With all respect for the late Neil Postman -- and I do have much respect for him -- when anyone explains to me that there are two bins into which humans are sorted, and I must choose one, I am quite skeptical. Such explanations have the flavor of one's thought and way of life are ready-made consumer products. Athenian or Visigoth, right or left, Ford or Chevy, Indiana or Purdue. "There are two sides to every argument." I don't know that I've ever experienced an argument whose "sides" were really limited to two. And if there is such an argument, I expect it's quite trivial. Not worth having.
When I wrote about Postman’s speech years ago on an early blog, someone said something similar. I think it’s worth noting Postman tried to clarify that his speech was a simplified representation. You make fair points, but there are times when caveats and nuance don’t pound the nail. You just need a hammer. You need to see black and white, even though we know most is running into gray. Knowing the black and white helps us understand where gray comes from.
With all respect for the late Neil Postman -- and I do have much respect for him -- when anyone explains to me that there are two bins into which humans are sorted, and I must choose one, I am quite skeptical. Such explanations have the flavor of one's thought and way of life are ready-made consumer products. Athenian or Visigoth, right or left, Ford or Chevy, Indiana or Purdue. "There are two sides to every argument." I don't know that I've ever experienced an argument whose "sides" were really limited to two. And if there is such an argument, I expect it's quite trivial. Not worth having.
When I wrote about Postman’s speech years ago on an early blog, someone said something similar. I think it’s worth noting Postman tried to clarify that his speech was a simplified representation. You make fair points, but there are times when caveats and nuance don’t pound the nail. You just need a hammer. You need to see black and white, even though we know most is running into gray. Knowing the black and white helps us understand where gray comes from.