Almost the entire nation watches the Super Bowl. It unifies us by creating moments and memories we all share while analyzing advertisements and eating chili.
In the old days, three or maybe four news networks told us basic facts about our world. As Americans, we had largely the same cultural experiences through mass media. That was also a communal experience - a common frame of reference for us to touch in relation to one another.
Of course, that allowed for certain things to be ignored for a long time: that smoking causes cancer, severe water pollution such that water actually caught on fire, our role in bloody South American regimes. But by and large, we all drank from the same cup of facts. It was a bit lockstep, but we referenced the same reality.
When the internet started, many electrons were killed telling us that the mass market we knew would be slivered and then some. They were right. What nobody thought was that our reality would be warped in the process. We look at reality now through a kaleidoscope of opinions, AI lies, and three versions of any one event.
I hate football, especially on t.v. The background of dull roar cheering gives me a headache. And I never watch the Super Bowl without a party attached. Antipathy aside, it is a very good thing that all of us gather round and cheer and moan in front of flickering colored lights for people we don’t know and likely will never meet.
I’m not going to do it, but am glad you did.