Copeland Chronicles

Where Do Seniors Go To Find Truth these Days

2008-02-18T16:52:00.000-08:00

Renowned humorist of the early 20^th century, Will Rogers, is quoted as saying, “All I know is what I read in the papers . . .” . Not quoted so often is the remainder of his remark, “ and that’s an alibi for my ignorance.”

As one who has read a lot of newspapers for a lot of years, briefly studied journalism in college and even more briefly worked as a general reporter for a chain of suburban Chicago newspapers, the older I get the more I truly relate to his view of “the media”. I think I’m getting “dumb and dumber” until I’m about to give up reading newspapers altogether before I become completely intellectually impaired.

Others seem to hold the same opinion, even in the “over 49 year-old” demographic (that’s us) advertisers all but ignore. At least the Bureau of Audit Circulation that tracks newspaper and magazine subscriptions indicates that circulation of U.S. newspapers continues to decline, dropping almost 3 % during the spring and summer of 2007 over the same period in 2006.

The NY Times says it’s because more and more people are getting their news from the internet. Having watched what one local newspaper, the Tampa Tribune (to which I have subscribed for 27 years or more), and its associated internet website, tbo.com,(which I use as my home page) is doing to a story, I think Will Rogers would be as frightened of the deteriorating state of journalism as I am.

I don’t profess to speak for all seniors. I leave that to the politicians who have the arogance to speak for “ All America” when they’re probably not able to even get along with their next-door neighbors. I can, however, speak for this senior. I don’t believe almost everything I read in the papers. There is always an agenda associated with stories these days following the Woodward and Bernstein revelations over Watergate. Every news-person seems to take on the persona of investigative reporter, yet don’t take the time or effort to investigate. Why?

I could speculate that the journalism schools aren’t doing their jobs. I recall talking to a well known CBS radio and TV newscaster, Neil Strawser, of some years past, who was a history major. He declared to me it was his history background that gave him perspective and not his reporting skills. What do the journalism schools teach in their big buildings now. I’ll bet it’s a lot different than the journalism classes I took which were part of the English Department at a small mid-western liberal arts college that shall remain nameless. (I was asked to leave after starting an underground magazine in the 50’s before it was fashionable to be in the underground. I was also a Republican from Chicago during the time of Mayor Richard J. Daley. Kinda gives you a picture of my early approach to life, doesn’t it?)

Journalism classes taught me to ask questions, questions and more questions, using the five W’s, What, Where, When, Who, and Why, and then write about the answers I got from questioning others, to those questions. Reporters weren’t to express what they thought the “why’s” were. The interviewees were to do that speculation. It seems now, however, journalists are interviewing themselves, not really listening to the answers of people outside the media and quickly coming to conclusions that often prove wrong after time provides perspective. Jumping to conclusions seems to be an occupational imperative for journalists and their readers these days.

A case in point is this story in Tampa, FL, that is creating a national blip on the networks. A correctional deputy of the Hillsborough County, FL Sheriff’s Office was caught on closed circuit video, dumping a disabled man from his wheel chair to the floor of the booking area of one of the county jails. The video equipment was operated by the Sheriff’s Office, since the Sheriff, David Gee is quoted as saying he installed the system.

The original story, appeared on-line, but was written by a Tampa Tribune reporter, Mike Wells. It was a pretty evenly measured piece and to use the Fox News slogan, mostly fair and balanced. The article was, however, accompanied by a copy of the video. The old saying, “One picture is worth a thousand words” makes a video even more compelling and dramatic. Now, enters a new element to journalism, instant videos. The result was 42+ pages of “ comments” by readers of the website, many of them redacted due to their inflammatory, some racist, very controversial nature; the majority calling for the scalp of the correctional officer and blasting law enforcement personnel in general and abusive correctional personnel in particular.

Before lawyers were even hired and had made press statements, literally hundreds of Hillsborough County citizens weighed in on the guilt or innocence of the CO. I wonder what that did to the jury pool in the county when the vast majority saw the event with their own eyes. It’s sort of like the story of the man caught in flagrante delicto with another woman by his wife, originally attributed to various womanizers, including Bill Clinton, and Richard Pryor, who reportedly said, “ Are you going to believe me or your “lyin’ eyes”.(Also a great Eagles song of the early 70’s, by the way.)

