Why post Inflammatory Headlines?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 06:14:49 -0500

There is a disturbing trend I'm seeing across all Social Media, but I address it here as this is, as I understand it, meant to be a Professional atmosphere, and one in which, at the very least, we should aspire to being honest, transparent, and respectful.

That being said, the disturbing trend is the linking to stories that use intentionally inflammatory language in the headlines, often which misleads, misinforms, and on occasion outright lies.

If a news story is legitimate, I guarantee you will find it on a major news site as well, which doesn't feel the need to editorialize in the very title. Someone praying in public is not necessarily "Cramming Religion Down Your Throat." Someone wearing a burka is not "Forcing Sharia Law." Changing what you say during Winter Break isn't necessarily a "War on Christmas" and if a story says a group "Demands" or "Forces" something to happen, it better not mean they politely asked (or worse, had nothing to do with a decision another group made).

I enjoy intelligent discourse and debate, but when you slander, libel, and outright lie, you destroy all credibility you have for valid points. Check the source. Actually read the article you link others to. And finally, know what satire is and don't take it for truth.

Thank you for your service and your thoughts. Carry on.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2014 7:11 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 07:11:09 -0500

One of the greatest men I've known in my life told me: "emotions will get you into trouble every damned time!" Newpapers, radio and now social media use emotionally charged headlines to gather interest in the article. In most cases individuals or corporations (read: news organizations owners) have an agenda they are pushing using the public media they have absolute control over. Thus, not even reading the entire article will one get ALL the CORRECT and UNVARNISHED truth. To add insult to injury, news organizations cite 'experts' with questionable and sometimes falsified background and experience - but the average man/woman on the street wouldn't know this without some honest research.

Yes, we all have emotions - but damn they tend to get in the way of common sense!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2014 8:18 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:18:07 -0500

What you are talking about is naked suppression of speech. It is one thing to say awful things about a president's family. That is off-limits, a non-starter but to continue to push blind obedience and claim everything is hype and hyperbole is not an honest attempt at discussion but framing that discussion.

In 1981 America was sick of Jimmy Carter and he did a lot of damage to this country. Were it not for the freedom of speech, the kind that cannot be snooped on, then we would be in worse trouble.

If I called someone a dumbass but only inferred it, it would play the same way. That people are aware that they are being chided. Deniers, racists, homophobes but do not say the word 'God' or think this nation is great. A coach doesn't tell his players they suck even if they do not win.

Conversations are going to happen and while my tact may be different I still respect the right to opine just as liberals do when they get to define the terms.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Dec 30 at 2014 8:53 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:53:06 -0500

Just take a look in the forums here, inflammatory headlines get more reaction from the reader. Post a thread asking was does a O1 out rank an E7 and you pull 100+ comments. Post a thread giving out good information and 5 people interact. It's the whole car wreck thing. 100s of people will slow down to look at a car wreck but only a handful would actually get out to help if needed.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2014 10:43 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 10:43:55 -0500

It boils down to the fact that news agencies are in the business of making money. They have to make money to stay in business. And they won't stay in business long if they do not have readers. No readers, no advertising, no money. So the news media uses headlines to catch a reader's eyes, draw them to the page where they will also see the advertising.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2014 10:46 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 10:46:39 -0500

It's not just RP, it's every forum. It's real life too. Sit at a table and start talking about being a soldier, the use of weapons, improving your skills as a soldier, and you'll be hard pressed to get a single person to listen to you. Whisper "Did you hear SGT Smith is banging SPC Jones?" and every head at the table will be strained your way. People are fascinated by scandal. I try to ignore the drama, and I ignore the inflammatory posts on this and every other forum I'm on.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2014 12:46 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 12:46:56 -0500

Here on RP I've found that the threads with that type of header and subject will almost invariably have the same dirty dozen people posting on them. Some folks just feed off of discord and argument. I feel the pull to join in sometimes but for the most part my better judgement prevails.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2014 1:35 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 13:35:17 -0500

If it bleeds, it reads. Misery loves company. And cute little puppies don't self-reveal newspapers. Violence, blood, guts, cheating, scandals, are much more commonplace in today's reporting. It has become a sort of theme, and we are all dumbed because of it. Shock value once existed, but then we got used to it, so we had to up the ante....but we also got used to that. It is a shame that good ole honest reporting is boring yesteryear...no one is interested...

