Ellipses are not good.
Consider the following quote from Howard Dean in reaction to today's Senate passage of the Crush Abortion Rights Eventually (or "CARE") act:
"As a physician, I am outraged that the Senate has decided it is qualified to practice medicine." -- Howard Dean
OK? Gives you a pretty clear idea of his stance. Now try it with ellipses:
"...the Senate...is qualified to practice medicine." -- Howard Dean.
See? That gives you an idea of his stance, too. But it's the wrong one.
This is a trick pundijournalists love to play. By allowing them to change fact to fiction, it saves them a lot of time that they might otherwise have to spend searching for evidence that actually supports the message they want to communicate, or (God forbid) reformulating that message to accord with the facts at hand.
Let's try again! Here's Bush's reaction to the same Senate passage of the "CARE" act:
"This is very important legislation that will end an abhorrent practice and continue to build a culture of life in America." -- W
That's the whole quote. It is therefore (unfortunately) a better indicator of his stance than:
"This is...abhorrent...." -- W
Fun huh? Play along at home! Every time you see an ellipsis in the paper, call, fax, or e-mail them and ask what exactly was taken out, and why! Typically, the response will be "to save space," which is odd given how much garbage is in the typical newspaper. And remember: the real danger is when that quote is recycled as "complete" by another newspaper, who can say "The [insert name of newspaper here] reports that [insert name of public figure here] said [insert screwed-up quote that has all the appearance of being correct and truthful here]."
Dean, like everyone covered in the media, has to deal with this problem all the time. Check out Spinsanity's Safire tries to revive Dean....
Actually, the title is "Safire tries to revive Dean media myth," but with the ellipsis, it becomes a human interest story in which Billy Safire crosses political lines to save the life of someone with whom he disagrees! Its heartwarming appeal justifies the lie. Anyhow, it's fascinating, especially the comments section, which unfortunately degenerates into a contradictory bitchfest and loses sight of the entire concept of reducing spin.
"They're...they're bastards!" -- Kyle Broflovski
Note: The above ellipsis is indicative of a vocal pause, not removed content; the same could be said of this one...
Posted by Chris at October 21, 2003 09:47 PM | TrackBackMatter of conscience for those involved (parents and medical people) imho. It seems impossible and unwise to legislate/regulate matters of conscience without mucking up other issues. Its the governments involvement in this sort of thing that's gotten their foot in the door of the homes of all parents and slowly eroded the soveriegnty of the individual and family, which of course with my being a hardcore classical liberal that is simply unacceptable.
My preference would be that gov would wash its hands of this issue (meaning not endorse- but also not criminalize). Then parents could decide what they will or won't do and doctors could decide what they will or won't do.
It's all just opinion though.
Yet more proof that pure fucking evil is running this country. If you ask me, our current government are all terrorists, hell-bent on ruining the american way of life in the name of God. Fucking fuckers can take their fucking fear and fucking choke on it. Fuck them, and fuck Bush. In the ear. With a 12 horsepower vibrating spinning 14-inch dildo. Fucker. FUCK!
Posted by: Snack Master at October 22, 2003 03:51 PMFuck yeah!
Posted by: Chris at October 22, 2003 04:19 PMI've suddenly realized the complete lack of ample exposure to the phrase 'fucking fuckers' in my life. More comments need that sort of thing.
Yay!