[Dean's World] Celia Farber: AOL News Headlines Offend Again

[notify at powerblogs.com]

Posted by Celia Farber:
AOL News Headlines Offend Again
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1193690378.shtml


   One day I may break all ties with AOL and corn syrup, but for now,
   they still have me in their grip. (Apparently corn syrup is in
   "everything.")

   I have often been perturbed by AOL's headlines, for the way that they,
   like corn syrup, subtly destroy life and hope.

   When I saw their contorted headline today: "Glittering Country Singer
   Dies: He Gave Dolly Parton Her First Break," I gnashed my teeth.
   Again.

   Why can't AOL allow us our dignity as Americans and say, simply:
   Porter Wagoner Dies at 80.

   That is the story.

   He was not "a glittering country singer."

   He was Porter Wagoner.

   The difference is insidious; AOL seeks to erode the threads that tie
   us to our cultural memory, so that we will all be morons who know only
   one word.

   When Arthur Miller died I had the same bristle. AOL News declared:
   "Famous Writer Dies--Once Married to Marilyn Monroe."

   No.

   "Arthur Miller Dies" is the correct and dignified headline for one of
   America's most iconic writers.

   Hunter Thompson suffered a similar indignity but I can't recall now
   how AOL phrased the news of his suicide.

   Unless and until they start to refer to Britney Spears as "American
   Pop Star Britney Spears," I will insist upon my point, that they are
   inserting their own corn syrup into our news. Nobody wants or needs
   AOL's degree of cultural illiteracy to guide the headlines about life
   and death. Nobody asked for corn syrup in "everything" either.

   AOL, by the way, requires that you tell them what race you are. I said
   I was black, so I get the black AOL news and entertainment. I'm not
   sure how it differs from the Caucasian news. I thought their name
   stood for "America Online."

   I chose AOL because the software favors computer dummies like me, but
   I never dreamed AOL would treat me like a clinical dummy in matters
   other than how to operate email.

   As Porter and Dolly put it in their famous song which happens to be
   the anthem in my home: "Well Get Ahead Some Day."

   Great song.