Eye witness testimony is notoriously poor in determining the actuality of a situation especially if the scene is a picture or tape taken out of context. The psychological instrument used to determine emotional abnormalities, the Thematic Apperception Test is a classic example of situations presented to people wherein they project themselves, their prejudices, fears, problems, etc., into the scene. It is used by therapists to measure internal psychological difficulties, rather than external actuality. Forty two plus pages of comments showing racism, anti-authoritarianism, and the prevalence of “guilty until proven innocent” attitudes on the internet that caught the attention of “The Today Show” and the “Fox News Channel” is more than an indication of community outrage but an underlying frothing of unrest. This was within 8 hours of the first story appearing. Then all hell broke loose.

Published charges of reverse racism, and sexism (the victim was a white male, the corrections officer, an African American, female) were reported by the newspapers, on radio and TV and on the internet. They were, in turn, further commented upon. Then there followed more articles, more charges and counter charges and apologies by politicians who can always be counted upon to check the direction of the flag on the polls (pun intended) before throwing their subordinates to the wolves.

The real issue is, however, despite the video, as readers, we still don’t know what actually happened at that scene, but the behavior of the press, the Sheriff, and the public (as reflected by the comments on the newspaper website) were deplorable.

Questions abound, truth is not yet known and even if discovered may never be accepted. On the face of it, the CO, at best, displayed a terrible lack of judgment, at worst, to borrow a phrase from Hillary, she is a mean spirited individual, worthy of 3^rd degree felony conviction that carries a sentence of up to five years in the state correctional system. What the CO did is wrong, no matter the provocation, but . . . .

On the other hand little is known of the victim. According to one of the Tribune’s editors who was queried about the continued use of “quadriplegic” to describe him, replied, “that’s how he described himself.” I submit this is less than satisfactory behavior from a senior journalist who is charged with providing the truth or at least both sides of an issue. It can however, generate controversy, unnecessary provocation, and, perhaps, unwarranted support for the victim if it proves technically correct but where, practically, he had use of his upper body sufficient to be a threat to the CO.

He, in fact, drove a specially equipped car and the warrant that brought him, under arrest, to the jail, was “alluding police while driving an automobile”. He has other traffic arrest incidents on his record, including driving on a suspended license without knowledge. Were I a CO I would have suspicions about somebody’s personal statement of condition versus their actual abilities, especially if there were any verbal abuse or belligerence on his part prior to the video. The newspaper was apparently not interested in any potential mitigating circumstances even though he was a wheelchair rugby player which is, on the surface, not a sport for passive people, but one where upper arm strength and aggression is of major importance.

The victim spoke of a prior incident involving this same CO in the booking process, for which he didn’t wish to talk details. What was that incident about? What occurred? He, himself, is facing 3^rd degree felony charges for the warrant on which he was arrested. Could this be an act of intentional entrapment on his part. Having a Masters Degree from Gonzaga University, in Spokane, Washington indicates he’s not without intelligence just because he was injured in a wrestling match. We don’t know and nobody in the press is asking these questions. I asked some, however.

My several medical sources indicated that in injuries such as these, one’s strength and usage really depends on several variables; site of the injury, prior personality and mental condition, and ability to work with rehabilitation. They also indicated that there are components of depression, grief, and consequent anger over these kinds of injuries. None of this was “investigated” by the Tribune. They were too busy reporting on the CO being arrested. Is this an anti-law enforcement political agenda perhaps. I don’t know! Finally, how did a video of the incident, make its way to the internet, from a secure institution like the county jail? When did it occur? Who was the whistle blower. Why? There are some of those “W’s” again.

Certainly, before final judgment is made, these questions need factual answers. The CO’s defense attorney is well known for his high profile cases and will more thoroughly explore the mitigating circumstances. His task of fairly representing his client under the rules of jurisprudence where a person is assumed innocent, no matter how damning the evidence, however, has not been made easier by the Tampa Tribune and TBO.com. Just the opposite, in fact.

So the question for us seniors to ask now is, if we can’t believe what we read in the papers and the internet news includes people who are even more subjective in their rush to judgment, where do we go to find truth about the world around us.