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2014 3:16 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 15:16:53 -0500

If I could up vote this 10x I would. So tired of inflammatory rhetoric

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2014 3:44 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 15:44:13 -0500

I myself ignore the title or headline and just read the article. If the info sounds a little unrealistic I look for other sources for the info. But I wouldn't say legitimate stories will always be on major news sites. Some stories are buried by major news sites. I will agree some folks fly off the handle by the headline even after reading the story. But you should always try to get your news from a variety of sources.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2014 4:56 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 16:56:32 -0500

Those headlines are all about getting people to read more about it or to keep a viewers attention through a commercial break. It is media marketing. We like to complain about the media's use of it, but they use it because it works.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Dec 30 at 2014 5:44 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 17:44:15 -0500

I know here on RP one of the admins changed the title of a thread I posted to a MUCH more inflammatory one and changed the whole tone of the responses and drew quite a bit of negative attention.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Dec 31 at 2014 3:11 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 03:11:19 -0500

CPT Private RallyPoint Memberyou are NOT alone feeling that way,brother. I applaud you for your stance and position on this matter. It has been brought up repeatedly. If anything, it continues to get worse. Sensationalism of posts, likes the news, immediately pisses off about 1/2 of the community and then the festivities begin. I've been callen in to break up fights a dozen times on the same thread and many times the author who posted the nonsense to begin with is no where to be found.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Dec 31 at 2014 3:30 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 03:30:44 -0500

CPT Private RallyPoint Member I present you with the highly coveted RallyPoint Commendation Medal for helping to maintain peace and sanity within the community. Thank you for input and words of truth. It is far better to post something meaningful and helpful for 5 members than to be remembered for having a thread that helped tear the community apart and cause constant grief. Respect!

Response by SPC Leisel Luman made Dec 31 at 2014 8:51 AM

SPC Leisel Luman — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 08:51:11 -0500

1LT Josh Curtis I agree with your statement. I am also guilty of letting myself get into less than respectful comments when it's something I feel strongly about. Especially when I feel the military is getting slapped in the face. Thank you for the reminder and thank you got your service.

Response by PO2 Steven Erickson made Dec 31 at 2014 9:33 AM

PO2 Steven Erickson — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 09:33:45 -0500

Nothing further to add.

Response by SPC Charles Estes made Dec 31 at 2014 3:02 PM

SPC Charles Estes — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 15:02:07 -0500

Inflammatory headlines are just another form of spin.

I hate "spin" and "Spin Doctors". Doesn't matter who is doing it. "Left" or "Right", "Pro" or "Anti", if you are spinning, there is dishonesty in your soul. If you're on the side I may support, it honks me off because you are destroying credibility when you're caught, and the other side will be gleeful to expose your misinformation. You hurt your cause by muddying the waters.

Consider the original modern spin master, nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels. Somebody that you really want to emulate, huh?

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Dec 31 at 2014 8:06 PM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 20:06:56 -0500

BLUF is that those type of headlines are what "sells." The bottom line for news agencies is to make money. You make money by using those "catch phrases" and "buzzwords" to your advantage. Will the truth eventually rise to the top? I absolutely believe it will. Will the truth matter once it cuts through the BS agendas that were intertwined in those headlines? Unfortunately, more often that not, the truth dies...

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2015 3:50 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 15:50:58 -0500

I am not sure if the media, at least the commercial media, is reporting the news unbiased or without some type of intent. I am not much for conspiracy theories, but it seems like news reporting by major companies like Fox and CNN provided pointed news stories that not only provoke emotion, but skews the overall view toward their political agenda. I mean to watch some stories, you would think the end of the world is happening tomorrow. Others, you might think Jim Crow Laws are still in effect. The news forum is failing at journalism and giving us information so we can make better choices.

Look, most people get along. Most people respect one another. We have a very stable and peaceful society. I believe news agencies are missing the boat on very important items like foreign trade agreements, foreign policy decisions, domestic policies, banking information, etc. They touch the surface on these items that can have a huge impact on the individual and often trade that for a story about someone refusing to take off their religious artifacts or praying in school.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 28 at 2019 9:43 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 21:43:59 -0400

However, some of the headlines are true. It is a polarized society. I have never seen such anger and vitriol in regards to politics.