A lot of media members are seizing on the shooting to give a lecture about escalating rhetoric and attacks against the media. It seems the shooting was a personal beef, but I'm willing to have that conversation.
Some of us have been talking about how the rhetoric and outrage is getting out of control and how it is headed for a dangerous place. But It's weird to see the same media members that defended that escalation against members of the Trump admin & R's deliver this lecture.
You can't justify and inflame mob outrage against political opponents, then insist that same level of outrage against your colleagues is out of line.
I'm hoping some of the reporters that want the rhetoric toned down will recognize their role in the escalation & do the same.
I'm hoping some of the reporters that want the rhetoric toned down will recognize their role in the escalation & do the same.
Especially given that we completely skipped media lectures on civility and how rhetoric can lead to violence when a Bernie Bro tried to assassinate a bunch of Congressional Republicans a year ago.
Instead, media basically encouraged a bunch of people who would smear R's.
Instead, media basically encouraged a bunch of people who would smear R's.
The media would promote people who would claim R policies from net neutrality to tax reform were going to kill people. They had a few activists on every day for months after a shooting to smear R's as responsible for mass shootings.
You think that rhetoric helped?
You think that rhetoric helped?
Obviously, Trumps' attacks on the media are opportunistic & wrong, but two wrongs don't make a right. If we want our rhetoric to improve, everyone should start with themselves. Before you start delivering lectures, think if maybe your behavior is contributing to the escalations.
Or you can keep accusing R's of being evil nazis who kidnap children, steal healthcare, kill people, and deserved to be harassed, then act shocked when the people who support the policies/politicians you are smearing view you as the enemy and escalate their rhetoric too.
Last note: My criticism is based on wanting the media to improve and regain credibility because I think they serve an important function. Also, Twitter = generalizations, but there are also lots of great reporters doing important and fair work who get unfairly lumped in w/ rest.
