2. Justice vs Entertainment Porn

Here in the United States of America (this is where I am writing from), we have seen so much turmoil, division, crime, and injustice all in the name of justice. And intolerance in the name of tolerance is still intolerance.

Emotions have been ablaze, and logic and reasoning have been absent in the wake of life-controlling emotions and feelings. Personal and sometimes valuable causes have been muddied by wallowing selfishness and supportive naivety. Bad apples infest the tree, mites eat the roots away, and the selectively blind support the destruction in the guise of inclusivity and equity. The blanket of generalization has, at times, warmed even the most even-tempered. An age-old pandemic has covered the globe, bringing with it new ways to destroy, deceive, and control the people's very conscience, blurring the lines of good and evil, right and wrong, and transforming self to the idol of god. Emotion and feelings are the new logic and reasoning. Understanding has been redefined to affirmation. Revenge is the new reparation. Hate and submission are the requirements for peace. And objective reality has become nothing more than a subjective mentality.

Technology is great, but I sometimes wonder if we should either stay off of social media or learn to greatly limit our time on there. I mean, it is full of divisive entertainment porn that has been shown to increase anxiety, depression, covetousness, and divisive thinking. Then again, it is also great for getting the truth out there for people, even though that is usually an afterthought for most people. Another downside of social media also strengthens the echo chambers of comfortability and conformity. All of which can showcase our disunity when it comes to what is justice.

Does any of that really help us in learning what true justice is or in seeking justice?

Wait? Did I say divisive entertainment porn?

Yes. Yes, I did. And what I mean by that is opinionated snippets most often used to emotionally stimulate someone for the manipulated purposes intended by the presenter of that information.

One example is this: the news media. They require viewers (like any television program) in order to stay in business.

The more viewers, the more subscribers; the more subscribers, the higher the ratings; the higher the ratings, the more they can charge; the more they can charge, the more income they can generate from sponsors and advertisers; the more income they can generate, the higher their profit margin.

This is important, because without a profit (through sales or donations), there would be no financial ability, or reason, for a business to stay in operation. I mean, if you don't earn a profit (income) from your time put into your job, would you have reason to continue to go into work 40, 50, or 60 hours a week?

So, in order to gain that profit (or likes or subscribers, as in the case of personal social media accounts), they must entice people to be viewers and/or subscribers. To do that, they offer stories. It's important to know your target market (that is, your audience base) and tailor your stories to their psyche; that is, offer them “news” (right or wrong, truth or lies) that confirms their opinions or that grabs their attention and interest, whether factual or not.

One thing I learned, really was told, while both getting my media degree and doing some journalism, even interviewing at some news stations, was that in this market with the internet and 24/7 news cycles, it is extremely important to be the first with the story, even if you have to make it up. Yes, that was what I was told. Even if you have to make it up. I've always found that interesting, and that one piece of "advice" from the journalism world has forever changed the way I watch and view any news source—with a grain of salt, so to speak.

But no matter what, stories must be entertaining, and entertainment most often requires a constant and universal thing—conflict. But you can't have conflict without opposition, and opposition requires hostility and contrary forces.

One is good, one is evil. A protagonist and an antagonist. Struggle. Fear. Division.

Sound familiar?