Jack Shafer at Slate thinks that the average decent newspaper-reader is full of it. I think he's got a point.
Posted by Alan Allport at August 6, 2005 03:36 PMThe commentary is a good sign anyway. Since the '80s a lot of publishing executive types have been on a "please the reader" kick that involves asking people what they want to read and trying to give it to them. Stupid, really, considering that when newspapers really do succeed it's by giving people something to read that they couldn't have thought of for themselves.
Posted by: Martha Bridegam at August 6, 2005 05:33 PMRemember the old surveys which purported to show that some outrageous percentage of Americans could not point to the US on a world map, could not name the President, etc. etc.?
Since the advent of public opinion and similar surveys the public has developed an insatiable appetite for hearing tales of how stupid the public is. It's a rousing and pleasant pasttime. But I don't put much stock in them, personally.
Posted by: Alan Hogue at August 8, 2005 02:37 PM