Sound Bites

Bits of information. That’s what our world is. Quick decisions. Swipe if you like, delete if you don’t. Statements in 140 characters or less. Information processing has become entertainment. Winners are those who break through the clutter, rise above the chatter. Naked bodies. Spiteful ill willed comments.

Some people realize that the sound bites they are relying on to make their decisions may be inaccurate, incomplete. At least one Aussie I spoke with when in Australia realized this. Unsurprisingly, it seems the world is entertained by what has been happening with our presidential race. So when traveling abroad, it is likely you will be asked about it, which I was. I liked the preface to one Aussie’s question, though—“You know all we hear over here are sound bites but what we hear about that person is…”

And that’s what the electorate is left with. The goal is not to educate. The goal is not collaboration. The goal is not to discuss issues. The goal is to entertain. And that’s unfortunate but that’s where we are.

Studies have shown that when people read a computer screen, their eyes follow an F pattern. They read the first two full sentences, then tend to read the first few words of subsequent lines. As reading progresses down the page, the focus becomes narrower and narrower and the reader stops reading altogether. You’re probably skimming now…

Do people even recognize that a response is a carefully crafted media sound bite? Do they care? And how can sound bites be torn apart, analytically showing their invalidity when you’re limiting yourself to more sound bites or 140 characters. Because if you as a politician don’t, there won’t be any media play. You won’t reach any audience. It will be lost in clutter land.

As an attorney, it’s difficult to listen to the warring sound bites, because you know the fallacies of the arguments. You know that with all the blustering and posturing, the United States is still a democratic country. We do not elect dictators. We have checks and balances. We have the legislative branch of government. We have the judicial branch of government. These work in conjunction with our executive branch.

Standing in Buenos Aries, Argentina, listening to a guide talk about how the country had 5 presidents in 10 days at one time, how the last 33 years has been the longest period in its history where there have not been wars, how the country was under military rule from 1976 until 1983, the importance of our democracy really hit me. Returning to the United States, even among the rhetoric, blustering and sound bites, I was happy to be back. I was happy for the democracy we have. I was happy in knowing that whoever wins will be our President. S/he will not be a dictator. There will be checks and balances in place. The executive will be required to work within those checks and balances.

Patricia Nemeth received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor). She earned her Juris Doctorate and Masters of Labor Law degree from Wayne State University School of Law. She is the founding partner of Nemeth Law, P.C. which is celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2017. Patricia decided to start a personal blog because she wanted to write about topics other than the law.