Although it is incredibly valuable to have a general understanding of what is going on in the world, I prefer getting in depth about a certain topic. I also tend to not like reading newspapers and this site struck me as being of a similar genre but on the net. In addition, like all media, I worry about getting a well rounded and accurate picture of what is going on. This is not to say that I don't support websites that promote the end of injustice, but I know it is easy to be influenced to support a cause without proper consideration of every side.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
I don't know if I liked Indymedia
I had a difficult time with Indymedia and I am not sure how I feel about it. I felt like my attention was diverted to too many places. Although all of the articles seemed to have a common thread of considering injustices, I thought it was overwhelming to be loaded with so many stimulating stories at once.
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5 comments:
Unlike Sara I like the idea of Indymedia. It is a way for people to use media production and distribution as a tool for promoting social and economic justice. It also a way for people who are under represented to bring to light local and global issues to which they can analyze through their sites.
I agree indymedia has its obvious values. On the other hand Sara makes a good point about the bias of this medium of news. Although i learned a good amount about multiple events on this site, I cant help but have the feeling that there is a good amount left out or manipulated in these stories.
I should amend my statement in that I don't mean to bash Indymedia. I think it is extremely important to give everyone a voice, and if Indymedia does so than that is absolutely needed. My concern was if what is being presented really is the voice of the people that are usually voiceless. I feel like there are plenty of people who try to speak for the voiceless, but I want to hear from the voiceless themselves.
I don't think you should amend anything you wrote. Often times there are media sites that pop up, in which you must question their intentions and what direction they want to sway your attention. Often times guerilla type sites crop up only with the intentions of creating havoc and discord within the community by pointing out the injustices being served out by the masses. They should be supported at all cost, viva la revolucion!
I like these sites because they just give it to you, no hands down, and with no concern for attracting online advertisers.
I think you bring up a good point about hearing from the voiceless, it's probably tough to get a gauge on who those people are, as there is always someone that will be stiffled by some form of resistance. But for the most part, I think we can see that sites like these are representative of fringe groups. Some are more socially acceptable than others however. If you look at the 9/11 truthers, and all the barrating they've taken at the hand of the media, and most specifically Fox News, you'll see a picture painted that they are all wack jobs that support terrorism. It's the intention of massive media to stiffle these voices because they pose a threat to the puppet master pulling their strings. So in closing, I feel these sites are beneficial but at the same time should be approached with caution, as you don't always know their intentions.
I definitely agree with you Sara. I had some trouble on Indymedia too. I also agree with Dave, you should not have to amend your initial statement. I understood that you were not bashing the site, but rather, you were cautious and aware of the fact that a lot of the ideas presented on the site were bias. This is where I agree with you. Although I too, feel like people should be aware of these issues, most of the stories that I read seemed a little extreme. I also felt like I could not really trust the stories I was reading because they were often one-sided. Yes, the site does provide an outlet for under represented people, but I also feel like it could give these same people extremist outlooks on the issues being discussed. Both the supporters and the opposition need to be aware of both sides to each issue. The issues will not be solved if people only look for evidence or articles that support their cause.
Being a Psychology major, this reminds me of a crucial part of experimenting and writing articles. An article cannot be considered legitimate unless the author looks for evidence that both supports and opposes their ideas. This provides the article with a more well-rounded approach, which I think is what Sara and I both seem to be looking for.
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