While reading Jack Betts’ take on Coy Privette’s arrest I was struck by the disconnect between Betts’ reaction and those of his peers in Raleigh and that of the broader Net culture.
Betts quotes one Raleigh political vet as saying,”Hell has frozen over.” This is in contrast to the widespread Net-centric reaction of, “Conservative sin-hating pol, busted for hiring a hooker? Figures.”
Take the “headline” given the story on Fark.com, one of the most popular and influential sites on the Web: Former baptist minister, totally against alcohol and gambling, but all for prostitution
Then there is the potty-mouth crew over at Wonkette tagging the story: Baptist minister? check. State representative? check. Republican? check.
That is certainly not hell-has-frozen-over shock. What gives?
Some of the difference is surely the snarky cynicism that drips from much online discourse. But I think we also have to go back to this notion that the mainstream media is far too willing to take the pronouncements of government officials at face value.
I’m not saying that reporters and editors should assume everyone they deal with is a raging hypocrite. Many Web sites have that tired stance already staked out. But some healthy skepticism might go a long way to warding off those wild temperature swings Betts reports in Raleigh.
