Saturday, May 17, 2008
You think the media's money fixation is new? Plus: Remembering George C. Scott; what does Salon have against organized religion?
Oct 11, 1999 | Media money fixation
BY JANELLE BROWN
(10/04/99)
Janelle Brown wrote, "The old media adage of 'Sex sells' has been shoved aside by an even uglier '90s truth: Money sells." About 7,000 years ago, a wise king/poet in India wrote a collection of rhyming poems (in Sanskrit) to form a compendium called "Nitishataka" ("Hundreds of Morals") and an even larger didactic work "Hitopadesha" ("Moral Advice") in which he observed the following (translated into English):
He who has Money, is Cultured,
He's a Pundit, he's a good Listener and endowed with Quality;
He's an Orator, and he's very Handsome,
All qualities take refuge in Gold ...
Being once a student of Sanskrit (eons ago) and learning the wisdom from great Sanskrit works (not to mention my rather privileged Brahmin upbringing), I feel it was ironic that my staunchest goal in life when I graduated from college in the early '70s was to work, live and prosper in America. Having lived in the United States and Canada for the past 22 years as a computer systems software professional, I feel remorse at the depreciating "value system" of America (sadly emulated by all developing countries, including India) and the debilitating influence it has had on the younger generations. Now, if only the media stopped it's ugly glorification of the riches!
-- Nash Aragam
Maitland, Fla.
I do agree that the news is flooded with stories about start-ups, IPOs and the new millionaires or billionaires. But I would also like to point out an article in a recent issue of Wired Magazine (Sept. 1999) titled "Nonprofit Motive." A lot of this new breed of instant millionaires are now turning their attention to philanthropy -- with a twist. Not only are they donating money and stock, they are donating their time and management experience into something the article calls "venture philanthropy." They are setting up organizations and foundations that they believe will more effectively and efficiently channel the contributions to the people who need it. A case in point is mentioned: When eBay went public in 1998, they set aside 107,250 shares of stock to create the eBay Foundation.
-- Ben Wyckoff
Another day, another IPO, another Salon lament about another media lament on how today's Silicon Valley is all about greed, greed, greed.
Please keep in mind that you don't have a certain number of pages to fill each day.
-- Steve Read
Silicon Follies: Laurel moves out, Paul moves in and a CEO goes UFO
BY THOMAS SCOVILLE
(09/29/99)
Just wanted to thank you people for Silicon Follies. As a former liberal arts type who finds himself working as a software instructor, I found this work totally delightful, witty and full of lines and quips I'll carry with me for a long time. I will miss looking forward to the next episode.
-- R. McGunigle
Clarion. Pa.
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