I don’t have a complete answer but Will Rogers has another quote that provides a direction to explore. He said, “A man only learns in two ways, one by reading, and the other by association with smarter people.” I think I’ll take the latter course and start to listen to people who are smarter than me. That could mean a lot of listening. I may even read something other than the Tribune. There is another paper in town and its circulation has risen despite the general circulation decline. Magazines afford the opportunity to do more in-depth writing and have the advantage of a time perspective. As seniors, that perspective is something we all understand.

I’ll keep you posted with specific suggestions. Thanks for listening and reading.

Volunteerism! Slave Labor or a Great Boon To Seniors . . . When You’re Careful!

2008-02-15T12:56:00.000-08:00

Becoming a volunteer when you retire can be terrific or it can be a royal pain in the gluteous maximus. That’s butt for my non-medical friends. Come to think they’re my only friends, and three of the five use a more basic term. It refers to another word for donkey. Anyway as a volunteer, the first thing one has to learn is that the word “No” is a complete sentence. If you have not ventured into the world of “the volunteer” then you’re in for a potential Halloween experience . . . trick or treat.

There are all kinds of not-for profit groups out there. By some estimates, almost 40 percent of U.S. Gross National Product is made up of not-for-profit organizations. Some are loaded with money and their purpose is to give it away. Some, however, are really “no money” agencies and causes, most very worthy, but one of whose purposes is to get you to do the work of their poorly paid, overworked staff while having an opportunity to get you to pay that poorly paid staff more by providing continuing generous contributions. Sound cynical? It is. But nobody is at fault here. At least not willfully.

The causes can be very worthy and the leaders very sincere. The fact is however, that you may soon reach burnout. Once leaders find a willing volunteer they may be asked frequently to do more. They'll also be offered, as a believer in the cause or agency, to donate. That’s just the way it is.

The leaders themselves may be volunteers with limited time and a feeling, if not the reality, of being overwhelmed. It’s easier to find somebody already doing, to do more, than it is to recruit additional doers. Often leaders don’t have the training to successfully recruit volunteers or don’t want to invest the time it takes. And when it comes to fund raising, two things come together to make for a donor target. First, every fund-raiser learns that the bigger givers are the ones who are most active in the cause. You are more likely to contribute than someone who is not familiar with the purpose of the organization for which you are volunteering. Second, again, it’s the lack of training and knowledge of all the tools that can be used to fund a not-for-profit. Leaders then rely on the tried and true volunteer to help out.

So what if you find an opportunity to volunteer that you would really like to pursue? Wonderful! It could keep you alive and active for significantly longer than uninvolved people. Geriatric research has indicated this for years. One just has to make certain that your duties are spelled out, that there is a time limit on how much you will do and for how long you will do it . Any request for adding more duties, or lengthening the time you will serve as a volunteer should be met with that great sentence . . . “No”! Just “No”!

It’s scary the first time it’s used but you’ll find it liberating. You’ll be able to continue the volunteer activity you enjoy and you’ll find the leaders will continue to let you do it without hindrance. Now volunteer, I am!

Obsolesence!

2008-02-14T16:24:00.000-08:00

Another one of the many surprises one encounters as we rise to senior status is that the world gets more and more complex to the point that even formerly easy tasks, like setting a watch or clock, is a major learning endeavor. The clock on my VCR is still not set and now the entire VCR is almost ready for the “antique road show”. I have a DVD now. It doesn’t have a clock. Then it doesn’t record either. It only does half the job that the VCR did (play and record). It cost almost as much as the VCR did. Not a bad deal . . . for the electronics industry.

But I understand this technological obsolescence is not just a senior event. I have it on good authority, (my 16 year old grandson) that he can’t keep up with all the new developments. He is a specialist now. He can’t set my VCR clock but he can fly a supersonic fighter plane on his video game as well as lead entire military brigades into battle after only two weeks training. Why is it taking so long to train the Iraqi Army? Just sent them a video player and my grandson’s video game.

Another thing I’ve encountered on my journey to total obsolescence is that part of it is a conspiracy of the young, particularly young academics, and specifically those doing research. I recently joined an on-line discussion group in one of the fields in which I spent the majority of my 46 year working career. I was absolutely intimidated by the discussions that went on. They were talking using the shorthand that all professions use and yet I recognized little of what was said. When a psychologist or an educator is stumped or flummoxed, the first line of defense is to ask questions and the standard two questions are, “Can you tell me a little more?” and, “Can you explain a little further to help me to understand what you’re saying”?

