Attention Quote by Mallory Ortberg
“Most of us, however committed we are to our ideals, will find ourselves every now and again reading an attention-grabbing headline from the Daily Mail or some other lowest-common denominator. That's not the same thing as frequenting a site like the white supremacist Stormfront.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Atlantic, 2015 (originally published online)
Even committed idealists can be drawn to sensationalist media, which differs from extremist platforms.
In simple terms: People can be attracted to eye‑catching headlines despite their values.
Key Takeaway
Guard against superficial distractions.
Themes
media literacy
ideals
attention
extremism
Mood
cautious
thoughtful
Type
reflective
educational
When to use this quote
- personal reading habits
- online community engagement
Key Concepts
critical thinking
information consumption
ethical journalism
Questions to Reflect On
- What strategies help you stay focused on core values?
- How do you differentiate between engaging content and harmful propaganda?
A Different Perspective
The pull of sensationalism can undermine principled action.
![“I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with [my wife] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and I just had such a strong reaction to the prayer. And I was really emotionally - I felt really grounded at that time. And so to be in this prayer and the imam is doing the prayer in…” quote by Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d31/mahershala-ali-6687_attention_i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with_3083.jpg)
