Breaking News: 'Da Vinci Code' is EVIL!
May 16, 2006, 07:48 PM | by Scott Brown
Categories: Film
Sez here that reading The Da Vinci Code can convince you conservative Catholic prelature Opus Dei is a "murderous sect," make you believe Jesus was a daddy, and shake your beliefs to their foundations. This, according to a survey of 1,000 British adults conducted by an organization of English Catholics. An organization that wants a "health label" put on the movie. Really? When Doogal was released into the environment without so much as a "Caution: This Movie Will Make Your Children Dumber"?
Yes, I have some problems with this study. First off, it was commissioned by a group of people who stand to benefit from the hysteria it will foment. Second: So the Brits find Da Vinci convincing. So what? British people are notoriously easy to convince. These are the people who find Doctor Who convincing.
The Da Vinci Code convinced me of only one thing: Dan Brown is the luckiest bastard alive.
(Scott foams at the mouth after the jump...)
Seriously, this kind of argument is repugnant. I'm a hair more susceptible to it when we're talking about programs aimed at children. But we're talking about (theoretically) free-thinking adults here! The very idea that someone might propose a "health label" on an idea (good or bad, specious, or airtight) is a humiliating insult to human dignity.
Besides, it's too damn easy. It seems anyone with a thesis and a few
dozen graduate students can make a "statistical" case for the Big Media
Bugbear. Consider these shocking revelations about The Daily Show.
Apparently, you watch... and you never vote again. Funny, because I
know a lot of people who are, if anything, more politically engaged,
thanks to The Daily Show. The study cites the (somewhat)
equal-opportunity ribbing Stewart and Co. gave both presidential
candidates, and blames him for eliminating both options and making
people feel hopeless about their choices. Well... sorry? Those were our choices.
Knowledge is power, yes. But ignorance is also power. The message
in both of these cases is: More Information is bad because people can't
filter. It's the message of every two-bit Taliban that's ever flickered
across history's bigscreen, and I think, ladies and gentlemen, we've
just got to reject it. Exactly how stupid do they think you are? Pretty
damned stupid is the answer. Too stupid to watch a silly summer movie
without "health labels," at least.
Now, pardon me, I've got to go set myself on fire. I saw a cartoon character do it once.

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