By: Corey Mull

Corey Mull — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:00:59 +0000

In a perverse way the Slate ethos is the same as the Gawker one: it is flattering to know that there is some platonic ideal of ________ (pumpkin pie techniques, urban planning approaches, ways to consider the oeuvre of Creed); that you, as well as your NYC cultural betters can have access to these platonic ideals, and that you will be able to deploy these in bon mot form to impress people in meetings and at dinner parties.

Slate’s primary product isn’t journalism, it’s smarmy remarks in gatherings.

My own media consumption is much better for beginning to listen at what is silently whispered to viewers/readers along with the editorial content, which usually amounts to “you are better than those around you, for this reason: ” where the reason is “they are godless liberals coming to destroy your way of life” (Fox), “you are a thoughtful person that carefully considers all sides of argument (CNN, most other mainstream TV), “you are a global citizen and much more cultured than those around you” (NPR, PBS).

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Comments on: it’s trolls all the way down

By: Corey Mull