Media Make-over

Luong Gone.

This article is not about hockey.  It's probably, but not specifically, about media ethics.  It's about the psychology of media opinion having a substantial effect on the output of those in the public eye.  I'm that guy that expresses my disapproval with the curriculum surrounding journalism in our "reality" driven society because I think they're getting in the way of my hockey team winning.

The attention seeking modern journalist is exhibiting a very manipulative approach to what they consider 'big news'.  This 'Desperate Housewives' producer mentality is grinding The Vancouver Canucks in to the ground.  It creates a false connection between public opinion and the team itself.

Number 1 Choice Off the Bench.

As most of you know, Roberto Luongo has NOT been traded.  OMG let's hold a press conference.  It's the first time in trade deadline history that a PRESS CONFERENCE has been held for someone who WASN'T traded.

Now I know that it was expected for him to be moved.  However, I think the way he handled his online notoriety and his public tact has been brilliant for him personally and for the team.

This is a very awkward position to be in.  And if you joke your way through it, it makes the job fun for your teammates instead of allowing it to be bigger (more serious) than the ultimate goal.  Winning.

Big Lou made jokes in the press conference that no one got.  His jokes made everyone jump to the conclusion that he was being critical to his contract.  It made people gather that he blamed the no trade on this ridiculous 10 year expense.

The real big popular quote was 'my contract sucks'.  That's what they used to launch a HUGE story that actually makes no difference to anyone who actually likes hockey.  'My contract sucks' was pertaining to his sympathy for his organization and other organizations making a deal.  He didn't push any blame on anything though.  He just expressed his understanding for ideal situations that didn't come to fruition.

They're making a STORY out of something that didn't happen.  To breakdown non-existent issues and get 'inside information' which only puts pressure on the mentality of a player.

Journalists ask irrelevant questions in order to force a story.  Questions that have more to do with non-hockey related entertainment than winning.  The people want to see a team that's confident and strong.  Not a team that's distracted by what people think.

The province headline today was "UNWANTED".  Ya, I didn't see that at all.  I saw a goalie that's SO wanted that he wasn't gonna be given away for conditional firsts and shitty prospects.

Out of everything Roberto said in this interview, this is the only thing anyone needs to take from it:

“I’m 100 per cent dedicated to this team the rest of the year, I love this team and I love this city, and the goal is the Stanley Cup and I will give myself 100 per cent to that.” - Roberto Luongo.

Garbage Pail Kids

White trash has had a tough run of things lately.  But it's not so bad that we should pretend to feel sorry for a suburbanite having a tough childhood.  I mean, in comparison, anyone growing up in this underpopulated metropolis called FREEDOM is totally fine.  Adversity actually makes you so amazing that it's unfair to people who lived privileged, sheltered lives.  So suck it up.

If you never have an understanding of the desperation surrounding money and your parents just buy you things so that you shut up, you're not left with the urgency it takes to live in this world.  We should really feel sorry for the well off.  They're the ones giving the drug dealers so much money anyways.

Cocaine is super 'in' right now.  And by 'in' I mean 'IN' the noses of those 25 year olds you bought a condo for so they didn't take over your remote control all night.  You know why?  Cuz they're alcoholics.  You know why?  Cuz alcohol is the one thing that allows them not to 'think' so much about they're insecurity.

But why are they insecure?  Is it your fault?  Kind of.  Now because the world is moving so fast and you're really caught up in your own programming, it's easy to skip this very important step that may be obvious to us if we just sat and thought about it.

Tell your children to observe the real world.  Encourage questions and look them up.  Look in to the effects of the effects of bad decisions.  What you see in the media is not the real world.  Listen, throughout your life you're going to observe a lot of things from media that you should just not base your decisions on.  

From magazines you're going to see articles that disguise themselves as general consensus.  What you don't see is the ad companies that are going to profit from you listening to 'expert' opinions on products that will 'make people turn heads'.  

From television you're going to see characters that are supposed to reflect real people that exist.  The thing they refrain from telling you is that these fictional characters are supposed to reflect people that directly benefit the businesses that funded these 'programs'.  The thing they subtly put in to your 'stories' are designed to bring you farther away from your own decisions.  

The norm is NOT the norm anymore.  The norm is funding the war.

You got a light... (switch)?

What the media has done to confuse our youth creates really interesting choices.  However, taking stabs at media in a jaded way isn't going to solve much.  It creates awareness that no one will use.  The writer of this article isn't offering a solution to you.  He's preaching about a problem in media but isn't putting any faith in the small wonders that create individuality.  He can't even admit he's him.

When it comes to relating to someone else, we refer to things that are 'popular'.  In fact, I've had conversations with people that are nothing but a pissing contest between two people that know the most about something current.  Usually drunk.  The reason we try to find common ground with each other because we don't want to CREATE this common ground by spending the time to make it common.  

So the big thing here is to not be lazy.  It will set you behind if you leave out the tiny details.  I want to do my part.  I'm taking the time to justify my rant by offering this one solution.  A hard working solution that encourages you all to look in to things as deeply as possible when you consider how 'awesome' or 'cool' they are.  

For example,  when your kid is in to wrestling - instead of letting him watch the wwf - make him earn it by showing him exercises that get him the body he would need to fulfill that destiny.  Get him on a diet that would support this reality.  Sit down with a lawyer and get a consultation on the inner workings of contract work that can inevitably protect him and the asset he holds from being locked in to a 20 term deal that makes him a crack addict.

If your kid wants to be a musician, don't just put him or her in classes with a washed up moron clinging on to a failed career.  Find three entertainers that HE or SHE likes; (last thing the kid wants is YOUR heroes).  Then every moment you have, study the lives of these entertainers with your child.  The lives.  Not just the music.  Study the production.  Study the content, why the things they say work.  Study how many seconds are between each section of the song.

All in all, whether it's you or your kid, shape your future with a QUALITY present.  

Instead of just letting the over saturated advertising environment dictate life.  Don't just trust that everything you see is the best version possible.  Push.  Push back.