A few days ago The Lem had a bit of a rant about the habit the news media has of assigning silly names to those who they want us to consider as "Scary People", such as 'Dr Germ'. She felt it was insulting.
Insulting to whom, I wonder. The people concerned deserve all the name calling they get (although it should be evenhanded: "General 'Mr. Murdering Bastard' sanctioned an airstrike this morning in which 35 civilians and 2 insurgents were killed"); no, I think the people being insulted by this are the viewers. Its an insult to the intelligence (although I guess saying 'Dr Germ' rather than 'Dr Rihab Rashid Taha, who's research into anthrax, based on specimens from Western biological suppliers, has yet to be found' is easier on the ears.)
But then again, maybe the intelligence of the viewing public isn't being insulted. While at the gym this morning I was watching broadcast television (a novelty; I don't actually have a television that can do anything but play DVDs at home) and was tempted to enter a competition to win some sort of Beatles memorabilia.
I didn't want the prize, but it is compulsory to enter any competition where the question is:
"What was the colour of the submarine in the Beatles' hit record 'The Yellow Submarine'?
A: Pink
B: Yellow
C: Blue"
...and you just know a sizeable portion of the viewing public are going to get it wrong...