Armed with these two vintage yet mighty tools I discovered that the majority of these new concepts were not new at all. They were the concepts, theory, and practices that I had learned decades before. They had been re-labeled, modified only slightly, and resold (in the case of the academicians, re-published) as new stuff. I discovered while involved in some doctoral research, in fact, that there was a restriction in referencing past research. One could not cite prior work if that work was more than 5 years old. How about that for obsolescence. I soon joined in those on-line discussions using the old labels and many thought I was speaking about cutting edge research.

To use an old cliché’, “The more things change the more they stay the same. I stopped being intimidated and became the senior intimidator. Now if I could only get my VCR clock set correctly.

My Mistake Again!

2008-02-13T12:13:00.000-08:00

There are some days when one is all thumbs and no fingers Apparently this is one of those days. The software that was to link the cartoon site to the blog was given the wrong info thanks to yours truly. The second time the word to be linked to was not highlighted. But fear not loyal readers, I shall prevail over this travail. I shall win this day. It just may take until tomorrow. Thanks for your patience. Even RIM Blackberry has technological glitches and we certainly know about Microsoft.

My Mistake

2008-02-13T11:59:00.000-08:00

The site for the cartoon was entered wrong. When you see it you'll see why. And I AM a senior citizen fer goodness sake.
Click on this one.
http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-walt-babyboomers-blurb,0,1036393.blurb

Is there a Dr. in the house? Funny you should ask!

2008-02-13T11:22:00.000-08:00

A friend of many moons past sent me an animated cartoon remarking on the fact that the famed baby boomer generation is now entering its Social Security target date for eligibility. (Click on the word cartoon to see it. It was filled with the typical jokes of physical infirmities affecting people as they get older.

That is another surprise one can expect with senior citizenship. You feel mentally like a 24 years, a just blossomed bottle of Chablis yet your body begins to reflect more on the concept of vintage chianti. One begins collecting the phone numbers and office addresses of a plethora of physicians. I, for one have a first name relationship with not only my Primary Care guy but a small army of special field experts. There is the dermatologist who sees me as a suspicious mole on my left side. There is the urologist who sees me as the enlarged prostrate and the slightly fluctuating PSI test. I hit the radar screen of the gastroenterologist who fired a letter sized missile at my psyche, informing me of

the three year anniversary of my last colonoscopy and the need for a follow-up procedure, especially for someone my age. I won’t delve further into how he views me.

My rheumatologist has me going to physical therapy 2 times a week and a gym every day due to arthritis and poor posture. The general practitioner wants me to lose several hundred pounds so I can be as skinny as he is. And my jokester friend, who is over 5months older than me, is making like Don Rickles with jokes about old age. I laughed like heck and sent him an old age joke in return. One of the best methods of becoming more mature (read old) is to become more mature with humor. If ya can’t beat it, laugh at it.

I said I’d get back to the thread about surprises that comes after 60. I really don’t have to tell some of you. You can tell us. And if you haven’t experienced the things we will be talking about, just stayed tuned to these pages. You soon will. Have you heard the one about . . . .

Notice To Readers

2008-02-12T06:40:00.000-08:00

I hope that you bear with me and stick by me as I stumble through the learning associated with publishing a blog. My plan is to contribute something at least every other day in the beginning and hopefully post 5 days a week.

I’m developing my sources and resources on subjects of senior lifestyles in all their variety, gerontology news and information, possible activities of and for seniors, and part and full-time work of a paid nature for those who wish it. I also want to be a source for learning some of the technology available for seniors that can enhance their lives but won’t frustrate them as I have been in this business of blogging..I will be linking to some of these sources and then perhaps offering a perspective on these areas and other interests for seniors.

I promise no political discussions and no warmed over AARP material unless it is relevant and then only as a link. I’ll try and keep the thread of a topic going and archive relevant posts to specific files, as soon as I learn how. You’ll even get to see an updated picture of me as I take off 40 lbs. over the next 10 months because I have thin Dr’s. who want everybody to be like them.

