Informed Citizen Disorder

. 
Fair Warning

“[I]nformed citizens aren't puppets; they're critical thinkers. Civic literacy is not inherently impossible. But it can cause such outrage, panic, helplessness, bewilderment—there really should be a consumer warning on the news. 

“What a downer for democracy. You do your best to keep up, and what you get in return for your effort is something the American Psychiatric Association ought to have put in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. Informed Citizen Disorder: the damage you do to your mood and your blood pressure by watching Bill Moyers or Jon Stewart, listening to Kevin Phillips or Bruce Bartlett and reading the Guardian or the New York Times.” 

—Marty Kaplan, writer, “Reading the News Is Fun and Patriotic, But It Sure Can Make You Anxious,” AlterNet, June 2013

 
• Editorial Comment: As Aldous Huxley said, “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you mad.”

PeezPIX by Ted Pease
 

Chicks










Original PeezPix archival prints, matted at sizes from 5x7" to 16x20" or larger, available for sale. ted.pease@gmail.com

(Be)Friend Dr. Ted, Professor of Interesting Stuff

TODAY'S WORD ON JOURNALISM is a free “service” sent to the 1,800 or so misguided volunteer subscribers around the planet. If you have recovered from whatever led you to subscribe and don’t want it anymore, send “unsubscribe” to ted.pease@gmail.com. Or if you want to afflict someone else, send me the email address and watch the fun begin. (Disclaimer: While I just quote ’em, I don't necessarily endorse ’em. All contain at least a kernel of insight. Don’t shoot the messenger.) 
 
Ted Pease, Professor of Interesting Stuff
Utah State University, Logan, Utah, & Humboldt State University, Arcata, Calif.

To receive Today's Word on Journalism, send "subscribe" to ted.pease@gmail.com

“Words are sacred. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones, in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.” —Tom Stoppard
.