I think I found the enemy... and IT'S US
Paul White's nationally distributed syndicated column, “I think I found the enemy... and IT'S US” is published in 22 publications across seven states. This includes the following newspapers and digital publications: Midland Daily News (MI), SFGate (CA), Seattle PI (WA), Connecticut Post (CT), Laredo Morning Times (TX), Huron Daily Tribune (MI), The Telegraph (IL), and more. In this week's article, Paul explores how controversy sells (in the media) and how we—the people—can change and improve the world by shifting our involvement to be solution-oriented and work together rather than against.
If you read this article, please note that I have great sensitivity to how each of us define the word controversy. Circumstances differ and one person’s controversy may be another person’s life-or-death decision. I respect that. I attempt first to understand, then to be understood.
Controversy has been around as long as humankind. How the world - and each of us - handles controversy determines its impact.
Why is controversy so profitable? From social media to television and radio news programs to the printed word (which you and I are utilizing right now), it has become one of the quickest ways to make money. LOTS of money. It drives advertising and marketing.
For many careers, controversy provides the shortest path to personal success. Doesn’t that just sound wrong? You might be thinking about certain careers like television news, newspaper and magazines, book publishing, music publishing, politics, environmental. Yes, correct on all counts. But wait, there’s more. Social media has become one of the most influential forms of communication because of controversial subjects more than anything else. We’re at a point where the person that screams the loudest gets the most attention regardless of what they’re saying. Dang it…. we’re all smarter than that.
Yet, the money associated with that screaming is helping a handful of companies become some of the wealthiest and most powerful companies on the planet. They are also gaining control over many of the things that influence and impact our lives. Should we be concerned? Sure, but we are the ones that are willingly shifting control from ourselves to companies who accept it and manipulate it into money and power.
Huh! What to do?
Years ago, a State Legislator framed it clearly for me. It was nearing the end of a legislative year and the media was jumping all over the inability of the legislature to pass three bills that they had been working on for months. The idea behind each of those bills held credibility with everyone and would benefit a high percentage of the people in the state. Unfortunately, the legislators from both parties were stuck on exact wording and implementation strategies of the bills and weren’t making any progress towards resolution.
When I asked my friend why each party couldn’t quickly navigate to a place of compromise, he realized that I was basing that question on what I had read, heard, or listened to and that it represented a view that had been carefully crafted to promote controversy.
Before responding to my question, he asked me if I knew how many bills our state legislature HAD passed so far during the legislative year. I didn’t have a clue. I was stunned when he shared that they had successfully passed over 50 bills during the session and that few, if any, of them received any press nor acknowledgment. None of the bills were controversial and thus couldn’t provide the profit potential for most types of media (including social media) to cover them.
He asked me to think about a high school hallway right as second hour ends. The bell rings and all the students begin to filter into the hallway. Suddenly, one of the students yells as loudly as possible “EVERYONE IS GETTING ALONG” causing people to glance at the person, mumble “who cares” and continue on to third hour. Now, if that same student yelled “FIGHT,” everyone would head over to where this person yelled from to see who is fighting (who cares about third period!).
I quickly realized that yelling “EVERYONE’S GETTING ALONG” offers neither financial gain nor elevation of power. Yelling “FIGHT” means controversy and huge financial potential.
Controversy provides an immediate rush of adrenaline that doesn’t last very long, detracts from our long-term emotional, and physical, health goals, and provides an overall negative impact on our life. Is there a way to reduce the bombardment of controversy in our life? Yes! But only if we work together. What is the benefit? We ALL live more joyful, healthier, and longer lives.
A viable solution can be found watching a scene from the movie “Finding Nemo.” The scene has a large number of fish caught in a net being pulled upward towards a boom on a boat where they’ll all eventually end up on someone’s dinner plate. Nemo had learned a lesson and realized the only way to prevent the inevitable was for all of the fish to swim together in the same direction. He’s successful in getting everyone to swim AWAY from the boom which snaps and provides all the fish caught in the net with instant freedom. Google "Finding Nemo Swim Together" to watch the scene.
A solution to reducing the massive profitability and power that controversy provides is if we ALL move in the same direction together. What does that look like? It means we turn our attention away from anything that screams “fight” and begin to look for (and support) stories, comments, and opinions that represent “everyone’s getting along.”
It means we all stop hitting the “like” associated with ANY and ALL controversial posts. I’m NOT saying don’t get involved. I am saying your involvement should be solution-oriented with the intention of working together rather than against.
Write a letter to the editor, send an email to the programming director, communicate to the companies that advertise and indicate you’ll have more interest in their product or service if they’d stop utilizing controversy in their marketing efforts. To succeed, we may need to run a trick play since everyone’s so accustomed to being attracted to a fight. Fact is, if enough of us do this TOGETHER, we can change and improve the entire world. SO I’M ASKING YOU to get off the sidelines, stop sitting in the stands, join me on the “FIELD OF LIFE” and run a trick play that fools controversy and scores a touchdown for the “EVERYONE’S GETTING ALONG” team. Long term joy along with positive physical and emotional health are waiting in the endzone.
You can do this and remember, I Believe in You! Now GiddyUp!
In addition to being a nationally syndicated columnist, Paul White is an author, motivational and inspirational speaker, entrepreneur, podcaster, and life coach located in Midland, Michigan. He offers self-help and culture development to start your journey towards consistent growth and joy. If you’re interested in getting in touch with Paul, please submit an inquiry via our Contact Page.