Pull and push

A Blog Around The Clock contains a nice analysis on something I've discussed before, and that many are starting to notice, namely how easy it easy to find things that conform to your pre-existing beliefs:

The difference between now and then, now being 2008 and then being, let's say, 1958, is in the distribution. With three TV channels, a local paper or two, a local radio station or two, everyone got the same serving of both news and entertainment. This was a "push" - the information is pushed onto the audience, who has to take it or go live in a cave. ...

Today, the media reality is that it is a "pull" model - there are so many outlets, hundreds of cable channels, increased numbers of magazine, millions of blogs, satellite radio, that everyone searches for information and entertainment they are interested in. And ignore the rest. ...

The only venue I can think of, the only place where "push" still works and people are literally forced to listen to things they personally don't care about - is school.

And after that rattling around in the back of my mind for the day, it dawned on me that this is why creationists are putting so much effort into attacking the teaching of evolution in schools. School is rapidly becoming the only place where kids might hear opposing views.

Now that I think about it, I can't help but wonder if the "push" model of might also be doomed.