Songpoet's definitions

Bloggery

Blather and boring comments that some blogger enters in a blog without much thought, consideration or style. Blah Blah Blah posing as meaningful commentary.

Her newspaper columns are much better than her blog which slips into bloggery of the worst kind.

by Songpoet April 30, 2006

Digital nativism

Mistaken belief that young folks who were born immersed in things digital are somehow in a state of grace and older folks are cursed by their age and lack of digital conditioning. Arrogant and insulting division of generations into different camps first proposed by Marc Prensky but unfounded on any survey data.

With an insulting tone worthy of the original American nativists who hated immigrants (especially Catholic ones), Marc Prensky speaks of pre-iPod humans (digital immigrants) contemptuously. This is simply digital nativism, a kind of generational prejudice that is ill founded and unsubstantiated.

by Songpoet November 1, 2007

photoshopping reality

When the press, public relations firms, government officials and political campaigns distort reality, twist the facts, apply filters like those used in PhotoShop to changes images, that is photoshopping reality. Closely associated with spin, perception management, marketing and propaganda.

When Secretary of State Colin Powell showed photographs to the UN proving the existence of chemical warfare plants, he was photoshopping reality. Also, President George W. Bush's infamous comment to FEMA chief Michael D. Brown while the latter was botching the federal response to Hurricane Katrina: "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job."

by Songpoet February 7, 2008

mentalsoftness

Careless thinking that takes much at face value without challenging its veracity.

Many groups now engage in perception management - the twisting of truth to influence buying and voting, counting on the mentalsoftness of the general public, too lazy to check the truth of the information being shared.

by Songpoet November 1, 2007

cowboy

To handle a complex problem with a simplistic approach that totally misses the mark but seems brave, strong and courageous. The key player substitutes bravado and bluster for skill, understanding and tact. Boldness trumps intelligence.

You could count on then President Bush to cowboy any serious problem, wrestling it to the ground like a rodeo star, manhandling the most serious challenges of the century as if they were steers in the ring.

by Songpoet December 28, 2005