Americans no longer talk to each other, they entertain each other. They do not exchange ideas, they exchange images. They do not argue with propositions; they argue with good looks, celebrities and commercials.

Neil Postman
About This Quote

When people no longer talk to each other, they entertain each other. They do not exchange ideas, they exchange images. They do not argue with propositions; they argue with good looks, celebrities and commercials. In this quote from the late sociologist Erving Goffman, he describes a society where everyone is constantly entertained by others to the point of distraction from what is actually going on in the world around them.

He refers to entertainment as a "socially-produced dramatization." We're often entertained by things that are not real or that shouldn’t be taken too seriously. We rarely discuss the important issues of our time because we don’t want to look dumb or appear unhip. It is much easier to just say what you think people want to hear than it is to actually take an unpopular position or say something that isn’t “cool,” “hip” or “whatever” at the moment.

Source: Amusing Ourselves To Death: Public Discourse In The Age Of Show Business

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