Commodity Quote by Neil Postman
“Information is now a commodity that can be bought and sold, or used as a form of entertainment, or worn like a garment to enhance one's status. It comes indiscriminately, directed at no one in particular, disconnected from usefulness; we are glutted with information, drowning in information, have no control over it, don't know what to do with it.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Amusing Ourselves to Death, Neil Postman, 1985
Information has become a commodity, pervasive and undifferentiated, overwhelming people and reducing control over its use.
In simple terms: Info is everywhere, cheap, and hard to manage.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate selective consumption and critical thinking.
Themes
information overload
media
society
control
commodification
Mood
concerned
thoughtful
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- news consumption
- social media use
- education
- policy making
Key Concepts
attention economy
digital saturation
cognitive overload
Questions to Reflect On
- What criteria should guide what we consume?
- How can societies reclaim agency over information?
A Different Perspective
Information abundance can erode depth of understanding and agency.
