Information Silos
These days usually creep up on all of us and that is no less true for days where we disagree on the meaning. Last year, a bunch of MAGAs decided to invade the capitol in hopes of derailing the certification of the 2020 election. These are the facts and yet a number of people still want to dispute them. Millions of people are trapped in what we might call an information silo.
If you have lived in Texas for any length of time you have seen a silo. My mother’s hometown had those outside the city limits. Of course, we could scarcely call her hometown a city. There were only about 5000 residents. In this case, the silos were responsible for holding and sifting through rice. Unless you really know what you’re doing, you should never go inside a silo. The impending result could be disastrous.
It’s in this backdrop that we address the news that the House January 6th committee wants to hear from Sean Hannity. The Fox “News” night time host apparently was involved in text messaging with Mark Meadows prior to, during, and after the events of January 6th. We already know he’s involved. The question is how much more involved was he than what we already know through the text messaging.
Since 2007, 80 people have died in silos around the country. Usually they are teenage boys that should know better but don’t. The process is downright frightening. When you are inside you can suddenly be engulfed with whatever the silo is sifting through. It’s quick and deadly. You can’t just be pulled out. It usually requires heavy machinery and in some cases they can’t get to you in time.
The term “information silo” is particularly apt in this case. Sources like Fox News and talk radio have been broadcasting for over 30 years. If you get inundated with enough bile, it is impossible to simply extricate yourself or someone you know from that life. We can trace these information silos back to the eradication of the Fairness Doctrine in 1987.
Hannity has become the newest symbol for this, but he might not even be the most guilty party. However, the notion of a media member participating in an insurrection is downright frightening. Yet, the relationship between Fox and their hosts is fascinating to say the least. Hannity is represented, but he isn’t represented by any attorneys working for Fox. He is being represented by one of Donald Trump’s former attorneys. It brings to mind that whole notion about two masters and what not.
So, Fox both promotes Hannity (along with Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham) and then distances themselves from him at the same time. They do the same with the others as well (particularly Carlson). It’s almost as if they know how dangerous the silo has become. When the monster becomes self-aware we have broken through the fourth wall. When you consider just the amount of malarkey that Fox spews it is easy to see how 25 percent of the public can think the events of last January 6th were just another day in paradise. Watch enough Fox News and you can find yourself trapped in an alternative reality. It really is just like a silo.
That comparison to grain silos an interesting allegory I hadn’t seen or thought of before. Yes it does look very much like that.
Aside from people we know personally, we have started to see (more) interviews in media of people in MAGA hats who flat out admit that there is no evidence whatsoever that would cause them to not think the 2020 election was stolen. If that is not an example of complete immersion in disinformation grain I don’t know what is.
1” When you consider just the amount of malarkey that Fox spews…”
Ahem.
2Hmmmm, I think I see your point there.
3Sorry to get distracted but “population 5000” and “silos of rice”. Good lord, Nick. Are you an El Campo boy? I haven’t been there since 1963 but those two data points seem to identify it.
4You omitted one of the more exciting aspects of silos. The dust they accumulate is explosive and one errant spark can significantly shorten you trip through life.
5Close Surly. My mother was born in El Campo, but grew up in Edna. Those silos are a staple throughout that part of Texas.
6The right wing misinformation silo (I like your use of silo, Nick) is like quicksand. I think there were possibly a percentage of repugnanticans that were open minded about Jan 6 being an insurrection and the legitimacy of the election, but they’ve been sucked in looking for reasons why their guy lost. Now they’re up to their necks in the muck and avoid any other information sources. To admit the truth about the insurrection and the election being fair and constitutional would destroy their egos.
7Not sure their paradigm will ever change.
I don’t plan to watch the fux news or other misinformation outlets today in response to President Biden’s speech this morning, but I’m sure their reporting will put repugnanticans further down in the misinformation silo. Already heard mt greene is going nuts over his speech.
Perhaps “trapped in an alternative reality” is better described as “consumed in a cult.”
8I grew up on a farm in 1960’s Wisconsin, and in that era and neck of the woods Fox News might be likened to “Information Manure Spreaders.”
9Rick, I’d describe fake noize as overflowing sewage ponds. Grain bins can kill unwary farmers as well if they get caught in flowing grain.
And, I might ad, certain silos in the Northern Plains with nukular warheads are deadly in their own right.
Retired, through disability,former farm hand, here.
10Nick @6, I used to often drive right through ‘downtown’ Edna, which is bigger than most of my hometowns; stopped at the Sonic once in a while. Candy Barr was from Edna.
My commute to the Brazosport Galveston areas was up/down US 59, turnoff at Edna, go through town to get on SH 111 right in the middle of town, which for about 15 miles is about the straightest road in Texas through the rice paddies, cross Lake Texana [the county mounties usually had a speedtrap around there]. Then jog at Midfield, Markham and on 35 to Bay City, Van Vleck, Old Ocean; then wherever, W Columbia, Angleton, Brazoria, Lake Jackson, Clute, Freeport, and a dozen other little burgs. Sure piled up a lot of scenic miles in those days.
11“If only” the Fox Not the News disinformation center would experience a silo type catastrophe. With all the toxic gases they spew sending out their propaganda, it’s only fair they should implode.
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