All of those things keep those so inclined off the streets. Could be more benefit than considered.

Distraction is easy and denial is always the least line of resistance.

I made a reply yesterday about this very subject and quoted a reason why this is and how it has become so prevalent today. One thing that I constantly remind people is it is complicated and all encompassing. A big part of the problem is with liberals in their not understanding how important the anthropogenic contribution are and the uncomfortable steps we must take to reduce it.

I agree. We have reached a point at which way too damned many people have not the slightest idea about what life is all about or should be about. .

Religion provides an emotional escape valve, because all will be well after the world ends.

I have long thought that religion exploits some vulnerability in the human brain. A vestigial part?

People, generally, have very limited attention spans for Anything. They MUST have something to focus on. The idea if you take away immediately pleasurable things, that that would Make them "start thinking" is not reaiistic! Ask th Romans, heck, ask Moses..........

Addiction is universal among humans. If you do not believe it, try to change what you eat. Choose the food you eat most often, and change to one or more foods you have not tasted or rarely eat. For example, stop pizza and eat fruit instead.

Well, DUH! I have watched this slow extinction of intellectual curiosity for years. Having a TV was a low priority when I was first on my own. I had to work to pay the bills, no more drunken late night parties and goofing off. At work co-workers chit-chat was always what they had watched the night before on TV and thru the years that was the conversation at work.
The big news was always background noise to what comedy, drama or distraction the network programming could supply. Then ya throw in sports and music and and and well shit there is just no time to be interested in anything else. So intellectual curiosity took a back seat to being entertained.
Not a new story, human nature from the beginning has always been about various levels of survival - who has power and who doesn't. Religion has been used to control the masses since man first conceived it. Romans used blood sport to entertain and distract.
Modern media has killed intellectual curiosity.
The memes posted are great!! Thank you!

I am with you. I listen to people talking and realize that they are mostly all in their own little bubbles. Nothing gets in.....very little gets out. Their cellphones have become their umbilical cords. uggghhhhhh

Goes back much further, at least to the Caesars using "bread and circuses"to placate the proles. Religious and political leaders have to be cynics. They know if they want divine intervention they have to invent it

Food for thought!