Please comment on this blog. Consider it to be your community conversation as well. I invite all those who have expertise in the above topics or in blogging itself to come forward with their knowledge, constructive comments and opinions. I’d appreciate knowing the issues you’d like to have researched and addressed in these pages

I’ll get back to the thread of the last post soon. .I just thought I needed to expand a little on the direction Id like this page to go in but indicate that nothing is locked in stone.

What's The Purpose?

2008-02-10T14:04:00.000-08:00

Often an area of difficulty for seniors to overcome is making the emotional adjustment from work to retirement. I know, for those still working, a magic date for life is the one when eligibility occurs for Social Security. You can hardly wait. Then you can work if you want, play when you want, and pretty much do what you want, when you want to do it. For some that comes true. For those lucky people that continue to work because they want to and can, life goes on just as before with nary a ripple of emotional disturbance. There are those, of course who can’t stop because of finances and that is a problem that will be discussed on this page at a later time!

But for those that do retire, a shock awaits; several shocks, perhaps. The first of those often times unpleasant surprises is the discovery that one has to structure their own time in retirement. Personal habits that have structured life and living for decades suddenly have to be thought about. Nobody is telling them to be at the office or job. Behavior as routine such as rising in the morning, and going somewhere you are expected, even the showering, eating and teeth brushing become activities no longer routine. The driving purpose for those habits, work, is suddenly gone. Meaning for a whole menagerie of un-thought-about activities is missing. What sounded like wonderful leisure filled times during the days of work may now turn into days of angst over what to do today, when to do it, and sometimes, most importantly, why do it at all.

Then another surprise occurs. Your opinion, expertise, knowledge and skills become unimportant to those people for whom they were formerly of major interest. You are no longer in the river swimming with the fish, but on the bank watching the activity go on without you. A fish doesn’t know it lives in water until it finds itself up in the air. For some retirement can be akin to that experience. Life goes on. Day to day, relationships, discussions, gossip, and decisions occur, but without you. That emotional realization can be traumatic and often that reality of isolation occurs quite abruptly. The concept of Life’s purpose takes another major blow. The “grief” of that loss can be significant. And like all grief includes denial, anger bargaining and depression.

There is hope, however. But the cure ain’t easy. Stay tuned for more, however. We still haven't finished with the down-side of the "Good Life".

ChuckC's Back!!

2008-02-06T15:45:00.000-08:00

As you can see by the last post, it's been a long time since I last wrote in this weblog. The blogosphere has changed significantly. More complex technology, more people involved, 93 million by some estimates, and a whole new language to learn. What's an RSS feed? I'm more confused than I was when I made my first attempt in 2004. And that may be a thread, though discontinous, on this page.

Technology is one of those issues for seniors, at least this senior, that is at once challenging, frustrating, intimidating, and mixed with a feeling that no matter how much you study and work, you continually seem to fall behind. Then some 14 year old is helping you across the proverbial technological highway. Unfortunately for a lot of us they don't speak our language and they're not bi-lingual. All they know is technospeak and are incapable of teaching it to you. So they try to show you. Being shown how to do something by a technology guru is somewhat akin to viewing a real master of the shell game or a good magician. You can watch what he or she does, repeatedly, and still have no idea what took place other than you were appropriately baffled. I know I'm generalizing here but I think we've all had the experience.

And speaking of experience I really want to speak from time to time about the amazing resources that exist in the ranks of U.S. seniors. Everybody recognizes it, so they say. Some attempt to harness some of that expertise and talent. SCORE, a nation-wide group of retired execs, is one organization that does a creditable job so I'm told. But for most seniors, if you're not a player, read "gainfully employed", your experiences and opinions certainly aren't as valued as they day before you retired. I'll be bring this up again on the page of the Chronicle, you can be sure.

Finally, I wish to invite you to join me in the discussion. Your comments and critiques are the only way I'm going to grow and prosper in this new realm of publishing. I look forward to hearing from you

Copeland Chronicles

2004-11-17T16:02:00.000-08:00

These are the musings of a retired industrial psychologist, adult educator, and motor coach owner, with an opinion or two or more on an almost infinite variety of topics, forged by an ego sufficiently strong to want to share them with others.