[Nyerges is the author of “How to Survive Anywhere,”
“Self-Sufficient Home,” and other books, available at bookstores, or www.ChristopherNyerges.com. He can also be reached at Box 41834, Eagle
Rock, CA 90041]
This week, I got a call from a
popular TV “news magazine” show. I was
told that they were planning to air a program the following day about the
December 21, 2012 end date of the Mayan calendar cycle. They were aware that I teach survival skills
and they saw my name associated with the Mayan date.
“We’d like
to talk to you about the Mayan prophecies,” I was informed.
“Which
Mayan prophecies are you referring to?” I asked.
“You know,
the end of the world prophecies,” she casually responded.
“I’d be
happy to talk to your viewers about the Mayan calendar,” I said, “and I’d let
them know that there are no Mayan prophecies of doom-and-gloom that anyone
knowledgeable is aware of.” I explained
that I studied in Mexico and Guatemala with Mayans. “Are you aware of specific prophecies?” I asked.
"No, just
in general that the world is going to end.
I explained that all the Mayan end-of-the-world hype
was media fabrication. What would be
happening on December 21, according to most scholars, is that a large cycle of
the Mayan calendar – 13 Baktuns lasting 5,125 years – will end, and another
cycle will begin the next day. I told her that I’d be happy to ease her
viewers’ fears, and explain that zealous media pundits somehow confused “end of
a calendar cycle” with “end of the world.”
The TV show representative
explained that she’d seen me on the National Geographic’s “Doomsday Preppers”
show, and said she’d really like to see me with my survival gear. (I was offered no compensation for the time
I expected to give.) I explained that I was driving to work (yes, I do work!)
and that I only had the minimal gear that I always carry, but not my full
wilderness pack.
“I’d still be happy to share with
your viewers how knowing survival skills is a good thing all the time,” I
continued, “considering all the very real problems that we all have to contend
with, such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, economic disasters, terrorists,
diseases, and so on.”
“Actually, we’re really looking for
someone who is seriously preparing for the December 21st date. We really want something more dramatic and
sensational,” I was told.
It was becoming clear that I would
not be on their show.
“Well, if you’re looking for a nut
who’s frightened about the Mayan calendar and who is taking radical action
based on panic and fear, then I’m not your man,” I told her. “Still, I’d be happy to talk to you to give
your show some balance.” I continued,
telling her that there is no special planetary alignment associated with
December 21, no comet that we know of that’s about to hit the earth, no
mysterious planet about to show up, and no heightened sun spot activity. I again explained that we never really know
what might happen, but we shouldn’t listen to the fear stories about things
that have no relation to the Mayan calendar.
She politely listened.
“I tell people that whenever you
act out of fear or panic that you nearly always make bad choices,” I added.
“Yes, well, we really want
something more dramatic. We want to
show people who are very concerned about this December 21 date and who are
doing something about it.” She told me
she would talk to her producers and might call me back for a taping later in
the day for a show that was already planned for the following day.
To no surprise, I never got a
return call.
This taught me a lesson I’d
experienced many times. The modern
media are all too often so focused on ratings and sensationalism that they will
twist and distort (or ignore) the facts if this helps maintain viewers. Though many of us might view the “quest for
truth” to be a high ideal, not everyone does.
In this case, it was clear that the producers of this TV program were
not concerned about whether or not there were in fact any Mayan “prophecies” at
all.
It is not just distortion and lies
that we should protect ourselves against.
We also need to be equally concerned about that the reporters and
journalists do not tell us.
Sadly, TV, despite its vast
potential, has increasingly become a wasteland.
2 comments:
Since you talk about the "vast potential" of television, I take it you haven't read "Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television" by Jerry Mander. It is from 1978, and one argument, the technical one, is not really valid anymore with HDTV. Some parts only apply to mass media, but the rest of it is timeless. I found it quite convincing that many of the problems with television are absolutely inherent and cannot be otherwise.
I read the book. My response, in a nutshell, is that though he generally made good points, he didn't really seem to present a balanced viewpoint. that is, TV WILL NOT be eliminated, any more than cars, guns, or money will be (and there is plenty of "bad" in all those, but good potential too, obviously). So I have toyed with the idea of writing all the ways that tv can enrich our lives educationally (learn languages, take classes, empathically live situations and learn lessons, etc.) IF we discipline ourselves to use the TV thusly.
Post a Comment