The Joke's On Whom Analysis

Peter Funts’ Article “The Jokes on Whom?”
In Peter Funts’ article “The Joke’s on Whom?” he argues that not only are jokes becoming harsher, while at the same time desensitizing the audience, the pranksters are neglecting to think about the emotional affects that the victims will be left with as a result of the prank. In his article Peter mentions the story of Jacintha Saldanha, who had committed suicide due to a “sophomoric gag.” Peter argues that not only does the media play the great role in blowing an innocent prank way out of proportion, but at the same time everything is “magnified and made digital” for the potential of “greater visual distribution.” Peter believes that because people possess the ability to intensify things to the point that they are completely distorted, the joke could in turn end up
I agree immensely with Peter on this matter. Mass media does hold a strong influence on the way in which individuals think and act. In fact, the media can sometimes be so overwhelming that the mass portion of people will end up believing every word that is spoke. Such a great number of people make up the media, and all of them are so convincing when making their point. This in turn is what makes it so hard for the public to distinguish between the right and the wrong, between the story that the media has blown out of proportion, or the real fact that lies within the story. However, how far does one actually go when checking a stories authenticity before becoming a part of that “echo chamber?” How critically do we judge someone or something that is making news before seeking the truth behind the stated fact? The mass percentage of people don’t think about what they are being told, they just believe it. People don't just judge, they get influenced. With this type of continuous undue exposure, uncontrolled access and belief short of thought won't lead us