MEDIA HYPOCRISY

by Roland Watson
September 2000

The mass media use an ingenious argument to discredit activists. They call us hypocrites, for taking public transport to actions, or for using the Internet. The underlying idea is that you can’t criticize the system if you are part of it or if you use it in some way. But, other than through being a hermit, it is impossible not to be part of the system or to use some aspects of it, at least in a small way.

This is a very clever trap:

- You cannot criticize something if you are part of it, since
- By being part of it you must effectively endorse it, so
- How can you endorse something and criticize it at the same time. That’s hypocritical!

This is spurious. Hypocrisy is saying one thing, but doing another. As activists, we stand up for our beliefs. But the media profess to search for truth. By using such fallacious logic, they demonstrate their real character. (They are the ones who are the hypocrites.)

Also, we are forced to join the system. We have been entrapped. Our participation is not voluntary. Hence, we damn well can criticize it, and also seek to escape from it, change it, or shut it down!

© Roland O. Watson 2001-3