Context is for the weak

[james_davis_nicoll]

Even I know the difference between Stephen Douglas and Frederick Douglass.

Somewhere a Fox news editor's history teacher is weeping.

Comments

[autopope.livejournal.com]

*Blinks* ... Who?

-- C. (Victim of a British history education, for what it's worth.)

[colliemommie.livejournal.com]

*snork*

[roseembolism.livejournal.com]

Well, there's a LOT of history out there.

Seriously, I had to explain to my wife a joke involving comparing the Stonewall Riots and Stonewall Jackson. She confused Stonewall Jackson with Andrew Jackson. And this is a woman who is highly intelligent, and knows her history fairly well (though she concentrates more on mythology and the culture of pre-industrial Europe)

What was that saying Gharlane of Eddore had? "It's not your fault you believe that, you're a victim of the American educational system"?

[carloshasanax.livejournal.com]

I like the Civil War that implies. "More In Sorrow Than In Anger" versus "You Rebels Probably Aren't Going To Survive This (And My Heart Bleeds For You)."

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

News editors (Fox or otherwise) assume their audience is as ignorant as they are...with reason.

[supergee.livejournal.com]

It's Obama's fault. He forces them to think about black people the way some women force men to think about T&A.

[mrteufel.livejournal.com]

Perhaps I'm giving them too much credit, but after watching the video, it seems plausible to me that they were joking.

[heron61.livejournal.com]

As a side-thought before bed (and after far too much editing of material about sentient dinosaurs), it occurs to me that creating an image of a black politician losing to the most famous and widely respected Republican President is likely not an accident caused by poor history skills, but a deliberate political act based on the (likely correct) assumption that most viewers won't know that it's a complete fabrication. it seems far too useful and image to be an accident.

No fact-checkers, no morgue, nothing.

[florbigoo.livejournal.com]

Proof that Fox News is not a news gathering organization.

Do they do any original reporting at all?