>Cheers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-36493426869537722282009-02-02T19:41:00.000-06:002009-02-02T19:41:00.000-06:00Hmmm. I hope she has enough help to take care of t...Hmmm. I hope she has enough help to take care of them all.<BR/><BR/>Wasn't there a time when a story like this would cause concerned people to send money instead of flames?MWThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09446603415730525882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-28891490904227881252009-02-02T16:13:00.000-06:002009-02-02T16:13:00.000-06:00You bastard!I was reading the article (1st, like J...You bastard!<BR/><BR/>I was reading the article (1st, like Janiece) and I was all het up to jump all over your ass asking why it was any of your fucking business.<BR/><BR/>Also, the article <EM>really</EM> was filled with the most ridiculous levels of speculation with all sorts of people opining about their reaction <EM>if</EM> such and such were the case. <EM>If</EM>.Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00648438549121320566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-11189658606720733432009-02-02T15:59:00.000-06:002009-02-02T15:59:00.000-06:00To me, personally, if that's what floats her boat,...To me, personally, if that's what floats her boat, so be it. <BR/><BR/>The only reason it will become anyone's business is if, with 14 children and limited questionable means of support, she ends up on public assistance of some kind. <BR/><BR/>Then the guv'ment gonna be all over her bidness and the media gonna have themselves a field day.<BR/><BR/>Plus, it used to be if you had 12 or more dependants, you didn't pay income tax. So she'll end up not paying any more taxes. More fodder for the tabloids. <BR/><BR/>WendyB_09WendyB_09https://www.blogger.com/profile/03788918629240949526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-68510029351668889262009-02-02T15:40:00.001-06:002009-02-02T15:40:00.001-06:00I heard this on the radio the other day and wonder...I heard this on the radio the other day and wondered if the treatments were some kind of lab oops mistake that (thankfully!) ended with 8 healthy little ones - my next thought was "She's gonna be buuuuuusy!"<BR/><BR/>Sure are a lot of cranky people over there jumping up and down to peek over the fence at ABC, aren't there? Nothing better to do, I guess?<BR/><BR/>Wonder if they make a diaper speedloader? hm...Karlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11854671368992589012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-69760707911582231242009-02-02T15:40:00.000-06:002009-02-02T15:40:00.000-06:00Jim, there's probably no point in searching for et...Jim, there's probably no point in searching for ethical journalism these days. You'd more like find a snake with a closet full of shoes. Or a closet, for that matter.<BR/><BR/>I watched a show last night about polygamy. The "journalist," a yound, British woman who consistanty refered to herself as such, spent the entire show opining about these people and their chosen lifestyle. Isn't that a major tennent of journalism? Objectivity? Apparently not anymore. It's all about sensationalism.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02458727475454361013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-35635528820667377562009-02-02T15:23:00.000-06:002009-02-02T15:23:00.000-06:00I've read the comments, and couldn't understand ho...I've read the comments, and couldn't understand how the hell is this anybody's business.<BR/><BR/>Still trying to understand.<BR/><BR/>Still trying.<BR/><BR/>Oh, fuhgetaboudid. I'll be better off reading something about Brangelina.Some dude stuck in the Midwesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00852056495927941030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-1117145262742027982009-02-02T15:16:00.000-06:002009-02-02T15:16:00.000-06:00I find it funny that I actually did go and read th...I find it funny that I actually did go and read the article before I read the rest of your post, and while I was doing so, I kept asking myself, "Why the hell is this my business, again?"<BR/><BR/>Which you then answered, using your monster ESP.Janiecehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14190655869710465713noreply@blogger.com