I found The Peek-a-Boo World to be very interesting. I thought that Neil Postman pointed out some things that are common sense, but I have never actually thought of. First off, I never really thought of the television as displaying a bunch of irrelevant information, also known as context-free information. It is extremely true though because there are numerous times when I watch the news and hear about things going on in different places in the world, but don't affect me. Thus, I do not pay too much attention to these news headlines and do not change my routine from these news articles. The only time I might ever use the information I heard would be to stir up a conversation. The reason why the news and other television channels put out so much jumbled, disconnected information is because there is a wide variety of people who view it and its purpose is for entertainment. Thus, context-free information is information that is irrelevant and doesn't affect peoples' actions. Its purpose is to serve as entertainment. This irrelevant information is found in the Peek-a-Boo World, which is a world of electronic technologies that contains information that is irrelevant and does not require us to think or do anything. The purpose of these mediums are for entertainment. Thus, television serves its purpose for me in that I watch it for entertainment. I rarely ever will use any of the information I come across through the television in my daily routine or life. The only time I will probably ever use it will be in a conversation.
The fact that the television displays so much information that is not relevant to everyone made me think of the Jack Johnson song “The News.” In this song, Jack Johnson says “Why don't the newscasters cry when they read about people who die?” This made me think that maybe the newscasters don’t cry when they read about people who die because that information is irrelevant to them. It doesn’t affect them personally.
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We had a lot of the same points with regards to the readings, and I agree with you that the only reason for watching TV is just for entertainment. Rarely do I use TV for something more unless maybe it had to do with weather, traffic, sports scores (even with sports thats entertainment). I also agree with you that usually the information is used when I am in conversation or used to help join a conversation.
The Jack Johnson quote was really quite interesting. I guess I never really thought about it that way when it is reported about someone dying. I mean when someone close to me is sick or has passed away it affects me a great deal. But just as they broadcast someone dying or I sit there and listening I seem unaffected by the news. Seems crazy when you sit back and think about it...
I really liked how you used the Jack Johnson quote. I've heard that song so many times but never thought about it like that. I agree with you in that I think the newscasters don't cry and it's probably because they didn't personally know the people, or because they have been conditioned to not feel stong emotion to it. It kind of reminds me of Brave New World in that maybe the newscasters have just become so used to reporting about bad things that it just doesn't effect them in the same way anymore. Just like the people in Brave New World didn't think that dying was that big of a deal.
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